How to Write 功 (gōng) — Meaning “achievement / merit”

Think of a worker (工) using all their strength (力) to finish a task — that effort creates success. Picture a strong arm lifting a heavy tool to represent achieving a goal.

Write the left radical 力 first: horizontal bending hook, then a left-falling stroke (丿). Then add 工: horizontal, vertical, horizontal. Keep the left part slightly narrower so the right side balances. A common mistake is making the left 力 too wide.

劝 (quàn) means 'to advise' and has a different right component (again 力 but left side is 又). 办 (bàn) means 'to do/handle' and uses two small dots (丶) inside 力. While 功 focuses on achievement through work, 劝 is about persuasion, and 办 is about action.

功 appears in common words like 成功 (success), 功夫 (kung fu / effort), and 功课 (homework). In Chinese culture, 功夫 is famous worldwide for martial arts, but it literally means 'time and effort' — emphasizing that mastery comes from dedicated work, not just skill.

Common words containing 功 include: 成功 (chéng gōng) — success; to succeed; 功夫 (gōng fu) — Kung Fu / effort / time; 功课 (gōng kè) — homework / schoolwork.