ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
成
to become; to succeed
chéng
6 strokes · 戊 (axe/halberd) + 丁 — work completed under the blade · HSK 3
What 成 is made of
戊 + 𠃌 = 成
戊fifth heavenly stem
𠃌horizontal hook stroke
Where 成 comes from
成 grew from a halberd 戊 with a mark of completion: the job is done, the walls are raised, the treaty is sealed. Ancient bronzes use 成 for finished cities and accomplished reigns.
成 in Chinese culture
成为 to become, 完成 to complete, 成功 success, 成语 the four-character idioms themselves ('formed phrases'). 成! on its own means 'deal!' in northern China. A child growing up is 长大成人 — growing into personhood.
Example
成为 chéngwéi — to become
他成为了一名医生。
Tā chéngwéi le yì míng yīshēng.
He became a doctor.
How to remember it
The halberd rests — work done, walls raised: BECOME, SUCCEED.
成语 idioms are Chinese's compressed hard drive: 万事俱备，只欠东风 'everything ready, only the east wind missing' unpacks an entire Three Kingdoms battle into eight characters.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 成
成为 chéngwéi
to become
完成 wánchéng
to complete
成语 chéngyǔ
four-character idiom
Related characters
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