Chinese character for success: 成功 (chénggōng)
The Chinese word for success is 成功 (chénggōng). It means success or to succeed, as in 祝你成功 (zhù nǐ chénggōng, wishing you success). 成 means to complete and 功 means achievement.
How 成功 is built
成 (chéng) contains 戈 (gē), an ancient halberd, and originally meant to finish or accomplish something. 功 (gōng) joins 工 (gōng, work), which also gives the sound, with 力 (lì, strength): results produced by hard work. As a memory aid, 成功 is completing work with all your strength. Both characters are the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
成 chéng · to become
- 丁dīng — male adult
- 戈gē — spear
功 gōng · achievement
- 工gōng — labor
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丄shàng — above
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 力lì — power
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: Results produced by capable 力 labor 工; 工 also provides the pronunciation (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
How 成功 is used
Before you use it as a tattoo or design: 成功 is identical in both scripts and very natural; it is common on gifts for graduations and new jobs.
Questions
What is the Chinese character for success?
成功 (chénggōng) means “success”.
How do you pronounce 成功?
成功 is pronounced chénggōng.