功績（こうせき、kouseki）
- achievement

The Japanese word 功績 (こうせき) refers to a person's accomplishments, achievements, meritorious deeds, or contributions, especially those that are significant or have a lasting positive impact. It emphasizes the positive results of one's actions, often highlighting the value and importance of those actions. 功績 can be used in a variety of contexts, from professional and academic settings to historical accounts and personal reflections. It is often used to commend someone for their efforts and recognize their valuable contributions.

⚫︎彼はその研究で大きな功績をあげた。 Translation: He achieved great accomplishments with that research. ⚫︎彼女の功績は世界中の人々に認められている。 Translation: Her achievements are recognized by people all over the world. ⚫︎彼の長年の努力が功績として実を結んだ。 Translation: His long years of effort bore fruit as achievements.

You can use 功績 in formal and informal situations to talk about someone’s positive accomplishments. It’s suitable for writing reports, giving speeches, or having conversations that praise someone’s work. You'd typically use it to describe notable achievements that have had a positive outcome or effect. It is appropriate when acknowledging a person’s contributions in a meaningful way.

功績 is primarily written in kanji and is read as こうせき. It is not typically written in hiragana or katakana. The okurigana (送りがな) is not applicable.

⚫︎ 成果 (せいか): Results, achievements, outcome ⚫︎ 業績 (ぎょうせき): Achievements, performance ⚫︎ 功労 (こうろう): Meritorious service, distinguished service ⚫︎ 功名 (こうみょう): Merits, achievement, distinguished service

⚫︎ 失敗 (しっぱい): Failure ⚫︎ 過失 (かしつ): Error, fault ⚫︎ 損失 (そんしつ): Loss

その科学者の功績は、現代の医学に大きな影響を与えた。 ・Translation: The scientist's achievements have had a major impact on modern medicine. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the significant positive influence that the scientist's achievements have had on medicine.

彼の地域社会への功績が認められ、表彰された。 ・Translation: His achievements in the local community were recognized and he was awarded. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates how 功績 can be used when someone is being honored for their contributions to society.

The word 功績 is a compound word formed from two kanji: 功 (こう), meaning merit or achievement, and 績 (せき), meaning achievements or results. Thus, 功績 literally means "meritorious results" or "achieved merits."