成功する

The Japanese verb 成功する (せいこうする - seikou suru) is the primary way to express the concept of 'to succeed' or 'to be successful.' It is a compound verb consisting of the noun seikou (success) and the auxiliary verb suru (to do). In the landscape of Japanese vocabulary, this word occupies a central role, bridging the gap between everyday personal achievements and high-level professional accomplishments. Unlike some verbs that might imply a subjective feeling of 'doing well,' 成功する usually points toward a concrete result or the attainment of a specific, predefined goal. Whether you are talking about passing a difficult entrance exam, launching a new business venture, or successfully completing a complex scientific experiment, this is the go-to term.

Core Nuance

The word carries a strong sense of 'fulfillment' and 'objective realization.' It is less about the effort expended and more about the fact that the desired outcome was reached.

In Japanese society, success is often viewed through the lens of social contribution and perseverance. Therefore, when someone says they have seikou shita, it often implies that their long-term efforts (doryoku) have finally borne fruit. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, though in very casual settings with friends, Japanese speakers might prefer the more colloquial umaku iku (to go well). However, for news reports, biographies, and business reviews, 成功する is the standard. It is important to note that the word itself is quite positive; it is rarely used for 'succeeding' in something negative unless used sarcastically.

Grammatically, the most crucial thing to remember is the particle usage. When you succeed *in* something, you use the particle に (ni). For example, 'succeeding in an experiment' is jikken ni seikou suru. Using other particles like wo is a common mistake for learners. This directional particle ni indicates the target or the field in which the success occurred.

Social Context

Success in Japan is often linked to 'shusse' (rising in the world) or 'goukaku' (passing exams), reflecting the meritocratic and educational values of the culture.

Furthermore, the word is versatile enough to cover various magnitudes of success. It can refer to a 'great success' (dai-seikou) or a 'partial success.' In the media, you will often see it used in headlines regarding space launches, medical breakthroughs, or diplomatic negotiations. It carries a weight of authority and finality that simpler verbs lack. When you use 成功する, you are making a definitive statement about the outcome of an endeavor.

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Standard to Formal. It is appropriate for speeches, news, and professional writing, but perfectly natural in polite daily conversation.

Using 成功する correctly involves understanding its grammatical structure as a suru-verb and its relationship with particles. The most vital grammatical rule is the use of the particle に (ni) to mark the goal or activity. Unlike the English 'succeed in' or 'succeed at,' which use prepositions, Japanese uses ni to show the point of contact with the success.

Basic Structure

[Target/Activity] + に + 成功する.
Example: 実験に成功する (To succeed in an experiment).

Because seikou suru is an intransitive verb in this structure (it doesn't take a direct object with wo), learners often struggle. You cannot say 'Project-wo seikou suru.' Instead, you say 'Project-ni seikou suru' or 'Project-wo seikou saseru' (to make the project succeed). The latter uses the causative form, which is very common when a manager or leader is talking about making a team or venture successful.

When used in the past tense, 成功した (seikou shita), it refers to a completed achievement. When used in the continuous form, 成功している (seikou shite iru), it describes someone who is currently 'successful' as a state of being. This is how you would describe a billionaire or a famous artist: 'Kanojo wa geijutsuka to shite seikou shite iru' (She is successful as an artist).

Another common pattern involves using the potential form, 成功できる (seikou dekiru), which means 'can succeed.' This is often used in motivational contexts or when discussing the feasibility of a plan. If you want to say 'I want to succeed,' you use the desiderative form: 成功したい (seikou shitai).

Negative Forms

成功しない (Does not succeed), 成功しなかった (Did not succeed). However, usually, people use 'shippai suru' (to fail) to express the opposite.

In formal documents, you might see 成功を収める (seikou wo osameru). This is a more sophisticated way of saying 'to achieve success.' While seikou suru is common, seikou wo osameru sounds more like an official accomplishment, such as a company hitting its yearly targets or a movie winning an award.

You will encounter 成功する across a wide spectrum of Japanese life, from the gritty world of business to the emotional climax of a shonen anime. In the business world, it is the heartbeat of corporate presentations. CEOs use it to describe the success of a product launch (shin-seihin no hatsubai ni seikou suru) or the successful completion of a merger. If you watch business news programs like 'World Business Satellite,' you will hear it used to quantify market achievements.

News & Media

Often used in scientific reporting. For example, 'JAXA has succeeded in landing a probe on the moon' (JAXA wa tsuki e no chakuriku ni seikou shita).

