Usage of the character 成

Chinese set expression, typically of 4 characters, often alluding to a story or historical quotation; idiom; proverb; saying; adage
CL:條／条 (tiáo),本 (běn),句 (jù)

biànchéng

变成

[變成]

to change into
to turn into
to become

chéngsè

成色

[成色]

relative purity of silver or gold
purity in carat weight
quality
fineness

shǒuchéng

守成

[守成]

to preserve the accomplishments of previous generations
to carry on the good work of one's predecessors

wúchéng

无成

[無成]

achieving nothing

chéngtiān

成天

[成天]

(coll.) all day long
all the time

zànchéng

赞成

[贊成]

to approve
to endorse
(literary) to assist

Chéngxiàn

成县

[成縣]

Cheng county in Longnan 隴南／陇南 ( Lǒngnán), Gansu

chéngjīng

成精

[成精]

(of an animal or tree etc) to become a spirit or goblin
(fig.) to be amazingly skillful, smart or evil etc

chénglóng

成龙

[成龍]

to succeed in life
to become somebody

suōchéng

缩成

[縮成]

to shrink into

dàngchéng

当成

[當成]

to consider as; to take to be

chéngzhāng

成章

[成章]

to form a coherent composition

chéngcái

成材

[成材]

to make sth of oneself
to become a person who is worthy of respect
(of a tree) to grow to full size
to become useful for timber

shōuchéng

收成

[收成]

harvest

chénghuà

成话

[成話]

to make sense

fēngchéng

风成

[風成]

produced by wind
eolian

chéngtǐ

成体

[成體]

adult
fully formed
developed

chéngqiān

成千

[成千]

thousands

chéngfèn

成份

[成份]

composition
make-up
ingredient
element
component
one's social status
same as 成分

shǐchéng

使成

[使成]

to cause
to render

jiǎnchéng

剪成

[剪成]

cut into

chéngběn

成本

[成本]

(manufacturing, production etc) costs

xíngchéng

形成

[形成]

to form; to take shape

chéngshèng

成圣

[成聖]

(Christianity) to be sanctified; to become holy

chéngzhēn

成真

[成真]

to come true

kànchéng

看成

[看成]

to regard as

chéngwéi

成为

[成為]

to become; to turn into

Chéngdū

成都

[成都]

Chengdu subprovincial city and capital of Sichuan province 四川 in southwest China

chéngxiān

成仙

[成仙]

(Taoism) to become an immortal

gǎichéng

改成

[改成]

to convert
to turn into (sth else)
to adapt (a story to another medium)

fēnchéng

分成

[分成]

to divide (into)
to split a bonus
to break into
tenths
percentage allotment

chéngpiàn

成片

[成片]

(of a large number of things) to form an expanse
to cover an area

qiēchéng

切成

[切成]

to cut up (into pieces)
to slice
to carve
to dice
to shred

chéngqì

成器

[成器]

to make sth of oneself
to become a person who is worthy of respect

chéngcéng

成层

[成層]

layered
stratified

chénghé

成核

[成核]

nucleation

mùchéng

目成

[目成]

to make eyes
to exchange flirting glances with sb

chéngyǐn

成瘾

[成癮]

to be addicted
addiction

zǔchéng

组成

[組成]

to form
to make up
to constitute

chéngzāi

成灾

[成災]

disastrous
to turn into a disaster

wèichéng

未成

[未成]

minor (i.e. person under 18)
incomplete
unachieved
failed
abortive

Chénghuá

成华

[成華]

Chenghua district of Chengdu city 成都市 ( Chéngdūshì), Sichuan

Chénggōng

成功

[成功]

Chenggong or Chengkung town in Taitung County 臺東縣／台东县 ( Táidōng Xiàn), southeast Taiwan

Chéng Hàn

成汉

[成漢]

Cheng Han of the Sixteen Kingdoms (304-347)

chéngshū

成书

[成書]

to finish (writing a book); to appear in book form
a book already in circulation

jiànchéng

建成

[建成]

to establish
to build

Chénghuà

成化

[成化]

Chenghua, reign title of the eighth Ming emperor (reigned 1465-1487)

chéngshú

成熟

[成熟]

mature; ripe
to mature; to ripen
Taiwan pr. (chéngshou)

wèichéng

蔚成

[蔚成]

to afford (a magnificent view etc)
to become (a prevailing fashion etc)

chéngyī

成衣

[成衣]

ready-made clothes

chénglì

成立

[成立]

to establish
to set up
to be tenable
to hold water

chéngjiā

成家

[成家]

to settle down and get married (of a man)
to become a recognized expert

chéngqún

成群

[成群]

in groups
large numbers of
grouping

wánchéng

完成

[完成]

to complete; to accomplish

jíchéng

集成

[集成]

integrated (as in integrated circuit)

chéngtào

成套

[成套]

forming a complete set
complementing one another

chéngjiù

成就

[成就]

accomplishment
success
achievement
CL:個／个 (gè)
to achieve (a result)
to create
to bring about

chéngpǐn

成品

[成品]

finished goods
a finished product

chéngyào

成药

[成藥]

patent medicine
medicine already made up

chéngjì

成绩

[成績]

achievement
performance records
grades
CL:項／项 (xiàng),個／个 (gè)

chéngxiào

成效

[成效]

effect
result

jiéchéng

结成

[結成]

to form
to forge (alliances etc)

zhǎngchéng

长成

[長成]

to grow up

Chéng Yú

成渝

[成渝]

