Translation and Meaning of: 成功 - seikou

The Japanese word 成功[せいこう] is an essential term for anyone looking to understand Japanese culture and language. Its meaning goes beyond a simple translation, carrying cultural and philosophical nuances that reflect important values in Japan. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, how it is used in everyday life, and the contexts in which it appears most frequently.

If you are studying Japanese or just curious about the language, understanding 成功[せいこう] can be an important step. This word appears in everyday conversations, in Japanese media, and even in traditional proverbs. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide accurate and useful information so that you can learn clearly and practically.

The meaning and translation of 成功[せいこう] is "success".

The most common translation of 成功[せいこう] is "success." However, this word encomes different aspects, from professional achievements to personal accomplishments. Unlike in Portuguese, where "success" can have a more generic tone, in Japanese it is often used in more concrete contexts, such as reaching a specific goal.

A simple example is the sentence "彼はビジネスで成功した" (Kare wa bijinesu de seikou shita), which means "He succeeded in business". Notice that the usage is linked to a clear achievement, not just an abstract idea. This precision is a striking feature of the term.

The origin and the kanjis of 成功[せいこう]

Analyzing the kanjis that make up the word, 成 means "to conclude" or "to achieve," while 功 represents "merit" or "work." Together, they form the concept of "achievement through effort." This combination reflects a deeply rooted value in Japanese culture: the idea that success comes from hard work and persistence.

It's worth noting that 成功[せいこう] is not an ancient or rare word. It frequently appears in newspapers, books, and even in animes and dramas, always maintaining this connection to achievements attained through dedication. If you watch Japanese content, you've probably heard it in some context.

How to use 成功[せいこう] in daily life

In everyday life, 成功[せいこう] is used in both formal and informal situations. If you want to say that someone has achieved something, you can use structures like "~に成功する" (seikou suru) or "成功した" (seikou shita). For example, "試験に成功した" (Shiken ni seikou shita) means "ed the test successfully."

An interesting fact is that this word is rarely used ironically or negatively, as happens sometimes with "success." In Japan, it maintains a positive and motivating tone, reinforcing the importance of personal effort. If you are learning Japanese, it's worth incorporating it into your active vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

  • 成功 (seikou) - Success
  • 達成 (tassei) - Achievement or attainment of a goal
  • 実現 (jitsugen) - Achievement or realization
  • 遂行 (suikou) - Execution or fulfillment of a task
  • 完了 (kanryou) - Conclusion or finalization
  • 達成する (tassei suru) - Achieve or reach a goal
  • 成し遂げる (nashitogeru) - Complete or accomplish something meaningful
  • 達する (tassuru) - Reach a destination or goal
  • 達成度 (tasseido) - Level of achievement or degree of accomplishment
  • 達成感 (tasseikan) - Feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction upon achieving a goal
  • 達成目標 (tassei mokuhyou) - Objective to be achieved
  • 達成率 (tasseiritsu) - Success rate
  • 達成者 (tasseisha) - Someone who has achieved a goal or accomplishment
  • 達成記録 (tassei kiroku) - Record of achievements or accomplishments
  • 達成力 (tasseiryoku) - Power or ability to achieve goals
  • 達成意欲 (tassei iyoku) - Desire or motivation to achieve goals
  • 達成感を得る (tasseikan wo eru) - Achieving a sense of accomplishment
  • 達成感を味わう (tasseikan wo ajiwau) - Experience the feeling of accomplishment
  • 達成感を感じる (tasseikan wo kanjiru) - Feel the sensation of accomplishment
  • 達成感を得られる (tasseikan wo erareru) - To achieve a sense of accomplishment
  • 達成感を持つ (tasseikan wo motsu) - To have a sense of accomplishment
  • 達成感を高める (tasseikan wo takameru) - Enhance the feeling of accomplishment
  • 達成感を抱く (tasseikan wo daku) - To have the feeling of accomplishment
  • 達成感を実感する (tasseikan wo jisshkan suru) - Achieving the feeling of accomplishment
  • 達成感を感じられる (tasseikan wo kanjirareru) - To feel the sensation of accomplishment
  • 達成感を感じさせる (tasseikan wo kandisaseru) - Make someone feel the sensation of accomplishment.

