功 means “merit, achievement, success”

こう · kou

Also: merits, honor

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いさお

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ, ク

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 4 · 5 strokes

The story

Craft (工) plus strength (力): work done well, with real effort behind it. 成功 is success, 功績 a contribution worth remembering, and 年功序列, pay and rank by years served, long shaped the Japanese career.

Used in 成功 (seikou, success), 功績 (kouseki, achievement/contribution), and 年功序列 (nenkou joretsu, seniority system)

More from Crests & Honors

• 称 name
• 誉 honor
• 威 dignity
• 旗 flag
• 誇 pride
• 彰 commend
• 卓 table
• 銘 inscription
• 冠 crown
• 勲 meritorious deed
• 紋 crest
• 碑 monument

Learn 功 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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