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奏功 (そうこう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
success ; achievement ; fruition
Formal noun and intransitive suru-verb meaning that a plan, effort, or measure has succeeded or borne fruit. Often used in reports, news, and formal writing.
His efforts finally bore fruit.
Written forms 奏そう 功こう Usage 15%
Standard kanji form; used in formal and written contexts.
そうこう Usage 85%
Kanji 奏 play music, speak to a ruler, complete 功 achievement, merits, success Similar words 成せい 功こう Common word for success; 奏功 is more formal and often used for plans or measures achieving their intended effect.
実みの る Literally 'to bear fruit'; used metaphorically for efforts coming to fruition, but less formal than 奏功.
Etymology Compound of 奏 (accomplish, report to a superior) and 功 (achievement, merit). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys the idea of achieving a successful result.