成 calligraphy

成

surname Cheng; short name for Chengdu 成都[Cheng2 du1]; to succeed; to finish; to complete; to accomplish; to become; to turn into; to be all right; one tenth

Closest English meanings

become·accomplish·success

The Calligrapher — Lù Jiǎnzhī 陆柬之

Tang calligrapher and nephew of Yu Shinan; his running-script 'Essay on Literature' survives

Tang calligrapher (), master of running script — known for 《文赋》. Tang dynasty

Cultural Story

成 is the thing brought to completion. The 易經 reads it as the settle of a matter, and the histories use 成功 for the campaign that actually ended. The character once showed a weapon and a man, the deed done. It is the finish that makes the effort legible.

Common words & phrases

  • 成功 success · succeed
  • 完成 complete · finish
  • 成长 grow · grow up
  • 成绩 result · grade
  • 成就 achievement
  • 成为 become

Read the story behind the character

In the modern world

成 is the daily yes-to-done: 成功 the pass, 完成 the form, 成长 the child, 成绩 the grade. 成就 is the career summed up, 成为 the thing you turned into. It names the arrival and the becoming, the result and the road, usually before the celebration.

Own this character

Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Lù Jiǎnzhī 陆柬之, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.