Chengdu 成都 and Chongqing 重慶／重庆

luòchéng

落成

[落成]

to complete a construction project

gòuchéng

构成

[構成]

to constitute
to form
to compose
to make up
to configure (computing)

jiǔchéng

九成

[九成]

nine-tenths
ninety percent

Chéngwǔ

成武

[成武]

Chengwu county in Heze 菏澤／菏泽 ( Hézé), Shandong

chéngjiàn

成见

[成見]

preconceived idea
bias
prejudice

chéngshì

成事

[成事]

to accomplish the objective
to succeed

shēnchéngyán

深成岩

[深成岩]

plutonic rock
abyssal rock

hùnchéngcí

混成词

[混成詞]

(linguistics) portmanteau

sùchéngbān

速成班

[速成班]

intensive course
crash course

wánchéngshí

完成时

[完成時]

perfect tense (grammar)

nánbùchéng

难不成

[難不成]

Is it possible that ... ?

Lǐ Chéngguì

李成桂

[李成桂]

Yi Seong-gye (1335-1408), founder and first king of Korean Yi dynasty (1392-1910)

chéngyǐnxìng

成瘾性

[成癮性]

addictiveness

Míng Chéngzǔ

明成祖

[明成祖]

Ming Chengzu, temple name of third Ming Emperor Yongle 永樂／永乐 ( Yǒnglè)

duànchéngmò

煅成末

[煅成末]

to calcine (purify by heating)

yǎnchéngchuān

眼成穿

[眼成穿]

to watch in anticipation (idiom)

chéngwèntí

成问题

[成問題]

to be a problem
problematic
questionable

chéngyuánguó

成员国

[成員國]

member country

xìngchéngshú

性成熟

[性成熟]

sexual maturity

shēngchéngshù

生成树

[生成樹]

spanning tree (in graph theory)

bànchéngpǐn

半成品

[半成品]

semi-manufactured goods
semifinished articles
semifinished products

chéngfāngr

成方儿

[成方兒]

set prescription (i.e. medicine specifically prescribed for a definite condition)

Xiàochéng Wáng

孝成王

[孝成王]

King Xiaocheng of Zhao 趙國／赵国, reigned 266-245 BC

chéngzhǎnglü

成长率

[成長率]

growth rate

héchéngcí

合成词

[合成詞]

compound word

Chéngjūnguǎn

成均馆

[成均館]

Koryo Seonggyungwan, university dating back to Korean Goryeo dynasty, in Gaesong, North Korea
Sungkyun kwan university, Seoul

Lǐ Chéngjiāng

李成江

[李成江]

Li Chengjiang (1979-), Chinese figure skater

Zhèng Chénggōng

郑成功

[鄭成功]

Koxinga (1624-1662), military leader

xíngchéngcéng

形成层

[形成層]

vascular cambium (layer of tissue responsible for growth inside wood)

chéngjiāojià

成交价

[成交價]

sale price; negotiated price; price reached at auction

Chéngwǔxiàn

成武县

[成武縣]

Chengwu county in Heze 菏澤／菏泽 ( Hézé), Shandong

chéngrénxiàng

成人向

[成人向]

suitable for adults

chéngjìdān

成绩单

[成績單]

school report or transcript

Róngchéngshì

荣成市

[榮成市]

Rongcheng, county-level city in Weihai 威海, Shandong

wèiwánchéng

未完成

[未完成]

imperfect
incomplete

jiànchéngqū

建成区

[建成區]

built-up area
urban area

rèchéngcéng

热成层

[熱成層]

thermosphere

Xuē Fúchéng

薛福成

[薛福成]

Xue Fucheng (1838-1894), Qing official and progressive political theorist

wèichéngnián

未成年

[未成年]

underage

héchéngwù

合成物

[合成物]

compound
composite
cocktail

chénghuólü

成活率

[成活率]

survival rate
rate of success

Jīn Rìchéng

金日成

[金日成]

Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) Great Leader of North Korea

Lǐ Jiànchéng

李建成

[李建成]

Li Jiancheng (589-626), eldest son of first Tang emperor Li Yuan 唐高祖李淵／唐高祖李渊, murdered by his brother 李世民 in the Xuanwu Gate coup 玄武門之變／玄武门之变
Professor Li Jiancheng (1964-), geophysicist and specialist in satellite geodesy

chéngmíngzuò

成名作

[成名作]

seminal work that propels a writer (or artist, composer etc) to fame

Chéng'ānxiàn

成安县

[成安縣]

Chang'an county in Handan 邯鄲／邯郸 ( Hándān), Hebei

chéngniánrén

成年人

[成年人]

adult person

dīchéngběn

低成本

[低成本]

low cost
inexpensive

yǐchéngxíng

已成形

[已成形]

preformed

xīnchéngtǔ

新成土

[新成土]

primosol (soil taxonomy)

bùchéngwén

不成文

[不成文]

unwritten (rule)

Qí Wǔ Chéng

齐武成

[齊武成]

Emperor Wucheng of Qi, personal name 高湛 ( Gāo Dān) (537-568), reigned 561-565

Qiū Chéngtóng

丘成桐

[丘成桐]

Shing-Tung Yau (1949-), Chinese-American mathematician, Fields medalist in 1982

Zhōu Chéngwáng

周成王

[周成王]

