学有所成 (xué yǒu suǒ chéng) — to have achieved success in one's studies

Definition

A formal chengyu-style phrase meaning 'to have achieved success in one's studies'. Used for completed accomplishment in learning or research — more literary than the everyday verb 学会.

verb
to have achieved success in one's studies

Examples

  • ，学有所成，。
    Tā zài dà xué nǔ lì xué xí le sì nián, zhōng yú xué yǒu suǒ chéng, ná dào le shuò shì xué wèi.
    He studied hard at university for four years, finally achieved success in his studies, and obtained a master's degree.
  • ，学有所成，。
    Jīng guò duō nián de yán jiū, zhè wèi kē xué jiā xué yǒu suǒ chéng, huò dé le guó jì jiǎng xiàng.
    After years of research, this scientist achieved success in his studies and received an international award.
  • ，学有所成，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo kè kǔ xué xí, zuì zhōng xué yǒu suǒ chéng, chéng wéi le yì míng yōu xiù de gōng chéng shī.
    He studied hard from a young age, finally achieved success in his studies, and became an excellent engineer.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

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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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

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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
斤斤jīnaxe
Sound part声符shēngfú
戶
戶hù所suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

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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
戊戊wù
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.

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