成绩 in 30 Seconds
- 成绩 (chéngjì) means 'grades', 'scores', or 'achievements' in school or work.
- It is a noun that describes the measurable result of effort and hard work.
- Commonly paired with '取得' (achieve) and '提高' (improve) in academic and professional contexts.
- It differs from '分数' (specific points) by representing the overall standing or result.
The term 成绩 (chéngjì) is a cornerstone of the Chinese educational and professional lexicon. At its most fundamental level, it refers to the 'result' or 'achievement' of one's efforts. For a student, it almost exclusively means their grades or exam scores. For an athlete, it refers to their performance metrics or ranking. For a professional or a government body, it refers to the tangible successes or 'track record' established over a period of time. It is a noun that carries a sense of quantification; it is something that can be measured, compared, and recorded. Unlike the more abstract word for 'success' (成功 - chénggōng), 成绩 implies a specific output from a specific process.
- Academic Context
- In schools, this is the word used for report cards. When a parent asks '你的成绩怎么样?' they are asking 'How are your grades?'. It covers everything from a single test score to a cumulative GPA.
他在这次数学考试中取得了优异的成绩。 (He achieved excellent results in this math exam.)
- Professional Context
- In a business setting, it refers to performance metrics (KPIs) or the results of a specific project. A manager might praise a team for their '工作成绩' (work achievements).
Furthermore, 成绩 is deeply tied to the concept of 'merit' in Chinese culture. Historically, the imperial examinations (科举) were the primary way to achieve social mobility, and your 成绩 determined your entire future. This cultural weight persists today in the high-pressure environment of the Gaokao (college entrance exam). When people talk about 成绩, they are often talking about the physical proof of their hard work and intelligence. It is the 'fruit' of the labor. In sports, 成绩 is used for times, distances, and scores. If a runner breaks a record, that record is their new 成绩. It represents a milestone of human capability.
运动员们在比赛中创造了新的世界成绩。 (The athletes created new world records [results] in the competition.)
- Societal Context
- Governments use this word to describe the success of policies. For example, '经济建设的成绩' (achievements in economic construction). It validates the effectiveness of leadership.
Using 成绩 correctly requires understanding its common verb pairings (collocations). The most frequent verb used with 成绩 is 取得 (qǔdé - to obtain/achieve). You don't just 'have' a 成绩; you 'obtain' it through effort. Another common verb is 提高 (tígāo - to improve), used when grades or performance levels go up. Conversely, if results drop, we use 下降 (xiàjiàng). Because 成绩 is a noun, it often acts as the object of a sentence, but it can also be a subject when describing the quality of the results themselves.
为了提高成绩，他每天学习到深夜。 (In order to improve his grades, he studies until late every night.)
- Verb Pairing: 取得 (To Achieve)
- Used for positive outcomes. Example: 取得好成绩 (Achieve good results).
- Verb Pairing: 公布 (To Announce)
- Used when teachers or organizations release the results. Example: 成绩公布了 (The results have been announced).
When describing 成绩, you can use a wide range of adjectives. For excellent results, use 优异 (yōuyì), 出色 (chūsè), or 理想 (lǐxiǎng - ideal). For poor results, use 差 (chà) or 不及格 (bù jígé - failing). It is also important to note that 成绩 can be used metaphorically. For instance, '人生最好的成绩' (the best achievement of one's life) might refer to raising a family or completing a personal goal, though this is slightly more poetic than the standard academic usage.
这次考试的成绩让老师感到很惊讶。 (The results of this exam surprised the teacher.)
In complex sentences, 成绩 often appears in comparative structures. For example, '他的成绩比我好' (His grades are better than mine). It can also be modified by specific subjects to clarify what kind of achievement is being discussed, such as 学习成绩 (academic grades), 体育成绩 (sports performance), or 销售成绩 (sales performance). This versatility makes it an essential word for describing any outcome that results from skill and effort. If you are writing a resume in Chinese, you would list your '主要成绩' (main achievements) to showcase your past successes to potential employers.