King Cheng of Zhou (1055-1021 BC), reigned 1042-1021 BC as the 2nd king of Western Zhou 西周 ( Xī Zhōu), son of King Wu of Zhou 周武王 ( Zhōu Wǔwáng)

héhéchéng

核合成

[核合成]

nucleosynthesis

bùzànchéng

不赞成

[不贊成]

disapproval
to disapprove

Chénggōngzhèn

成功镇

[成功鎮]

Chenggong or Chengkung town in Taitung County 臺東縣／台东县 ( Táidōng Xiàn), southeast Taiwan

Xióng Chéngjī

熊成基

[熊成基]

Xiong Chengji (1887-1910), anti-Qing revolutionary and martyr

chéngpǐnyóu

成品油

[成品油]

refined oil

Fùchéngmén

阜成门

[阜成門]

Fuchengmen neighborhood of Beijing

chéngwénfǎ

成文法

[成文法]

statute

zhìchéngpǐn

制成品

[製成品]

manufactured goods; finished product

Róngchéngwān

荣成湾

[榮成灣]

Roncheng bay near Weihai 威海市 on north coast of Shandong

lèichénggǒu

累成狗

[累成狗]

(Internet slang) to be dog-tired

chénggōnggǎn

成功感

[成功感]

sense of accomplishment

huǒchéngyán

火成岩

[火成岩]

igneous rock (geology)
volcanic rock

zhōngchéngyào

中成药

[中成藥]

prepared prescription (Chinese medicine)

bùchéngcái

不成材

[不成材]

worthless
good-for-nothing

héchéngqì

合成器

[合成器]

synthesizer

Zhāng Chéngzé

张成泽

[張成澤]

Jang Song-taek (1946-2013), brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il 金正日 ( Jīn Zhèngrì), uncle and mentor of Kim Jong-un 金正恩 ( Jīn Zhèng'ēn), in 2013 accused of being a counter-revolutionary and executed

Lǐ Zìchéng

李自成

[李自成]

Li Zicheng (1605-1645), leader of peasant rebellion at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chéngshízōng

成实宗

[成實宗]

Satyasiddhi school of Buddhism

Chéngdūshì

成都市

[成都市]

Chengdu subprovincial city and capital of Sichuan province 四川 in southwest China

Wénchéngxiàn

文成县

[文成縣]

Wencheng county in Wenzhou 溫州／温州 ( Wēnzhōu), Zhejiang

chéngjiùgǎn

成就感

[成就感]

sense of achievement

héchéngshù

合成数

[合成數]

composite number (i.e. not prime, has a factorization)

wèichéngguān

未成冠

[未成冠]

minor (old usage, person under 20)

chéngniánzhě

成年者

[成年者]

adult

héchéngfǎ

合成法

[合成法]

(chemical) synthesis

bùchénghuà

不成话

[不成話]

see 不像話／不像话 (bùxiànghuà)

chéngrénlǐ

成人礼

[成人禮]

coming of age ceremony

chéngfǎnbǐ

成反比

[成反比]

to vary inversely
inversely proportional to

Chénghuáqū

成华区

[成華區]

Chenghua district of Chengdu city 成都市 ( Chéngdūshì), Sichuan

zǒngchéngběn

总成本

[總成本]

total costs

xiànchénghuà

现成话

[現成話]

ready-made phrase
unhelpful comment

chéngyàngzi

成样子

[成樣子]

seemly
presentable

Wèi Liúchéng

卫留成

[衛留成]

Wei Liucheng (1946-), fifth governor of Hainan

yánchéngtǔ

盐成土

[鹽成土]

halosol (soil taxonomy)

chéngfèngǔ

成份股

[成份股]

share included in composite index

héchénggé

合成革

[合成革]

synthetic leather

zànchéngpiào

赞成票

[贊成票]

approval
affirmative vote

shùnlǐchéngzhāng

顺理成章

[順理成章]

logical
only to be expected
rational and clearly structured (of text)

xiāngyìngchéngqù

相映成趣

[相映成趣]

to set each other off nicely

bōlánlǎochéng

波澜老成

[波瀾老成]

splendid and powerful (of story)
majestic
awesome

lüshùchéngyīn

绿树成荫

[綠樹成蔭]

(of an area) to have trees with shade-giving foliage; (of a road) to be tree-lined

chéngkǎoyímín

成考移民

[成考移民]

mandatory college exam for immigrants

kuìbùchéngjūn

溃不成军

[潰不成軍]

(of troops) to be utterly routed and dispersed

wàiláichéngyǔ

外来成语

[外來成語]

loan idiom

yīnrénchéngshì

因人成事

[因人成事]

to get things done relying on others (idiom); with a little help from his friends

xūntáochéngxìng

熏陶成性

[熏陶成性]

(idiom) nurture makes second nature
good habits come by long assimilation

jùshāchéngtǎ

聚沙成塔

[聚沙成塔]

sand grains accumulate to make a tower a tower (idiom); by gathering small amounts one gets a huge quantity
many a mickle makes a muckle

yīqìhēchéng

一气呵成

[一氣呵成]

to do something at one go
to flow smoothly

yǒuzhìjìngchéng

有志竟成

[有志竟成]

persevere and you will succeed (idiom); where there's a will, there's a way

lèguānqíchéng

乐观其成

[樂觀其成]

to look favorably on sth
would be glad to see it happen

yǔyīnhéchéng

语音合成

[語音合成]

speech synthesis

zhuóyǒuchéngxiào

卓有成效

[卓有成效]

highly effective
fruitful

dàqìwǎnchéng

大器晚成

[大器晚成]

lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
Rome wasn't built in a day

chéngbàilùnrén

成败论人

[成敗論人]

to judge people based on their success or failure (idiom)

zhōngchéngpàoyǐng

终成泡影

[終成泡影]

