了结 liǎojié to settle
to settle; to finish; to conclude; to wind up
How to remember 了结: 了 particle: completed action / change of state + 结 tie up = to settle.
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How it is used
- To settle/wrap up an outstanding matter - 了结一桩心事 (liǎojié yì zhuāng xīnshì) to lay a worry to rest, 了结恩怨 (liǎojié ēnyuàn) to settle old scores.
- 了 reads liǎo here (to finish), not le. It implies bringing a lingering, unfinished affair to a definitive close.
- Near 结束 (jiéshù, to end) but 了结 stresses resolving something that has been hanging over you.