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用功 (yòng gōng) — (verb) to study hard, to make great effort (in one's studies); (adjective) diligent, hardworking (in studies)

Definition

用功 is 'diligent / to study hard' specifically about schoolwork and studying — narrower than 努力, which covers any effort (work, fitness, goals).

verb
to study hardto make great effort (in one's studies)
adjective
diligenthardworking (in studies)

Examples

  • 用功，。
    Tā xué xí hěn yòng gōng, suǒ yǐ chéng jì hěn hǎo.
    He studies very hard, so his grades are good.
  • ，。
    Wèi le kǎo shì, tā yòng gōng le sān gè yuè.
    He studied hard for three months for the exam.
  • 。
    Tā yòng le hěn duō gōng cái kǎo shàng dà xué.
    He put in a lot of effort before finally getting into university.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

用yòngapply
功gōngeffort

用 means to apply, and 功 means effort; together they describe applying effort in study.

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.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6School & EducationPersonality & Traits

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