成
turn into, become, get, grow, elapse, reach
Readings
On'yomi
- セイ
- ジョウ
Kun'yomi
- な.る
- な.す
- -な.す
Nanori
- あき
- あきら
- しげ
- そん
- たえ
- なお
- なり
- なる
- のり
- ひら
- まさ
- よし
- り
Meaning
成 centers on a process of change leading to a result: turning into something, becoming, growing, or reaching a state. The idea of elapsing also fits as time passing until a point is reached.
Most common words using 成
24 of 741- 成るなるN5
to become; to get; to grow; to turn; to reach; to attain
- 成功せいこうN4
success; achievement
- 完成かんせいN3
completion; perfection; accomplishment
- 平成へいせいN1
Heisei era (1989.1.8-2019.4.30)
- 成長せいちょうN3
growth; development; growing up; becoming an adult
- 成る程なるほどN4
I see; that's right; indeed
- 構成こうせいN3
composition; construction; formation; makeup; structure; organization; organisation
- 作成さくせいN3
making (a report, plan, contract, etc.); drawing up; writing out; preparing; creating (a file, website, account, etc.)
- 達成たっせいN2
achievement; attainment; accomplishment; realization
- 育成いくせいN1
rearing; training; nurture; cultivation; promotion
- 成立せいりつN2
formation; establishment; materialization; coming into existence
- 成果せいかN2
(good) result; outcome; fruits (of one's labors); product; accomplishment
- 形成けいせいN1
formation; molding; making (up); taking form; giving form to
- 成人せいじんN3
adult; grown-up
- 賛成さんせいN4
approval; agreement; support; favour; favor
- 成分せいぶんN2
ingredient; component; composition
- 成績せいせきN4
results; record; grades; marks
- 編成へんせいN1
composition; formation; organization; organisation; compilation
- 合成ごうせいN1
composition; synthesis; compounding; combining
- 成るべくなるべくN4
as (much) as possible; as (much) as one can; wherever practicable; if possible
- 生成せいせい
creation; generation; formation; derivation
- 結成けっせいN1
formation; combination
- 成すなすN2
to form; to make; to constitute
- 未成年みせいねんN3
minority (i.e. being under age); minor; underage person
Study
Etymology
成 is thought to combine 戊 (a halberd-like weapon) with 丁 (a nail or small stroke), suggesting the idea of completing or finishing something, perhaps originally related to a ritual or action. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The outer shape 戊 looks like a container, and the inner stroke 丁 is like a seed sprouting. Picture something inside a vessel growing and turning into its final form.
Reading mnemonic
For セイ, imagine a seed growing into a plant and you say, 'Say, it became a tree!' The word 'say' cues セイ while the seed reaches its final form.