成材 (chéng cái) — to grow into useful timber; to become a useful… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'to grow into useful timber', used figuratively for a person who has developed real ability. Often contrasts with 人才, which names a person already recognized as talented.

verb

to grow into useful timberto become a useful person

Easily confused

成才chéng cáisound-aliketo become a capable and successful person; to make something of oneself

Examples

成材。
Zhè hái zi jiāng lái yí dìng néng chéng cái.
This child will certainly become a useful person in the future.
。
Tā zài zhè jiā gōng sī yǐ jīng chéng le cái.
He has become a useful person at this company.
成材。
Zhè piàn shù lín de shù dōu chéng cái le.
The trees in this forest have all grown into useful timber.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

成chéngbecome

成 expresses becoming and 材 expresses useful timber, together meaning to become a useful person.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng成chéng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木才材

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

才

才cái材cái

Same sound today

材 combines 木, wood, with 才, cái, as its sound part.

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