How to say "success" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 成功せいこうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe default word for success in the general sense: achieving a goal or desired outcome in an endeavor, plan, or undertaking. Its second gloss, 'achievement', points the same way.成功。おめでとうございます。↗Let me congratulate you on your success.
- 合格ごうかくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbSuccess only in the narrow sense of passing an exam; its core meaning is 'pass' or 'passing grade', so it is seldom the word you want for success in general.
- nounThe katakana loanword, a direct borrowing of English 'success'. Choose it when you want the English term itself; for ordinary references to success, 成功 is the safer choice.
- 盛況せいきょうnounCovers success only in the sense of an event being well-attended and booming; think of a prosperous, crowded turnout rather than personal or general success.
- 奏功そうこうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbSuccess in the sense of fruition: something undertaken bearing fruit and achieving its aim, rather than success as a general state of affairs.
Use 成功 for success in general, 合格 for passing an exam, 盛況 for a well-attended, booming event, 奏功 for a plan bearing fruit, and 「サクセス」 when the English loanword itself is wanted.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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