godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Used when elements form or constitute a shape, group, structure, or whole. More formal and written-sounding than everyday なる or できる.
三つの要素が一つの体系を成している。
The three elements form a single system.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Common in set-like written collocations such as 財を成す, meaning to build up a fortune, position, house, or other achievement over time.
祖父は一代で財を成した。
My grandfather built up a fortune in a single generation.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
accomplish; achieve; make a name
Used for achieving something significant or gaining recognition, especially in formal phrases such as 名を成す and 大業を成す.
彼は若くして文壇に名を成した。
He made a name for himself in the literary world at a young age.
彼らは長年の努力で大事業を成した。
Through many years of effort, they accomplished a great undertaking.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
turn into; convert into; make into
Formal construction used as AをBと成す, meaning to turn A into B or make A into B. The と is part of the learner-important pattern.
彼は逆境を成長の糧と成した。
He turned adversity into nourishment for growth.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
do; carry out; commit; bring about
Formal or literary equivalent of する in expressions such as なすべきことをなす. For this sense, kana なす or 為す is often clearer than 成す.
今は自分のなすべきことをなすだけだ。
For now, I will simply do what I must do.
悪事を為した者は裁かれる。
Those who committed evil deeds will be judged.
suffix, godan verb (-su)
do deliberately; perform intentionally
Limited suffix-like use after the masu-stem of a verb. It is usually written in kana and is mostly seen in established or old-fashioned compounds rather than freely used with any verb.
「言いなす」のように、なすは動詞の連用形に付くことがある。
As in 言いなす, なす can attach to the continuative stem of a verb.