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成功 (chéng gōng) — to succeed; successful

Definition

As a verb 'to succeed' (in an attempt or goal); as an adjective, describes a plan, exam, or event that went well. 顺利 focuses on the process being smooth, not the final outcome; 完成 just means 'to finish'.

to succeedsuccessful
Measure word · 次, 个

Examples

  • 成功。
    Wǒ xī wàng nǐ chéng gōng.
    I hope you succeed.
  • 成功。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì hěn chéng gōng.
    This exam was very successful.
  • 成功。
    Tā de jì huà fēi cháng chéng gōng.
    His plan was very successful.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

成chéngaccomplish
功gōngmerit

成 means accomplish, 功 means the merit accomplished.

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
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.

Open 成 →

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
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng功gōng
Same sound today

功 puts 力 (strength) beside 工, which gives the sound gōng and means labour or work.

Open 功 →
Appears in
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