Related words

無限

mugen

infinite

びり

biri

last in the list; in the background

tomi

wealth; fortune

試し

tameshi

test proof

勝利

shouri

#ERROR!

出世

shuse

promotion; successful career; eminence

栄える

sakaeru

prosper; flourish

試み

kokoromi

judgment; experiment

成功

Romaji: seikou
Kana: せいこう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: success; hit

Meaning in English: success;hit

Definition: To achieve a purpose or goal.

Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (成功) seikou

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (成功) seikou:

Example Sentences - (成功) seikou

See below some example sentences:

この作戦は成功すると信じています。

Kono sakusen wa seikō suru to shinjiteimasu

I believe this strategy will succeed.

  • この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
  • 作戦 - noun meaning "strategy" or "plan of action"
  • は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
  • 成功する - verb meaning "to succeed" or "to be successful"
  • と - grammatical particle indicating a direct quotation
  • 信じています - compound verb meaning "to believe" or "to have faith"
この実験は成功するかどうかわからない。

Kono jikken wa seikō suru ka dō ka wakaranai

I don't know if this experiment will be successful.

I don't know if this experiment would be successful.

  • この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
  • 実験 - noun meaning "experiment"
  • は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
  • 成功 - noun meaning "success"
  • する - verb meaning "to do" or "to accomplish"
  • かどうか - expression meaning "if" or "if it is the case that"
  • わからない - verb meaning "not to know"
偉大なる目標を持ち続けることが成功への鍵である。

Idainaaru mokuhyou wo mochitsuzukeru koto ga seikou e no kagi de aru

Having a great goal is the key to continuous success.

Maintaining big goals is the key to success.

  • 偉大なる - Great, magnificent
  • 目標 - Objective, goal
  • を - direct object particle
  • 持ち続ける - maintain, continue to have
  • こと - abstract noun
  • が - subject particle
  • 成功 - success
  • への - preposition "to"
  • 鍵 - key
  • である - to be
勤勉に働くことが成功への鍵です。

Kinben ni hataraku koto ga seikou e no kagi desu

Working diligently is the key to success.

Working hard is the key to success.

  • 勤勉に - diligent, hardworking
  • 働くこと - to work
  • 成功への - to the success
  • 鍵 - key
失敗は成功のもと。

Shippai wa seikou no moto

Failure teaches success.

  • 失敗 (shippai) - failure, failure
  • は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
  • 成功 (seikou) - success
  • の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
  • もと (moto) - Base, foundation
奮闘することが成功への鍵です。

Funtou suru koto ga seikou e no kagi desu

Fighting is the key to success.

Struggle is the key to success.

  • 奮闘する - strive, fight
  • こと - Thing, fact
  • が - subject particle
  • 成功 - success
  • へ - Direction particle
  • の - Possession particle
  • 鍵 - key
  • です - verb to be, to stay
実践は成功への鍵です。

Jissen wa seikou e no kagi desu

Practice is the key to success.

Practice is the key to success.

  • 実践 - practice
  • は - Topic particle
  • 成功 - success
  • へ - particle indicating direction
  • の - Possession particle
  • 鍵 - key
  • です - Verb to be/estar in the present
強化することは成功への鍵です。

Kyōka suru koto wa seikō e no kagi desu

Strengthening is the key to success.

  • 強化すること - It refers to the action of strengthening or reinforcing something.
  • は - Topic particle, which indicates the main theme of the sentence.
  • 成功への - It refers to the goal of achieving success.
  • 鍵 - It refers to the key, which symbolizes something essential or fundamental.
  • です - Particle that indicates the polite or polite way of expressing a statement.
意識が高い人は成功する可能性が高いです。

Ishiki ga takai hito wa seikou suru kanousei ga takai desu

Highly conscious people will probably be successful.

  • 意識が高い人 - Conscious people
  • は - Topic particle
  • 成功する - Success
  • 可能性が高い - High probability
  • です - Sentence-ending particle
投入することが成功の鍵です。

Tōnyū suru koto ga seikō no kagi desu

Presenting is the key to success.

  • 投入すること - means "to invest" or "to put into practice".
  • 成功 - means "success".
  • 鍵 - means "key" or "secret".

Other Words of this Type: noun

See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun

成功