(idiom) to come to nothing

bǎishìwúchéng

百事无成

[百事無成]

to have accomplished nothing (idiom)

lìshǐchéngběn

历史成本

[歷史成本]

historic cost (accounting)

lǎochéngchízhòng

老成持重

[老成持重]

old and wise
experienced and knowledgeable

wèichéngniánrén

未成年人

[未成年人]

minor (i.e. person under 18)

chéngniánlěiyuè

成年累月

[成年累月]

year in, year out (idiom)

Bǎo Chéngtiělù

宝成铁路

[寶成鐵路]

Baoji-Chengdu Railway

Zhōngshān Chéngbīn

中山成彬

[中山成彬]

NAKAYAMA Nariaki (1943-), right-wing Japanese politician and prominent denier of Japanese war crimes

xiāngfǔxiāngchéng

相辅相成

[相輔相成]

to complement one another (idiom)

chéngqiānshàngwàn

成千上万

[成千上萬]

lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers
innumerable
thousands upon thousands

chéngbàilìdùn

成败利钝

[成敗利鈍]

succeed or fail, sharp or blunt (idiom); advantages and disadvantages
success and failure
You win some, you lose some.

chéngjiālìshì

成家立室

[成家立室]

to get married (idiom)

chéngshuāngchéngduì

成双成对

[成雙成對]

to form pairs
to be in couples

mòshǒuchéngguī

墨守成规

[墨守成規]

hidebound by convention (idiom)

chéngqiānlěiwàn

成千累万

[成千累萬]

lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers
innumerable
thousands upon thousands

shāshēnchéngrén

杀身成仁

[殺身成仁]

(idiom) to die a martyr; to be martyred

jiāgōngchéngběn

加工成本

[加工成本]

processing cost

huǒchéngsuìxiè

火成碎屑

[火成碎屑]

pyroclastic

kěwàngyǒuchéng

可望有成

[可望有成]

can be expected to be a success

chéngjiālìyè

成家立业

[成家立業]

to get married and start a career (idiom)
to settle down
to establish oneself

gōngchéngbùjū

功成不居

[功成不居]

not to claim personal credit for achievement (idiom)

jiàhèchéngxiān

驾鹤成仙

[駕鶴成仙]

to fly on a crane and become immortal

zuòguānchéngbài

坐观成败

[坐觀成敗]

to sit and await success or failure (idiom); to wait to see the outcome of a fight before taking sides
to sit on the fence

diǎnjīnchéngtiě

点金成铁

[點金成鐵]

to transform gold into base metal (idiom); fig. to edit sb else's beautiful prose and ruin it

yīchéng-bùbiàn

一成不变

[一成不變]

(idiom) immutable; impervious to change; set in stone

bùchéngwénfǎ

不成文法

[不成文法]

unwritten law

yījǔchénggōng

一举成功

[一舉成功]

success at one go
to succeed at the first attempt

jiéduìchéngqún

结队成群

[結隊成群]

to form a large group (idiom)

zǔchéngbùfèn

组成部分

[組成部分]

part
component
ingredient
constituent

dàgōnggàochéng

大功告成

[大功告成]

successfully accomplished (project or goal)
to be highly successful

diǎnshíchéngjīn

点石成金

[點石成金]

to touch base matter and turn it to gold (idiom); fig. to turn crude writing into a literary gem

gōngbàichuíchéng

功败垂成

[功敗垂成]

to fail within sight of success (idiom); last-minute failure
to fall at the last hurdle
snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

zhùchéngdàcuò

铸成大错

[鑄成大錯]

to make a serious mistake (idiom)

guāngnénghéchéng

光能合成

[光能合成]

photosynthesis

móchǔchéngzhēn

磨杵成针

[磨杵成針]

to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiom); fig. to persevere in a difficult task
to study diligently

chéngzhúzàixiōng

成竹在胸

[成竹在胸]

see 胸有成竹 (xiongyouchēngzhu)

nǎoxiūchéngnù

恼羞成怒

[惱羞成怒]

to fly into a rage out of humiliation
to be ashamed into anger (idiom)

xīnxiǎngshìchéng

心想事成

[心想事成]

(idiom) to have one's wishes come true; wish you the best!

héchéngxiàngjiāo

合成橡胶

[合成橡膠]

synthetic rubber

bǎiliànchénggāng

百炼成钢

[百煉成鋼]

to be tempered into a steel

chéngshuāngzuòduì

成双作对

[成雙作對]

see 成雙成對／成双成对 (chéngshuāngchéngduì)

jíchéngxiǎnkǎ

集成显卡

[集成顯卡]

integrated GPU (abbr. to 集顯／集显 (jíxiǎn))

jīfēichéngshì

积非成是

[積非成是]

a wrong repeated becomes right (idiom); a lie or an error passed on for a long time may be taken for the truth

shuǐdàoqúchéng

水到渠成

[水到渠成]

lit. where water flows, a canal is formed (idiom)
fig. when conditions are right, success will follow naturally

mǐyǐchéngchuī

米已成炊

[米已成炊]

lit. the rice has already been cooked (idiom)
fig. what is done cannot be undone

jíchéngdiànlù

集成电路

[集成電路]

integrated circuit
IC

wǎngluòchéngyǐn

网络成瘾

[網絡成癮]

