The kanji 績 primarily conveys the meaning of "achievements," "performance," or "merits." It often refers to the results of work, efforts, or accomplishments, particularly in fields like work, studies or production. It can also relate to the threads spun or woven as a metaphor for the threads of a person's life and their accumulation of results.

・On-yomi (音読み): せき (seki) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): なし (nashi) (as in, to achieve, to perform; used less commonly)

⚫︎ 成績 (seiseki) Translation: Results; grade; record; academic performance. ⚫︎ 業績 (gyōseki) Translation: Achievements; results; performance; business results. ⚫︎ 実績 (jisseki) Translation: Actual results; achievements; track record; performance.

The kanji 績 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound character. ⚫︎ The semantic component is 糸 (ito), meaning "thread" or "silk." This gives a clue towards the original meaning of weaving or spinning silk. ⚫︎ The phonetic component is 責 (seki), which contributes the sound and implies the idea of being tasked with something or a duty. ⚫︎ The combination suggests the idea of meticulously spinning or weaving silk to produce something of value, metaphorically representing the effort and results of human endeavor. This developed into the broader meaning of achievement and performance.