功臣
gōng chén · HSK 7
minister who has given outstanding service
🎖️ 功 = merit/achievement + 臣 = official/minister
Compound of 功 (gōng, meritorious deed) and 臣 (chén, court official/subject). Literally a merit-official: a minister whose deeds earned distinction in service to the ruler.
功 — work 工 (phonetic) + strength 力 (semantic)
功 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The right side 力 (strength, a pictograph of a plow or flexed arm) gives the meaning, while 工 (work, originally a carpenter's square) supplies the sound. Together they convey effort applied to work — hence 'achievement, merit, accomplishment.'