达标 literally means 'to reach the target' or 'to hit the mark,' combining 达 (dá, 'to reach, attain') and 标 (biāo, 'standard, benchmark, target'). It is primarily used as a verb meaning 'to meet a specified standard or requirement.' This term is common in formal, institutional, or evaluative contexts — such as education, workplace performance, health screenings, environmental regulations, or product quality control.

Unlike general verbs like 符合 (to conform to) or 满足 (to satisfy), 达标 emphasizes measurable, predefined criteria — often numerical or pass/fail thresholds. It frequently appears in compound structures like 是否达标 (‘whether it meets the standard’) or 未达标 (‘fails to meet the standard’). While not inherently technical, its usage leans toward official or objective assessments rather than subjective judgment.