用功

This is an old revision of the document!

yònggōng: 用功 - To Study Hard, Diligent, Studious

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: yonggong, 用功, study hard in Chinese, how to say diligent in Chinese, yong gong meaning, Chinese word for studious, nuli vs yonggong, Chinese study culture, HSK 3 vocabulary
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 用功 (yònggōng), a fundamental Chinese term for being diligent and studious. More than just “studying hard,” 用功 reflects the deep cultural value placed on academic effort and concentration in China. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural roots, and practical use in modern conversation, contrasting it with similar words like 努力 (nǔlì) to help you use it like a native speaker.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): yònggōng
  • Part of Speech: Verb / Adjective
  • HSK Level: HSK 3
  • Concise Definition: To apply oneself diligently to study or learning; to be studious.
  • In a Nutshell: 用功 describes a specific type of effort – the focused, concentrated hard work one puts into academics or learning a skill (like music or calligraphy). It's not just about the hours spent, but the quality and intensity of the effort. When a parent or teacher says someone is 用功, it is high praise, acknowledging their discipline and commitment to learning.

Character Breakdown

  • 用 (yòng): “To use,” “to apply,” or “to employ.” The character can be traced back to a pictograph of a wooden bucket or barrel, things that have a clear use or utility.
  • 功 (gōng): “Effort,” “merit,” “achievement,” or “skill.” This character is a combination of 工 (gōng), meaning “work” or “labor,” and 力 (lì), meaning “strength” or “power.”
  • Together, 用功 (yònggōng) literally means “to use effort” or “to apply skill.” This beautifully captures the idea of actively directing one's energy and abilities toward a task, specifically the task of learning.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • 用功 is a cornerstone of Chinese attitudes toward education. Its importance is deeply rooted in Confucian values, which emphasize self-improvement and knowledge as paths to a moral and successful life. Historically, the grueling Imperial Examination system (科举, kējǔ) was the primary path to social mobility, making diligent study a matter of family honor and future prosperity. This legacy endures today, with immense pressure on students to excel academically.
  • Comparison to Western Concepts: In American culture, being a “hard worker” is a general virtue that can apply to any field—a construction worker, an office employee, or a student. 用功, however, is much more specific. You would praise a student for being 用功, but you would praise a factory worker for being 努力 (nǔlì) or 勤奋 (qínfèn). 用功 is reserved almost exclusively for intellectual or skill-based learning. It's the difference between “working hard” (a broad concept) and “studying hard” (a specific, culturally-lauded activity).
  • This focus on 用功 is a key way children practice filial piety (孝, xiào), as academic success brings great honor and “face” (面子, miànzi) to their parents and family.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 用功 is extremely common in daily life, especially in conversations involving education.
  • As a verb: It's often used by elders to encourage younger people. A mother might say to her child, “你要用功读书!” (Nǐ yào yònggōng dúshū! - You must study hard!).
  • As an adjective: It's used to describe someone's character. “他是一个很用功的学生。” (Tā shì yīgè hěn yònggōng de xuéshēng. - He is a very studious student.)
  • Connotation: The connotation is overwhelmingly positive. It's a compliment that praises someone's discipline, focus, and good character. There is no negative shade to this word.
  • Formality: It is used in both formal and informal contexts, from a teacher's official report card comment to a casual conversation between friends about their children.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 为了考上好大学，他每天都学习到深夜，非常用功。
    • Pinyin: Wèile kǎo shàng hǎo dàxué, tā měitiān dōu xuéxí dào shēnyè, fēicháng yònggōng.
    • English: In order to get into a good university, he studies late into the night every day; he's extremely diligent.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses 用功 as an adjective to describe the student's character, linking his actions (studying late) to the quality of being 用功.
  • Example 2:
    • 妈妈总是告诉我要用功学习，将来才能找到好工作。
    • Pinyin: Māmā zǒngshì gàosù wǒ yào yònggōng xuéxí, jiānglái cáinéng zhǎodào hǎo gōngzuò.
    • English: My mom always tells me I have to study hard, only then can I find a good job in the future.
    • Analysis: Here, 用功 is used as a verb in the command/suggestion structure “要 (yào) + verb.” This is a classic example of a parent encouraging their child.
  • Example 3:
    • 你最近是不是不太用功？成绩下降了这么多。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ zuìjìn shì bùshì bù tài yònggōng? Chéngjī xiàjiàngle zhème duō.