In Mainland China, Taiwan, and other Mandarin-speaking regions, 成绩 is ubiquitous. You will hear it most frequently in the following three environments: schools, the workplace, and the media. In schools, it is the 'lifeblood' of student conversation. Before an exam, students worry about their 成绩; after an exam, they compare them. Teachers use it to evaluate student progress and to communicate with parents during '家长会' (parent-teacher meetings). It is not just a number; it is a reflection of a student's standing in the class hierarchy.
快看，布告栏上贴出了大家的成绩！ (Look, everyone's grades are posted on the bulletin board!)
- Office/Corporate Life
- During annual performance reviews (绩效评估), managers will discuss an employee's 成绩. Here, it translates more as 'performance' or 'track record'.
In the media, 成绩 is used to report on everything from the box office results of a new movie (票房成绩) to the economic growth of a province. When a national team competes in the Olympics, the news will summarize their total '成绩' in terms of medals won and records broken. It provides a quick, data-driven way to summarize success. You will also hear it in political speeches, where leaders list the '成绩' of the past five years to justify their governance. It is a word that demands respect because it implies that something was actually 'done' and 'finished' (成) with 'merit' (绩).
这部电影在海外市场也取得了不错的票房成绩。 (This movie also achieved good box office results in overseas markets.)
Finally, in casual conversation, friends might use it to talk about their progress in hobbies. A gamer might talk about their 成绩 in a tournament, or a fitness enthusiast might talk about their 成绩 in a marathon. It is the universal yardstick for progress. If you are learning Chinese, your ability to pass the HSK exam is your 成绩 in the language-learning journey. It is a word that connects the effort put in (input) with the tangible result (output), making it a vital part of any discussion regarding goals and outcomes.
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing 成绩 (chéngjì) with 分数 (fēnshù). While both can translate to 'score' or 'grade', they are used differently. 分数 refers to the specific numerical points or the fraction (e.g., 'I got 95 points'). 成绩 is broader; it refers to the overall result or the standing (e.g., 'I got a good grade'). You can say '我的分数是90' (My score is 90), but you would say '我的成绩很好' (My results/grades are very good). You cannot usually use 成绩 to refer to a single mathematical point value.
错误：我的成绩是100分。 (Correct would be: 我的分数是100分 or 我考了100分。)
- Confusing with 结果 (jiéguǒ)
- 结果 means 'result' in a general sense (cause and effect). 成绩 is specifically a result of effort or performance. You wouldn't use 成绩 for the 'result' of a chemical reaction or the 'result' of an accident.
Another error is using 成绩 when you should use 成就 (chéngjiù). 成就 refers to much larger, often life-altering achievements or great contributions to society (e.g., 'He has great achievements in science'). 成绩 is more routine, like a semester's grades or a year's sales. If you call someone's high school graduation a '成就', it might sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic. Use 成绩 for the incremental steps and 成就 for the monumental milestones. Also, remember that 成绩 is a noun; you cannot use it as a verb to say 'I achieved...'. You must use a verb like 取得 or 创造 alongside it.
错误：他成绩了很大的进步。 (Correct: 他的成绩有了很大的进步。)
Lastly, be careful with the word 'performance'. In English, performance can mean the act of performing (like on stage) or the quality of work. 成绩 only refers to the 'quality of work' aspect. For a stage performance, you would use 表演 (biǎoyǎn). If a singer has a 'good performance', they had a '好的表演'. If their album has 'good results' in sales, then it has a '好的成绩'. Keeping these distinctions clear will help you sound much more like a native speaker and avoid the 'Chinglish' trap of over-applying a single English translation to different Chinese concepts.
Understanding the synonyms of 成绩 helps refine your expression. The most common related words are 成就 (chéngjiù), 成果 (chéngguǒ), and 分数 (fēnshù). Each has a specific nuance that differentiates it from 成绩. While 成绩 is the most general word for 'measured result', the others are more specialized. Choosing the right one depends on the scale of the achievement and the context of the discussion.
- 成绩 (chéngjì) vs. 成就 (chéngjiù)
- 成绩 is for routine grades or performance. 成就 is for grand, lasting achievements (e.g., winning a Nobel Prize or building a business empire). 成绩 is quantitative; 成就 is qualitative and monumental.
