The Meaning of kouseki [功績] In Japanese

功績
こうせき
Romaji: kouseki N2

What does 功績 mean?

Translation and Meaning

achievement, merit, credit

Definition

功績 means a notable achievement or merit, the credit earned for a task or contribution. It denotes successful outcomes of one’s efforts and the value those outcomes provide in formal settings such as workplaces, awards, or historical records.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary sense: the credit or distinction earned for a specific act or body of work
  • Contextual nuance: commonly used in official reports, biographies, and awards to quantify contributions
  • Connotation: formal and objective, focusing on results rather than the process

Etymology

Origin of form A Sino-Japanese compound formed from 功 and 績, combining to convey earned merit; it is read with on’yomi as kouseki, reflecting Chinese influence adapted to Japanese phonology.

Origin

Early usage appears in medieval to early modern Japanese bureaucratic and military documents, later expanding to biographies, business reports, and public honors.

Composition

  • 功: achievement, merit
  • 績: record, result, merit
  • combined meaning: a recorded merit from one’s actions

Usage

Used in formal contexts to describe someone’s accomplishments or the outcomes attributed to their actions, such as awards, résumés, and historical narratives; not common in casual conversation.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine earning a trophy (功) and then stamping it into a ledger (績) to keep a formal record of your achievements.

Variations

  • 実績 (jisseki) – actual results, track record
  • 業績 (gyouseki) – achievements, performance
  • 貢献 (kōken) – contribution

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 私の 功績 を みんなが 認めてくれた。
    Kyou wa watashi no kouseki o minna ga mitomete kureta.
    Today, everyone recognized my achievements.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • 功績 (kouseki) – achievements
    • を (o) – object marker
    • みんなが (minna ga) – everyone
    • 認めてくれた (mitomete kureta) – recognized
    「功績」 significa conquistas/méritos; neste contexto, 私の「功績」 indica posse; を marca o objeto direto de 認めてくれた.
功績