建功立业

建功立業

jiàngōnglìyè

idiom #55,668

Meanings

1 to achieve merit and establish great deeds (idiom)
2 to make one's mark; to accomplish great things
3 to build a career and legacy

Characters

to build; to establish

merit; achievement

to set up; to establish

undertaking; enterprise

Examples

年轻人要有建功立业的志向。

Niánqīngrén yào yǒu jiàngōnglìyè de zhìxiàng.

Young people should have the ambition to make their mark.

他在军队里建功立业。

Tā zài jūnduì lǐ jiàngōnglìyè.

He made his name and distinguished himself in the army.

这是一个建功立业的好时代。

Zhè shì yī gè jiàngōnglìyè de hǎo shídài.

This is a great era for making one's mark.

Tips

history

Traced to Su Shi's 《上两制书》 (Song): 古之圣贤建功立业，兴利捍患 — ancient sages built merit, established deeds, brought benefit, and defended against harm. Casts the ideal public figure.

register

Elevated, often patriotic or ambitious in tone. Fits speeches about youth aspiration, military service, pioneering careers. Less suited to small-scale personal goals.

Stroke Order

建 jiàn

功 gōng

立 lì

业 yè