成熟

• Pinyin: chéng shú
• Hanzi breakdown: 成 = meaning to become or complete; 熟 = 孰 (who, phonetic) + 灬 (fire radical), originally meaning cooked, extended to ripe/familiar

Meaning

Mature; ripe. Used for both physical ripeness of fruit and the maturity of a person or idea.

Has both literal and figurative uses. Literally describes fruit or crops that are ripe (果子成熟了). Figuratively describes a person who is emotionally or mentally mature, or conditions/plans that are well-developed and ready (条件成熟了, the conditions are ripe).

Examples

1. 秋天到了，果园里的苹果都成熟了。 Autumn has arrived, and the apples in the orchard are all ripe.
2. 经过这件事，他变得成熟了很多。 After going through this experience, he has become much more mature.
3. 等条件成熟了，我们就开始这个项目。 Once the conditions are ripe, we will start this project.

Usage Guide

Context: personal growth, agriculture, planning

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 他虽然年轻，但是想法很成熟。(Although he is young, his thinking is very mature.)
• 这个计划还不够成熟，需要再想想。(This plan is not mature enough yet — it needs more thought.)

Don't Say

• 这个菜很成熟 (Don't use 成熟 for cooked food — use 熟了; 成熟 applies to fruit ripening or personal maturity)

Origin & History

Compound of 成 (to become, to accomplish) and 熟 (cooked, ripe, familiar), together describing the state of having fully developed.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal