成 means “become, achieve”

せい · sei

Also: turn into, get, grow

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

なる, なす

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

セイ, ジョウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 6 strokes

The story

A halberd (戈) whose work is done: something carried through to the end. 成 is becoming and achieving: 成功 is success, 成長 is growing up, and 成人の日 in January honors those who have become adults.

Used in 成功 (seikou, success), 成長 (seichou, growth), and 完成 (kansei, completion)

More from Time & Change

• 期 period
• 続 continue
• 初 first
• 際 edge
• 次 next
• 昨 yesterday
• 変 change
• 過 pass
• 末 end
• 未 not yet
• 更 renew
• 刻 carve

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.