Internet addiction
net addiction
web addiction

yīyǔchéngqiū

一雨成秋

[一雨成秋]

a sudden shower towards the end of summer brings an abrupt arrival of autumn (idiom)

dáchéngxiéyì

达成协议

[達成協議]

to reach agreement

xiūliànchéngxiān

修炼成仙

[修煉成仙]

lit. to practice austerities to become a Daoist immortal
practice makes perfect

xiāngyánchéngxí

相沿成习

[相沿成習]

well established
accepted as a result of long usage

chéngqúnjiéduì

成群结队

[成群結隊]

making up a group, forming a troupe (idiom); in large numbers
as a large crowd

luànchéngyītuán

乱成一团

[亂成一團]

in a great mess
chaotic

zhuóshǒuchéngchūn

着手成春

[著手成春]

lit. set out and it becomes spring (idiom); to effect a miracle cure (of medical operation)
to bring back the dead
once it starts, everything goes well

diǎntiěchéngjīn

点铁成金

[點鐵成金]

to touch base matter and turn it to gold (idiom); fig. to turn crude writing into a literary gem

jíyèchéngqiú

集腋成裘

[集腋成裘]

many hairs make a fur coat (idiom); many small contributions add up to sth big
many a mickle makes a muckle

chéngbǎishàngqiān

成百上千

[成百上千]

hundreds
a large number
lit. by the hundreds and thousands

Chéngtián Jīchǎng

成田机场

[成田機場]

Narita Airport (Tokyo)

chūkǒuchéngzhāng

出口成章

[出口成章]

(idiom) (of one's speech) eloquent
articulate

fǎnmùchéngchóu

反目成仇

[反目成仇]

(idiom) to fall out with sb; to become enemies

bàibùchéngjūn

败不成军

[敗不成軍]

The army is completely routed. (idiom)

zàochéngwèntí

造成问题

[造成問題]

to create an issue
to cause a problem

yuēdìngsúchéng

约定俗成

[約定俗成]

established by popular usage (idiom); common usage agreement
customary convention

jīběnwánchéng

基本完成

[基本完成]

fundamentally complete
basically finished

gōngchéngmíngjiù

功成名就

[功成名就]

to win success and recognition (idiom)

huīhànchéngyǔ

挥汗成雨

[揮汗成雨]

to drip with sweat
sweat poured off (him)

jiātíngchéngyuán

家庭成员

[家庭成員]

family member

héchéngshíyóu

合成石油

[合成石油]

synthetic oil

shàoniánlǎochéng

少年老成

[少年老成]

accomplished though young
lacking youthful vigor

tiěchǔchéngzhēn

铁杵成针

[鐵杵成針]

see 磨杵成針／磨杵成针 (móchǔchéngzhēn)

bùchéngyàngzi

不成样子

[不成樣子]

shapeless
deformed
ruined
beyond recognition
(of a person) reduced to a shadow

xiūchéngzhèngguǒ

修成正果

[修成正果]

to achieve Buddhahood through one's efforts and insight
to obtain a positive outcome after sustained efforts
to come to fruition

dǎchéngpíngshǒu

打成平手

[打成平手]

to draw (a competition)
to fight to a standstill

chéngwángbàikòu

成王败寇

[成王敗寇]

see 成則為王，敗則為寇／成则为王，败则为寇 (chéngzéwéiwáng,bàizéwéikòu)

lèjiànqíchéng

乐见其成

[樂見其成]

to look favorably on sth
would be glad see it happen

bāxiàngchéngdào

八相成道

[八相成道]

the eight stages of the Buddha's life (Buddhism)

jīláochéngjí

积劳成疾

[積勞成疾]

to accumulate work causes sickness (idiom); to fall ill from constant overwork

yīshìwúchéng

一事无成

[一事無成]

to have achieved nothing
to be a total failure
to get nowhere

mùyǐchéngzhōu

木已成舟

[木已成舟]

lit. the timber has been turned into a boat already (idiom)
fig. what is done cannot be undone

jiējíchéngfèn

阶级成分

[階級成分]

social composition
social status (in Marxist theory, esp. using during the Cultural Revolution)

xīdúchéngyǐn

吸毒成瘾

[吸毒成癮]

drug addiction

xuèshuānxíngchéng

血栓形成

[血栓形成]

thrombosis

jītǔchéngshān

积土成山

[積土成山]

lit. piling up dirt eventually creates a mountain (idiom)
fig. success is the cumulation of lots of small actions

xíyǐchéngxìng

习以成性

[習以成性]

deeply ingrained
steeped in

yīn'àichénghèn

因爱成恨

[因愛成恨]

hatred caused by love (idiom)
to grow to hate someone because of unrequited love for that person

héchéngxiānwéi

合成纤维

[合成纖維]

synthetic fiber

shēngchǎnchéngběn

生产成本

[生產成本]

production costs

zhòngzhìchéngchéng

众志成城

[眾志成城]

unity of will is an impregnable stronghold (idiom)

jiǔbìngchéngyī

久病成医

[久病成醫]

(proverb) a long illness makes the patient into a doctor

Chéngjísīhán

成吉思汗

[成吉思汗]