- 成绩 (chéngjì) vs. 成果 (chéngguǒ)
- 成果 translates to 'fruit' or 'positive outcome' of a project or research. It is almost always positive. You can have 'bad 成绩', but you rarely talk about 'bad 成果'. 成果 is the tangible 'product' of labor.
Other alternatives include 表现 (biǎoxiàn), which means 'performance' or 'behavior'. If you want to talk about how someone 'did' during a task without focusing on the final score, 表现 is the better word. For example, '他在面试中表现得很好' (He performed well in the interview). There is also 绩效 (jìxiào), a more formal business term for 'performance' or 'efficiency', often used in '绩效考核' (performance appraisal). While 成绩 is the score, 绩效 is the broader evaluation of how that score was achieved and what value it brought to the company.
虽然他的成绩不是第一，但他的表现非常勇敢。 (Although his result wasn't first place, his performance was very brave.)
In very casual settings, people might just use '分' (fēn) to mean grades. '你考了多少分?' (How many points did you get?) is more common in spoken Chinese than asking about '成绩' in a technical way. However, in any formal writing or when discussing long-term progress, 成绩 remains the standard. By mastering these distinctions, you can move from a basic B1 level to more advanced C1/C2 levels of nuance, allowing you to describe human effort and success with precision and cultural accuracy.
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
Because '绩' was originally about spinning silk, it implies that a '成绩' is not just a lucky result, but something woven together through long, repetitive, and careful effort. It is literally the 'fabric' of your success.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'chéng' with a flat first tone instead of a rising second tone.
- Pronouncing 'jì' like the English word 'gee' (soft) instead of a sharp Chinese 'j'.
- Confusing 'chéng' with 'shèng' (victory).
- Failing to make 'jì' short and sharp (fourth tone).
- Adding an 'r' sound to the end (chéngjì-r), which is rare in standard Mandarin for this word.
Difficulty Rating
The characters 成 and 绩 are common but 绩 has many strokes.
Writing 绩 (jì) requires attention to the silk radical and the right side structure.
Easy to pronounce if you master the j- sound and tones.
Very common word, usually easy to recognize in context.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
我的成绩很好。
My grades are very good.
Subject + 成绩 + Adverb + Adjective.
你的成绩是多少？
What is your grade?
Asking for a specific result.
他在学校成绩不理想。
His school grades are not ideal.
Negation with '不' + Adjective.
老师看我的成绩。
The teacher looks at my grades.
Simple S-V-O structure.
好成绩很重要。
Good grades are very important.
Adjective + Noun as a subject.
我们要看考试成绩。
We need to look at the exam results.
Noun compound: 考试 (exam) + 成绩.
他的数学成绩是九十分。
His math grade is 90 points.
Specific subject + 成绩.
我没有成绩。
I don't have a grade (yet).
Using '没有' for possession/existence.
这次考试的成绩公布了。
The results of this exam have been announced.
Using '公布' (announce) with 成绩.
你可以提高你的成绩。
You can improve your grades.
Verb '提高' (improve) + 成绩.
他的汉语成绩比我好。
His Chinese grades are better than mine.
Comparative '比' structure.
我努力学习为了好成绩。
I study hard for good grades.
Purpose clause with '为了'.
他拿到了很高的成绩。
He got a very high grade.
Verb '拿到' (get/receive) + 成绩.
你的成绩单在哪里？
Where is your report card?
成绩单 (chéngjì dān) means 'report card'.
我觉得成绩不代表一切。
I think grades don't represent everything.
Complex thought with '觉得'.
全班的成绩都很不错。
The grades of the whole class are quite good.
Using '全' (whole) to modify class.
他在工作中取得了显著的成绩。
He achieved significant results in his work.
取得 (achieve) + 显著的 (significant) + 成绩.
这些成绩是大家共同努力的结果。
These achievements are the result of everyone's joint efforts.
成绩 as a subject, linked to '结果' (result).
虽然他很努力，但成绩下降了。
Although he worked hard, his grades dropped.
