立功

[yuechu]

大家好！

I recently heard the following on a 电视剧： (person's name)的所有的立功证书和奖章我全拿回来，一样不差
Does anyone know what 立功 means? (also, "立功" and "证书" are separate "noun groups", right? Or does 立功 describe the type of 证书?)
Thanks!

 

[Deinonychus]

"立功" literally means "to achieve a feat", in the case of "立功证书", it simply means "certificate of feat/feat-achieveing".
And I would say you are right to say 立功 describe the type of 证书, but I'm not 100 percent sure about it.(Since I know almost nothing about Chinese grammar!)

 

[yuechu]

Oh, you answered my question! Thanks so much, Deinonychus!

 

[gonecar]

立=建立( build up, accomplish, establish)

功=功绩( admirable merit)

立功=建立功绩( perform/ accomplish meritorious deeds)

 

[yuechu]

Thanks for your explanation, Gonecar!

 

[SimonTsai]

I think that '功' is more of a feat than of a merit, and that by '立', we are talking about accomplishments rather than achievements or attainments. (The difference is very subtle.)

成 (accomplish) 就 (achieve/attain)