    • English: Have you not been studying hard recently? Your grades have dropped so much.
    • Analysis: This shows the negative form, “不太用功” (bù tài yònggōng - not very diligent). It's a gentle way of criticizing a lack of effort in studies.
  • Example 4:
    • 她不仅聪明，而且学习很用功。
    • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn cōngmíng, érqiě xuéxí hěn yònggōng.
    • English: She is not only smart, but also very studious.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights that intelligence (聪明) and diligence (用功) are seen as two separate, equally important qualities for a good student.
  • Example 5:
    • 学中文需要很用功，特别是汉字。
    • Pinyin: Xué Zhōngwén xūyào hěn yònggōng, tèbié shì Hànzì.
    • English: Learning Chinese requires being very diligent, especially with the characters.
    • Analysis: This example shows 用功 applied to learning a specific skill outside of a formal school subject. The verb is “需要” (xūyào - to need).
  • Example 6:
    • 老师表扬了小明，说他这个学期很用功。
    • Pinyin: Lǎoshī biǎoyángle Xiǎo Míng, shuō tā zhège xuéqī hěn yònggōng.
    • English: The teacher praised Xiao Ming, saying he has been very studious this semester.
    • Analysis: A common scenario where 用功 is used as a form of positive reinforcement from an authority figure (a teacher).
  • Example 7:
    • 如果你当初能用功一点，现在就不会后悔了。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ dāngchū néng yònggōng yīdiǎn, xiànzài jiù bù huì hòuhuǐ le.
    • English: If you had studied a little harder back then, you wouldn't be regretting it now.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates a hypothetical past situation, showing regret over a lack of diligence. “用功一点” means “a little more diligent.”
  • Example 8:
    • 他看起来不怎么用功，但每次考试都考得很好。
    • Pinyin: Tā kàn qǐlái bù zěnme yònggōng, dàn měi cì kǎoshì dōu kǎo dé hěn hǎo.
    • English: He doesn't seem very studious, but he always does very well on exams.
    • Analysis: This sentence creates a contrast, showing that appearing 用功 (or not) is about observable effort, which may or may not correlate with results.
  • Example 9:
    • 只要你用功，没有什么学不会的。
    • Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ yònggōng, jiù méiyǒu shénme xué bù huì de.
    • English: As long as you study hard, there is nothing you can't learn.
    • Analysis: This is a sentence of pure encouragement, reflecting the cultural belief that effort (用功) can overcome any learning obstacle.
  • Example 10:
    • 练习书法需要耐心和用功。
    • Pinyin: Liànxí shūfǎ xūyào nàixīn hé yònggōng.
    • English: Practicing calligraphy requires patience and diligence.
    • Analysis: 用功 is used here as a noun, paired with another quality (patience, 耐心). This shows its versatility in grammar.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 用功 (yònggōng) vs. 努力 (nǔlì): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
    • 努力 (nǔlì) is a general term for “to work hard” or “to make an effort” in any area: “He works hard at his job” (他工作很努力), “I will try my best to win the game” (我会努力赢得比赛).
    • 用功 (yònggōng) is specific to studying and learning. It's about mental, academic, or skill-based effort.
  • Common Mistake: Saying “我工作很用功” to mean “I work hard at my job.”
    • Incorrect: 我工作很用功。 (Wǒ gōngzuò hěn yònggōng.)
    • Why it's wrong: While grammatically parsable, a native speaker would find this odd. The context is professional work, not academic study.
    • Correct: 我工作很努力。 (Wǒ gōngzuò hěn nǔlì.)
  • False Friend: “To apply oneself.” In English, you can “apply yourself” to your career, a fitness goal, or cleaning the house. In Chinese, 用功 is much narrower. You only 用功 for learning-related activities.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 努力 (nǔlì) - The general term for “to work hard” or “to make an effort.” 用功 is a specific type of 努力.
  • 学习 (xuéxí) - The basic verb “to study” or “to learn.” 用功 describes the *manner* in which one does 学习.
  • 勤奋 (qínfèn) - “Industrious,” “diligent.” A close synonym of 用功, but slightly more formal and can be used a bit more broadly, similar to “hardworking.”
  • 刻苦 (kèkǔ) - Lit. “to carve bitterly.” Means to work extremely hard, often enduring hardship. It implies a much greater degree of effort and suffering than 用功.
  • 认真 (rènzhēn) - “Serious,” “conscientious,” “to take seriously.” Describes an attitude of focus and care that can be applied to any task, not just studying. One can be 认真用功 (seriously diligent).
  • 学霸 (xuébà) - Modern slang for a “study tyrant” or “straight-A student.” A 学霸 is someone who is extremely 用功 and achieves top results.
  • 临时抱佛脚 (línshí bào fójiǎo) - “To hug the Buddha's feet at the last moment.” An idiom that is the conceptual opposite of 用功; it means to cram for an exam at the very last minute.
  • 好好学习，天天向上 (hǎo hǎo xuéxí, tiāntiān xiàngshàng) - “Study well and make progress every day.” A famous slogan that encapsulates the spirit of being 用功.