In the realm of education and personal growth, teachers often use 成功する to motivate students. You'll see posters in juku (cram schools) saying 'Goukaku ni seikou suru!' (Succeed in passing!). In this context, success is synonymous with overcoming the 'examination hell' of the Japanese school system. It is a word of high stakes and high rewards.

In popular culture, particularly anime and manga, 成功する is often used during the 'training arc.' A protagonist might finally 'succeed' in mastering a new technique or spell. It represents the payoff of hard work (doryoku). Conversely, in variety shows, you might see comedians attempting a difficult physical challenge, with the text 'SEIKOU' (Success) or 'SHIPPAI' (Failure) flashing on the screen in giant colorful letters.

Social media also sees a lot of this word. Influencers post about their 'Success stories' (seikou-dan). If someone successfully cooks a difficult recipe or finishes a marathon, they might post a photo with the caption 'Seikou!' to share their achievement with their followers. It is a universal word for 'I did it!' in a formal or result-oriented sense.

Daily Conversation

Used when discussing life plans. 'I want to succeed in Japan' (Nihon de seikou shitai).

The most frequent mistake English speakers make when using 成功する is particle choice. In English, we say 'succeed *in* a business' or 'succeed *with* a plan.' Naturally, students try to use de (at/with) or wo (direct object). However, 成功する almost exclusively takes に (ni). Using wo is grammatically incorrect because seikou suru is an intransitive verb structure.

Incorrect vs. Correct

❌ 実験を成功する (Jikken wo seikou suru)
✅ 実験に成功する (Jikken ni seikou suru)

Another error is confusing 成功する with jouzu (to be good at). While being successful often means you are good at something, seikou suru refers to the *result*, while jouzu refers to *skill*. You wouldn't say 'I succeeded at piano' if you just mean you play well. You use seikou suru if you won a competition or completed a specific difficult piece for the first time.

Learners also often overuse seikou suru when umaku iku would be more natural. Seikou suru is a heavy word. If you just had a good date or your dinner turned out well, seikou suru sounds a bit too dramatic, like a grand achievement. In those cases, 'Umaku itta' (It went well) is much more appropriate. Use seikou suru for milestones, not minor daily wins.

A final common mistake involves the causative form. If you want to say 'I made the project a success,' you cannot just use seikou shita. You must use the causative 成功させた (seikou saseta). This indicates that you were the agent who brought about the success of the project. This is a vital distinction in professional Japanese.

Confusing 'Succeed' as 'Follow'

In English, 'succeed' can mean to follow someone (like a king). In Japanese, 'seikou suru' NEVER means this. For that, use 'ato wo tsugu' or 'keishou suru'.

To truly master Japanese, you need to know when to use 成功する and when to choose a synonym that fits the context better. The most common alternative is うまくいく (umaku iku). While seikou suru sounds like a headline, umaku iku is the bread and butter of daily life. It means 'to go smoothly' or 'to turn out well.' If you're asking a friend how their job interview went, you'd ask, 'Umaku itta?' rather than 'Seikou shita?'.

Comparison: 成功する vs. うまくいく

成功する: Formal, result-focused, for big goals (e.g., 'Succeeding in a revolution').
うまくいく: Casual, process-focused, for daily events (e.g., 'The party went well').

Another important word is 達成する (tassei suru), which means 'to achieve' or 'to attain.' This is used when there is a numerical target or a specific quota involved. For example, 'reaching a sales goal' is mubyou wo tassei suru. While seikou suru is broad, tassei suru is precise. You 'succeed' in the business overall, but you 'achieve' the specific revenue numbers.

For more poetic or grand contexts, you might hear 成就する (jouju suru). This is often used for the fulfillment of a long-held wish, a prayer, or even a romantic endeavor (e.g., koi ga jouju suru - a love is fulfilled). It carries a sense of spiritual or emotional completion that the more clinical seikou suru lacks.

In the sporting world, people often use 勝利する (shouri suru) or 勝つ (katsu) for 'winning.' While winning is a form of success, seikou suru would only be used in sports if you are talking about the 'success' of a specific play or a career-long goal, rather than just winning a single match.

Other Nuances

• 合格する (Goukaku suru): Specifically for passing exams/tests.
• 成し遂げる (Nashitogeru): To accomplish something through great effort.
• 実を結ぶ (Mi wo musubu): 'To bear fruit' (Idiomatic success).