Genghis Khan (1162-1227), founder and ruler of the Mongol Empire

héchéngdàixiè

合成代谢

[合成代謝]

anabolism (biology)
constructive metabolism (using energy to make proteins etc)
assimilation

bàochéngyītuán

抱成一团

[抱成一團]

to band together
to gang up
to stick together

pínlühéchéng

频率合成

[頻率合成]

frequency synthesis

shìshāchéngxìng

嗜杀成性

[嗜殺成性]

bloodthirsty

Chuānduān Kāngchéng

川端康成

[川端康成]

Kawabata Yasunari, Japanese literature Nobel laureate

xuèliúchénghé

血流成河

[血流成河]

rivers of blood (idiom)
bloodbath

wèichéngniánzhě

未成年者

[未成年者]

minor (not an adult)

xiōngyǒuchéngzhú

胸有成竹

[胸有成竹]

(idiom) to have a well thought out plan in mind

huāngchéngyītuán

慌成一团

[慌成一團]

(of a group of people) to run about helplessly

zuòxiǎngqíchéng

坐享其成

[坐享其成]

to reap where one has not sown (idiom)

zhèngchángchéngběn

正常成本

[正常成本]

normal cost (accountancy)

chénmòchéngběn

沉没成本

[沉沒成本]

sunk cost (economics)

chéngyǔdiǎngù

成语典故

[成語典故]

historical or literary anecdote that gives rise to a saying

jìchéngshìshí

既成事实

[既成事實]

fait accompli

zìxuéchéngcái

自学成才

[自學成才]

a self-made genius

nòngjiǎchéngzhēn

弄假成真

[弄假成真]

pretense that turns into reality (idiom); to play at make-believe, but accidentally make it true

chénghétǐtǒng

成何体统

[成何體統]

What a scandal!
Whatever next?

chéngshúfēnliè

成熟分裂

[成熟分裂]

meiosis (in sexual reproduction)

jīhuìchéngběn

机会成本

[機會成本]

opportunity cost

bùchéngtǐtǒng

不成体统

[不成體統]

not according with decorum (idiom); scandalous
bad form
unacceptable behavior

měimèngchéngzhēn

美梦成真

[美夢成真]

a dream come true

shíchéng-jiǔwěn

十成九稳

[十成九穩]

see 十拿九穩／十拿九稳 (shiná-jiuwén)

chéngjìzhuórán

成绩卓然

[成績卓然]

to achieve astounding results (idiom)

lǎoxiūchéngnù

老羞成怒

[老羞成怒]

see 惱羞成怒／恼羞成怒 (nǎoxiūchéngnù)

mǎdàochénggōng

马到成功

[馬到成功]

to win instant success (idiom)

sānrénchénghǔ

三人成虎

[三人成虎]

three men talking makes a tiger (idiom); repeated rumor becomes a fact

héchéngyǔyīn

合成语音

[合成語音]

assembled phonology

chéngqiānchéngwàn

成千成万

[成千成萬]

lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers
innumerable
thousands upon thousands

fèngzǐchénghūn

奉子成婚

[奉子成婚]

to marry after getting pregnant

biānjìchéngběn

边际成本

[邊際成本]

marginal cost

jīshǎochéngduō

积少成多

[積少成多]

(idiom) many little things add up to sth great; many little drops make an ocean

tuōtāichéngxiān

脱胎成仙

[脫胎成仙]

reborn as immortal

pòjiǎnchéngdié

破茧成蝶

[破繭成蝶]

lit. to break through a cocoon and turn into a butterfly (idiom)
fig. to emerge strong after a period of struggle
to get to a better place after going through difficult period

hǎomèngnánchéng

好梦难成

[好夢難成]

a beautiful dream is hard to realize (idiom)

kāikǒuchéngzāng

开口成脏

[開口成髒]

(Internet slang) to use foul language (pun on 出口成章 (chūkǒuchéngzhāng))

yīyǔchéngchèn

一语成谶

[一語成讖]

(idiom) to have one's words turn out to be (tragically) prophetic

wàngnüchéngfèng

望女成凤

[望女成鳳]

lit. to hope one's daughter becomes a phoenix (idiom)
fig. to hope one's daughter is a success in life

nòngqiǎochéngzhuō

弄巧成拙

[弄巧成拙]

to overreach oneself
to try to be clever and end up with egg on one's face

xíyǐchéngsú

习以成俗

[習以成俗]

to become accustomed to sth through long practice

yèbùchéngmián

夜不成眠

[夜不成眠]

to be unable to sleep at night

fǔyǎngchéngrén

抚养成人

[撫養成人]

to bring up (a child)

wèiránchéngfēng

蔚然成风

[蔚然成風]

to have become common practice (idiom)
to become a general trend

dǎchéngyīpiàn

打成一片

[打成一片]

to merge
to integrate
to become as one
to unify together

qūdǎchéngzhāo

屈打成招

[屈打成招]

to obtain confessions under torture

shìyèyǒuchéng

事业有成

[事業有成]

to be successful in business
professional success

jíyúqiúchéng

急于求成

[急於求成]

anxious for quick results (idiom); to demand instant success
impatient for result
impetuous

héchéngyǔjìng

合成语境

[合成語境]

composite context

suōchéngyītuán

缩成一团

[縮成一團]

to huddle together
to curl up

zhōngchéngjuànshǔ

终成眷属

[終成眷屬]

see 有情人終成眷屬／有情人终成眷属 (yǒuqíngrénzhōngchéngjuànshǔ)

huàxuéchéngfèn

化学成分

[化學成分]

chemical composition

xiōngyǒuchéngsuàn

胸有成算

[胸有成算]

the hero has plans already laid (idiom); to have plans ready in advance
forewarned is forearmed

