The kanji character "成" is pronounced "naru" or "sei."
What does this kanji mean?
[Beginner's Level] Let's think about the meaning of kanji
This kanji is a combination of two kanji that expresses the process of completing a building or other structure using tools.
・Ding…nail shape
・戊…axe or axe
Were you able to guess the meaning from the origin of the kanji?
The correct answer is... "become"
"成" is mainly pronounced "naru" and is a kanji used in situations and sentences like the example sentences to mean the result of an action or something coming together and being completed.
Example sentences
"The great accomplishments of my father will be remembered for generations to come."
(Watashi no chichi ga nashitogeta igyō wa, kōsei made kataritsugareru darou.)
My father's accomplishments will be talked about for generations to come.
[Intermediate level] Learn how to use "成"
・Coming-of-Age Ceremony (seijin-shiki)
"Adulthood (seijin)" refers to a person whose mind and body have fully developed. In Japan, it is a word that is generally used to refer to people over the age of 20. "Coming-of-Age Ceremony (seijin-shiki)" is an event where people who turn 20 that year gather at a community center or hall to give thanks and celebrate becoming adults. The second Monday of January every year is designated as a national holiday called "Coming-of-Age Day (seijin no hi)," and ceremonies are held all over the country around this time.
Coming-of-Age Ceremony (seijin-shiki) is the "kan" (crown) ceremony among the four major ceremonies that hold great significance in life, the "kankonsōsai" (weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies), and has long been revered as a happy "hare no hi" (sunny day).
"Seijin-shiki" (coming-of-age ceremony) originates from two ceremonies that have been performed in Japan since ancient times: "Genpuku" (coming-of-age ceremony) and "Mogi" (dressing ceremony). These ceremonies were primarily performed among the upper class as rites of passage. "Genpuku" (coming-of-age ceremony) is a ceremony in which boys aged 12 to 16 rearrange their hair into adult hairstyles and change into adult clothing. "Mogi" (dressing ceremony) is a ceremony in which girls aged 12 to 16 put on "mo" (dressing ceremony), the garment worn by adults from the waist down.
It is said that the event that led to this ancient ritual evolving into the modern "Seijin-shiki" ceremony, which involves many people, was the "Seinen-sai" held in Saitama Prefecture in 1946. The "Seinen-sai" was held to dispel the gloomy mood of the post-war period and to inspire the young people who will lead the next generation. This event gradually spread throughout the country, and "Seijin-shiki" became common. The culture of valuing the milestone of becoming an adult remains unchanged from the past to the present.
Example sentences
"I met my friends for the first time in a while at the Coming of Age Ceremony and was relieved to see that they seemed to be enjoying life."
(Seijin-shiki de hisabisa ni atta yūjin-tachi wa, jinsei wo tanoshinde iru yō de anshin shita.)
I was relieved that the friends I met for the first time in a long time at the coming-of-age ceremony seemed to enjoy life.
Kanji similar to "成"
In Japan, there are many kanji characters that are similar in structure to the kanji character "成." For example, there are the following kanji characters:
・Hoko (hoko)
This kanji character means a weapon with a double-edged sword and a long handle. This bronze halberd, called a "dōka," was made during the Yayoi period, approximately 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, and is preserved as a cultural property of Hiroshima Prefecture.
・戉（masakari）
This kanji character means a large axe-shaped weapon. It is also used when cutting down large trees. In one of Japan's most famous fairy tales, "Kintarō," the main character, Kintarō, is carrying a large axe.
・戍（jyu/mamoru）
This kanji character means to protect from attacks by holding a weapon or something similar. It is not used very often these days, but it is positioned as a kanji character that is easily mistaken for "成" or "戉".
All of these kanji use the radical "hokogamae," which has the meaning of a weapon. Just as the kanji "sei" (success) was created from the image of finishing a building using a weapon, by looking at the radical of the kanji, you can understand the original meaning.
Example sentences
The museum exhibits halberds and pikes that are believed to have been used since ancient times.
(Hakubutsukan ni wa, kodai kara shiyō sa rete ita to sa reru hoko to masakari ga, tenji sa rete iru.)
The museum exhibits the dagger-axe and the broad-axe, which are said to have been used since ancient times.
[Advanced level] Let's try using proverbs and idioms that use "成"!
"成" is a kanji that is often used in positive contexts, or to convey the process of finishing something or the finished state. Here are some expressions using "成" that are commonly used by Japanese people.
・If you try, you can do it (nase ba naru)
It means that even if something seems impossible, if you persevere with a strong will, you will surely be able to achieve it. It originates from the words of a man named Uesugi Harunori in the late Edo period, who told his vassals, "If you try, it will be done. If you don't try, it won't be done. If it does n't get done, it won't be done." This phrase shows that if you don't try, you won't get anything. "If you try, it will be done" is often used as a motto in self-introductions, or to encourage people who are afraid to take on challenges.
Example sentences
"Remember the saying, 'If you try, you can do it.' If you work a little harder, you'll definitely be able to get into the school of your choice."
(Nase ba naru to iu kotoba wo omoidashite. Mōsukoshi ganbare ba, kitto shibōkō ni gōkaku dekiru yo.)
Remember the saying that if you do it, it will definitely come true. If you work a little harder, you will surely be able to pass the school of your choice.
・Failure is the foundation of success (shippai wa seikō no moto)
It means that even if you fail, you can get closer to success by investigating the cause and making improvements. It also contains a warning that if you leave your failure as it is and do not try to improve your methods or way of thinking, you will repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
Example sentences
"My teacher told me that failure is the foundation of success, and that's why I was able to draw this picture."
(Ano toki, sensei ga shippai wa seikō no moto to itte kureta kara, kono e ga egakemashita.)
At that time, my teacher said that failure was the source of success, so I was able to draw this picture.
・Development (ikusei)
It means providing education, training, and raising people. Many companies conduct human resource development to cultivate people who can thrive in their companies and contribute to society.
Example sentences
"My company puts a lot of effort into training young employees."
(Watashi no kaisha de wa, wakate shain no ikusei ni chikara wo irete imasu.)
At my company, we are focusing on training young employees.
・Synthesis (gousei)
It means to combine two or more things into one.
Example sentences
"The scenery of this city is clearly a composite photograph."
(Kono machi no fūkei wa, dō mite mo gōsei shashin da yo.)
The scenery of this city is a composite photograph no matter how you look at it.
・Completion (kansei)
It means that something is completed or finished.
Example sentences
"We've finally completed a big house where the whole family can live."
(Kazoku min'na de sumeru ōkina ie ga, tsuini kansei shita.)
A big house where the whole family can live has finally been completed.
We have introduced the meaning and usage of the kanji character "成". If you are interested in the unique expressions and uses of Japanese kanji, why not check out Let's Play KARUTA to see the meanings and origins of various kanji characters?