About
The character 功, composed of the components 工 (work) and 力 (strength), originally conveyed the tangible results of concerted human effort, such as agricultural harvests or military accomplishments. Over centuries, its meaning expanded from these concrete achievements to encompass more abstract notions of merit and personal worth, becoming a central concept in Confucian thought regarding service and moral contribution to society. This conceptual foundation later allowed the character to be adopted in classical Chinese scientific discourse, where it acquired its precise modern physical definition of mechanical "work", measuring the product of force and displacement.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他学习很用功。
这次实验成功了。
这个手机功能很多。
大家承认他的功劳。
他花了很大功夫学习中文。
这位英雄的功绩被后人铭记。
他的基本功非常扎实。
鉴于他的卓越功勋，政府授予他最高荣誉。