chéngyǔjiēlóng

成语接龙

[成語接龍]

game where the last word of one idiom 成語／成语 (chéngyǔ) is the first of the next

xuéyèyǒuchéng

学业有成

[學業有成]

to be successful in one's studies
academic success

lìdìchéngfó

立地成佛

[立地成佛]

to become a Buddha on the spot (idiom); instant rehabilitation
to repent and be absolved of one's crimes

sānwǔchéngqún

三五成群

[三五成群]

in groups of three or four (idiom)

chéngbàidéshī

成败得失

[成敗得失]

lit. success and failure, the gains and losses (idiom)
fig. to weigh up various factors

jīxíchéngsú

积习成俗

[積習成俗]

accumulated habits become custom

zìchéngyījiā

自成一家

[自成一家]

to have a style of one's own

shìjiāchéngpǐ

嗜痂成癖

[嗜痂成癖]

to have strange and dangerous addictions (idiom)

húnrántiānchéng

浑然天成

[渾然天成]

to resemble nature itself
of the highest quality (idiom)

wàngzǐchénglóng

望子成龙

[望子成龍]

lit. to hope one's son becomes a dragon (idiom); fig. to long for one' s child to succeed in life
to have great hopes for one's offspring
to give one's child the best education as a career investment

xiōngyǒuchénglüè

胸有成略

[胸有成略]

the hero has plans already laid (idiom); to have plans ready in advance
forewarned is forearmed

fànlànchéngzāi

泛滥成灾

[泛濫成災]

lit. to flood (idiom)
fig. rampant
in plague proportions

shìchéngqíhǔ

势成骑虎

[勢成騎虎]

if you ride a tiger, it's hard to get off (idiom); fig. impossible to stop halfway

yǔzhòushēngchénglùn

宇宙生成论

[宇宙生成論]

cosmology

chéngzhǎngxíngsīwéi

成长型思维

[成長型思維]

growth mindset

gōngdàozìránchéng

功到自然成

[功到自然成]

effort will undoubtedly lead to success (idiom)

bùdǎbùchéngcái

不打不成才

[不打不成才]

spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)

cígòngzhènchéngxiàng

磁共振成像

[磁共振成像]

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

héchénglèigùchún

合成类固醇

[合成類固醇]

anabolic steroids

chénggǔbùquánzhèng

成骨不全症

[成骨不全症]

osteogenesis imperfecta (OI); brittle bone disease

chéngbuliǎoqìhòu

成不了气候

[成不了氣候]

won't get far; unlikely to be successful

bùdǎbùchéngqì

不打不成器

[不打不成器]

spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)

xíguànchéngzìrán

习惯成自然

[習慣成自然]

habit becomes nature (idiom); get used to something and it seems inevitable
second nature

píngjūnchéngběnfǎ

平均成本法

[平均成本法]

(finance) dollar cost averaging

Bùkōngchéngjiùfó

不空成就佛

[不空成就佛]

Amoghasiddhi Buddha

wúqiǎobùchéngshū

无巧不成书

[無巧不成書]

curious coincidence

héchéngxǐdíjì

合成洗涤剂

[合成洗滌劑]

synthetic detergent

jiǔbìngchéngliángyī

久病成良医

[久病成良醫]

long illness makes the patient into a good doctor (idiom)

dúmùbùchénglín

独木不成林

[獨木不成林]

a lone tree does not make a forest (idiom)
one cannot accomplish much on one's own

nǎochéngxiàngjìshù

脑成像技术

[腦成像技術]

brain imaging technique

níngchéngyīgǔshéng

拧成一股绳

[擰成一股繩]

to twist (strands) together to form a rope
(fig.) to unite; to work together

hèntiěbùchénggāng

恨铁不成钢

[恨鐵不成鋼]

lit. disappointed that iron does not turn into steel (idiom)
fig. frustrated with sb who has failed to meet one's expectations

xífù'áochéngpó

媳妇熬成婆

[媳婦熬成婆]

lit. even a submissive daughter-in-law will one day become a domineering mother-in-law (idiom)
fig. the oppressed will become the oppressor
what goes around comes around

Tiānwénxué Dàchéng

天文学大成

[天文學大成]

the Almagest by Ptolemy

bùchénggōngbiànchéngrén

不成功便成仁

[不成功便成仁]

to succeed or die trying (idiom)

Chéngdū Tǐyù Dàxué

成都体育大学

[成都體育大學]

Chengdu Sports University

shēngmǐzhǔchéngshúfàn

生米煮成熟饭

[生米煮成熟飯]

the rice is cooked
what's done is done
it's too late to change anything now (idiom)

bùdǎbùchéngxiāngshí

不打不成相识

[不打不成相識]

don't fight, won't make friends (idiom); an exchange of blows may lead to friendship

gāobùchéngdībùjiù

高不成低不就

[高不成低不就]

can't reach the high or accept the low (idiom); not good enough for a high post, but too proud to take a low one

chéngbàizàicǐyījǔ

成败在此一举

[成敗在此一舉]

win or lose, it all ends here
this is the moment to shine

yǒuzhìzhěshìjìngchéng

有志者事竟成

[有志者事竟成]

a really determined person will find a solution (idiom); where there's a will, there's a way

zhuānyòngjíchéngdiànlù

专用集成电路

[專用集成電路]

application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)

piānzhèngshìhéchéngcí

偏正式合成词

[偏正式合成詞]

