成交
chéngjiāo · HSK 5
close a deal
🤝 成 = complete/become + 交 = exchange — completed exchange = deal closed
成 carries the sense of accomplishment or finalization; 交 means to hand over or exchange. Together they mark the moment an exchange is finalized — the deal is done, hands shake, transaction closes.
成 — 戊 (halberd/weapon) + 丁 (nail/man)
Originally a pictograph of a halberd or axe-like weapon, suggesting the act of completing a task by force. Over time it shifted from 'to subdue' to the broader meaning 'to accomplish' or 'to become'. The 丁 element inside also hints at the chéng sound.
交 — top 亠 + 父-like crossed legs
Originally a pictograph of a person standing with legs crossed, showing the idea of crossing or intersecting. From this concrete image, the meaning extended to abstract senses like 'exchange,' 'interact,' and 'hand over.' Modern uses such as 交流 (exchange) and 交通 (traffic) all trace back to this core notion of crossing.