Conjunction '虽然...但...'.
我们要客观地评价学生的成绩。
We should evaluate students' grades objectively.
Adverbial modifier '客观地' (objectively).
他的体育成绩在学校是第一名。
His sports performance is number one in the school.
Topic-comment structure.
公司今年的销售成绩非常惊人。
The company's sales performance this year is amazing.
Compound noun '销售成绩' (sales performance).
为了这次比赛，他创造了个人最好成绩。
For this competition, he set a personal best record.
创造 (create) + 最好成绩 (best result).
如果你不满意现在的成绩，就多练习。
If you are not satisfied with your current results, practice more.
Conditional '如果...就...'.
教育改革取得了一定的成绩，但仍有挑战。
Educational reform has achieved some success, but challenges remain.
Using '一定' to mean 'some degree of'.
这种评价体系只关注成绩，忽视了能力。
This evaluation system only focuses on grades and ignores ability.
Verb '关注' (focus on) and '忽视' (ignore).
他在学术领域做出了卓越的成绩。
He has made outstanding achievements in the academic field.
做出 (make) + 卓越的 (outstanding) + 成绩.
无论成绩如何，我们都支持你。
No matter what the results are, we support you.
Structure '无论...都...'.
他的成绩在面试中起到了关键作用。
His track record played a key role in the interview.
Idiomatic '起到...作用' (play a role).
这个项目的成绩超出了我们的预期。
The results of this project exceeded our expectations.
超出 (exceed) + 预期 (expectations).
我们要把学习成绩和实践能力结合起来。
We must combine academic grades with practical skills.
把-construction for combining two things.
他的政治成绩被大家公认为非常出色。
His political achievements are widely recognized as excellent.
Passive/attributive '被公认为' (widely recognized as).
单纯以成绩论英雄的时代已经过去了。
The era of judging a hero solely by their grades/results has passed.
Idiomatic usage '以...论英雄'.
国家的经济成绩掩盖了一些深层次的社会问题。
The country's economic achievements masked some deep-seated social issues.
Verb '掩盖' (to mask/cover up).
他以优异的成绩毕业于这所名牌大学。
He graduated from this prestigious university with excellent results.
Prepositional phrase '以...成绩' (with ... results).
衡量一个官员的成绩不应只看GDP。
Measuring an official's performance should not just be about GDP.
Verb '衡量' (to measure/weigh).
他在艺术创作上的成绩引起了广泛关注。
His achievements in artistic creation have attracted widespread attention.
Specific domain '在...上' (in the area of).
这些成绩的取得离不开全体员工的奉献。
The achievement of these results is inseparable from the dedication of all staff.
Structure '...的取得离不开...'.
他的研究成绩为该领域的发展奠定了基础。
His research achievements laid the foundation for the development of the field.
Verb '奠定' (to lay/establish).
我们不能因为暂时的成绩而沾沾自喜。
We cannot be complacent because of temporary achievements.
Idiom '沾沾自喜' (complacent/smug).
成绩固然重要，但人格的塑造更为关键。
Results are certainly important, but the shaping of character is even more critical.
Conjunction '固然...但...' (admittedly... but...).
他在外交舞台上的卓越成绩载入了史册。
His outstanding achievements on the diplomatic stage have been recorded in history.
Idiomatic '载入史册' (recorded in history).
这种片面追求成绩的做法遭到了舆论的抨击。
The practice of one-sidedly pursuing results has been attacked by public opinion.
Verb '抨击' (to lash out/attack).
他的文学成绩体现了深厚的人文关怀。
His literary achievements reflect a profound humanistic concern.
Verb '体现' (to embody/reflect).
即便在极端困难下，他们也取得了骄人的成绩。
Even under extreme difficulties, they achieved remarkable results.
Adjective '骄人的' (remarkable/proud).
衡量历史人物的成绩需置于当时的时代背景下。
Evaluating the achievements of historical figures requires placing them in the context of their time.
Structure '置于...下' (place under...).
他并不看重世俗意义上的成绩，而追求内心的平静。
He does not value success in the worldly sense, but pursues inner peace.
