成功 (chéng gōng) literally combines 成 (chéng), meaning 'to accomplish' or 'to complete', and 功 (gōng), meaning 'achievement' or 'merit'. Together, they form the core noun for 'success' — not just the outcome, but the realization of a goal through effort and perseverance. It is commonly used to describe personal, academic, professional, or even societal achievements, and often carries positive emotional weight, implying satisfaction, pride, or validation.

This word functions primarily as a noun, though it can occasionally appear as a verb in formal or literary contexts (e.g., 他成功了 — 'He succeeded'). Unlike English 'success', 成功 is rarely used attributively before nouns without modification (e.g., you wouldn’t say *成功计划* without adding 的 or another particle); instead, 成功的 is the standard adjectival form. It frequently appears in motivational speech, news reports, and personal narratives — always tied to intentionality and effort, never accidental luck.