成熟
せいじゅく · seijuku · JLPT N1 · noun
adulthood
🍎 成 (become) + 熟 (ripe) = 成熟: become ripe, i.e. maturity
成 means become or achieve, and 熟 means ripe or cooked. Together they give maturity or ripeness. The same 熟 appears in 熟す (jukusu), to ripen fruit.
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.
熟 — 享 (offering) + 灬 (fire)
Originally written 孰, depicting hands offering food (享) for cooking. The fire radical 灬 was later added to emphasize cooking with heat. The core sense 'cooked' extended naturally to 'ripe,' 'familiar,' and 'skilled through repeated practice.'