Modifier '世俗意义上的' (in the worldly sense).
这一成绩的取得标志着我国在该技术领域已达世界领先水平。
The achievement of this result marks that our country has reached the world's leading level in this technical field.
Verb '标志着' (to mark/signify).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— A report card or transcript. It lists all scores from a semester.
请把成绩单交给家长。
— Excellent grades or performance. Often used in praise.
他因为成绩优异获得了奖学金。
— Average or mediocre results. Neither good nor bad.
他在班里成绩平平，不怎么起眼。
— Remarkable or significant results. Used for big impacts.
新政策取得了成绩显著的效果。
— A decline in grades or performance. Moving downwards.
由于贪玩，他的成绩下滑了。
— A grade book kept by a teacher to record student progress.
老师在成绩册上打了一个勾。
— Impressive or proud results. Usually very high level.
该企业去年取得了骄人的成绩。
— Main achievements. Common on resumes or annual reports.
请简述你过去三年的主要成绩。
— The score required for admission to a school.
这所大学的录取成绩很高。
— Average score (GPA). The mean of multiple results.
他的平均成绩是85分。
Idioms & Expressions
— To be among the best. Literally, to be at the front of the rank.
他的成绩在班里名列前茅。
formal— To stand out from the crowd. Exceptionally talented.
她的成绩在同龄人中出类拔萃。
formal— To drop drastically. Used when grades fall suddenly.
自从迷上游戏，他的成绩一落千丈。
informal— To start slow but finish ahead. Catching up from behind.
虽然他基础差，但最后成绩后来居上。
neutral— To achieve instant success. Often used as a wish for exams.
祝你考试马到成功，取得好成绩！
idiomatic— To deserve the reputation/result one has achieved.
他得第一是实至名归，因为他最努力。
formal— To have great achievements. Literally, heavy with fruit.
他在科研方面硕果累累。
literary— Highly effective and fruitful. Used for work results.
这项改革被证明是卓有成效的。
formal— To win victory in the first battle. A good start.
我们在第一场比赛中取得了成绩，真是旗开得胜。
neutral— To get twice the result with half the effort. High efficiency.
掌握了学习方法，就能取得事半功倍的成绩。
neutralWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Cheng' as 'Change' (to become something) and 'Ji' as 'Gee!' (what you say when you see a great score). You 'Change' your effort into a 'Gee!' result.
Visual Association
Imagine a student holding a report card (成绩单) where the letter 'A' is made of silk threads (the radical in 绩).
Word Web
Challenge
Try to write down your 'Chinese learning 成绩' for this week. How many words did you learn? How many sentences did you write? That is your 成绩.
Word Origin
The word 成绩 is composed of two characters. '成' (chéng) dates back to oracle bone script, depicting a weapon (戊) and a phonetic component, meaning to complete or accomplish. '绩' (jì) consists of the 'silk' radical (纟) and 'merit' (责), originally referring to the twisting of hemp fibers or spinning silk.
Original meaning: The original meaning of '绩' was the labor of spinning silk. Because spinning required great care and produced a measurable product, it came to represent 'merit' or 'achievement' through hard work.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic (Mandarin Chinese).Cultural Context
Be careful when asking about someone's 成绩 in China; it can be a source of great stress or pride, and is considered a personal matter in some modern circles.
In the West, 'grades' are often private. In China, 成绩 are sometimes posted publicly in classrooms, creating a competitive environment.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School/University
Summary
The word 成绩 (chéngjì) is your primary tool for discussing success and results in Chinese. Whether you are a student talking about grades or a professional listing accomplishments on a resume, 成绩 highlights the tangible outcome of your dedication. Example: 他通过努力取得了优异的成绩 (He achieved excellent results through hard work).
- 成绩 (chéngjì) means 'grades', 'scores', or 'achievements' in school or work.
- It is a noun that describes the measurable result of effort and hard work.
- Commonly paired with '取得' (achieve) and '提高' (improve) in academic and professional contexts.
- It differs from '分数' (specific points) by representing the overall standing or result.
Example
他在这次期末考试中取得了优异的成绩。