modified compound word

shēngmǐzuòchéngshúfàn

生米做成熟饭

[生米做成熟飯]

lit. the raw rice is now cooked (idiom); fig. it is done and can't be changed
It's too late to change anything now.
also written 生米煮成熟飯／生米煮成熟饭

hóngxuèqiúshēngchéngsù

红血球生成素

[紅血球生成素]

erythropoietin (EPO)

zhíwùhuàxuéchéngfèn

植物化学成分

[植物化學成分]

phytochemical

liánhéshìhéchéngcí

联合式合成词

[聯合式合成詞]

coordinative compound word

yīkǒuchībùchéngpàngzi

一口吃不成胖子

[一口吃不成胖子]

lit. you cannot get fat with only one mouthful (proverb)
fig. any significant achievement requires time, effort and persistence

yīshīzúchéngqiāngǔhèn

一失足成千古恨

[一失足成千古恨]

a single slip may cause everlasting sorrow (idiom)

wúxīnchāliǔliǔchéngyīn

无心插柳柳成阴

[無心插柳柳成陰]

lit. idly poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree to shade you
(fig.) unintentional actions may bring unexpected success
also written 無心插柳柳成蔭／无心插柳柳成荫

shībàishìchénggōngzhīmǔ

失败是成功之母

[失敗是成功之母]

Failure is the mother of success.

jìsuànjījíchéngzhìzào

计算机集成制造

[計算機集成製造]

computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM)

tōujībùchéngshíbǎmǐ

偷鸡不成蚀把米

[偷雞不成蝕把米]

lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom)
fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off
to go for wool and come back shorn

huàhǔbùchéngfǎnlèiquǎn

画虎不成反类犬

[畫虎不成反類犬]

to try to draw a tiger but end up with a likeness of a dog (idiom)
to try to do sth overambitious and end up botching it

duōniánxífù'áochéngpó

多年媳妇熬成婆

[多年媳婦熬成婆]

see 媳婦熬成婆／媳妇熬成婆 (xífù'àochéngpó)

yǒuqíngrénzhōngchéngjuànshǔ

有情人终成眷属

[有情人終成眷屬]

love will find a way (idiom)

gōngnéngcígòngzhènchéngxiàngshù

功能磁共振成像术

[功能磁共振成像術]

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Lán Zhèng Chángchéngpǐnyóuguǎndào

兰郑长成品油管道

[蘭鄭長成品油管道]

Lanzhou-Zhengzhou-Changsha oil pipeline

gōngnéngxìngcígòngzhènchéngxiàng

功能性磁共振成像

[功能性磁共振成像]

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

chéngyě Xiāo Hé,bàiyě Xiāo Hé

成也萧何，败也萧何

[成也蕭何，敗也蕭何]

lit. raised up by Xiao He, cast down by Xiao He (idiom), alluding to Han Xin 韓信／韩信 ( Hán Xìn) being made Grand General 大將軍／大将军 (dàjiāngjūn)
fig. a situation where one's success and failure are both due to the same factor

fàngxiàtúdāo,lìdìchéngfó

放下屠刀，立地成佛

[放下屠刀，立地成佛]

lay down butcher's knife, become a Buddha on the spot (idiom); instant rehabilitation
to repent and be absolved of one's crimes

chéngzhěwéiwáng,bàizhěwéikòu

成者为王，败者为寇

[成者為王，敗者為寇]

see 成則為王，敗則為寇／成则为王，败则为寇 (chéngzéwéiwáng,bàizéwéikòu)

móushìzàirén,chéngshìzàitiān

谋事在人，成事在天

[謀事在人，成事在天]

planning is with man, accomplishing with heaven (idiom); Man proposes but God disposes.

chéngshìbùzú,bàishìyǒuyú

成事不足，败事有余

[成事不足，敗事有餘]

unable to accomplish anything but liable to spoil everything (idiom)
unable to do anything right
never make, but always mar

chéngzéwéiwáng,bàizéwéikòu

成则为王，败则为寇

[成則為王，敗則為寇]

lit. called a king if successful, called a bandit if defeated (idiom)
fig. losers are always in the wrong

méiyǒuguīju,bùchéngfāngyuán

没有规矩，不成方圆

[沒有規矩，不成方圓]

without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules

bùyǐguīju,bùnéngchéngfāngyuán

不以规矩，不能成方圆

[不以規矩，不能成方圓]

without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules

méiyǒuguīju,héyǐchéngfāngyuán

没有规矩，何以成方圆

[沒有規矩，何以成方圓]

without rules, how can anything be done (idiom); one must follow some rules

dānsībùchéngxiàn,dúmùbùchénglín

单丝不成线，独木不成林

[單絲不成線，獨木不成林]

(idiom) one strand does not make a thread, one tree does not make a forest

zhǐyàogōngfushēn,tiěchǔmóchéngzhēn

只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针

[只要功夫深，鐵杵磨成針]

If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.
cf idiom 磨杵成針／磨杵成针, to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiom); fig. to persevere in a difficult task
to study diligently

sāngèchòupíjiang,héchéngyīgè Zhūgě Liàng

三个臭皮匠，合成一个诸葛亮

[三個臭皮匠，合成一個諸葛亮]

lit. three ignorant cobblers add up to a genius (idiom); fig. collective wisdom

yǒuyìzāihuāhuābùfā,wúxīnchāliǔliǔchéngyīn

有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴

[有意栽花花不發，無心插柳柳成陰]

lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree
fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect
well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it