成功|せいこうseikou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbsuccess; achievement
   成功せいこう。おめでとうございます。↗

   Let me congratulate you on your success.
2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbsucceeding (in life); (worldly) success; prosperity
   人生じんせいにおける成功せいこうとはかならずしも富とみの獲得かくとくと同おなじものではない。↗

   Success in life is not necessarily the same thing as the acquirement of riches.

• SynonymサクセスNeutralLoanword, mostly in compounds like 「サクセスストーリー」; rarely stands alone. In everyday speech 「成功」 is the usual word.
• Synonym大成たいせいWrittenWritten word for winning fame and success after years of effort, as in 「画家として大成する」; the point is becoming a great figure in a field.
• Synonym達成たっせいNeutralReaching a set goal or target, as in 「目標を達成する」; the focus is on attaining a fixed objective.
• Synonym成就じょうじゅWrittenWritten word for difficult undertakings or wishes coming true, as 「恋愛成就」 and 「事業を成就する」; 「成功」 stresses a smooth outcome.
• Synonym奏功そうこうWrittenWritten word for a plan or measure working, as in 「作戦が奏功する」; the focus is on producing the desired effect.
• Related完成かんせいNeutralAbout something being finished or completed, as 「ビルが完成する」; 「成功」 is about a goal being achieved, 「完成」 about the work being done.
• Related完遂かんすいWrittenWritten word for seeing a task through to the very end, as in 「任務を完遂する」.
• Related遂行すいこうWrittenWritten word for executing or carrying out a duty or task, as in 「職務遂行」; the emphasis is on the process, not the result.
• Related開花かいかNeutralLiterally 'flowering'; figuratively, talent or effort bearing fruit, as in 「才能が開花する」.
• Related貫徹かんてつWrittenWritten word for carrying a principle or aim through to the end, as in 「初志貫徹」; the emphasis is on unwavering persistence.
• Related上首尾じょうしゅびWrittenWritten word for a matter turning out well; in daily conversation people say 「うまくいく」.
• Antonym失敗しっぱいNeutralThe direct opposite of 「成功」: things not going well, failure.
• Antonym挫折ざせつNeutralBeing thwarted partway through or giving up in discouragement, as in 「挫折を味わう」; opposed to 「成功」.
• Antonym敗北はいぼくNeutralLosing or suffering defeat, as in 「敗北を喫する」; opposed to 「成功」 in terms of winning and losing.

Use 「成功」 for achieving a goal or making it in life. For finishing say 「完成」, for hitting a target 「達成」, for wishes or hard goals coming true 「成就」, for talent blossoming 「開花」. Written words stress nuances: 「大成」 (great figure), 「完遂」/「遂行」 (carrying out tasks), 「貫徹」 (seeing it through), 「奏功」 (working), 「上首尾」 (turning out well). Opposites: 「失敗」, 「挫折」, 「敗北」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. （せいこう）うまくいくこと。目的もくてきを達成たっせいすること。
2. （せいこう）社会的しゃかいてき地位ちいを得えたり富裕ふゆうになったりすること。
3. 平安へいあん時代じだい中期ちゅうき以降いこうにおいて、朝廷ちょうていの行事ぎょうじ及および殿舎でんしゃの営繕えいぜん、寺社じしゃの堂塔どうとう修造しゅうぞう費用ひようなど本来ほんらい、朝廷ちょうていの公費こうひで負担ふたんすべきところを、任官にんかん希望者きぼうしゃを募つのり任料にんりょうを納おさめさせるか、または自己負担じこふたんでそれぞれの事業じぎょうの功こうを成ならせて、見返みかえりに官職かんしょくに叙任じょにんするという売官ばいかん制度せいどの一種いっしゅ。