初见成效 (chū jiàn chéng xiào) — to start seeing results; preliminary achievements have been made

Definition

Idiom meaning 'begin to show results' — used when an effort, reform, or plan is finally starting to pay off, but the outcome is still partial and not yet complete.

idiom
to start seeing resultspreliminary achievements have been made

Examples

  • ，初见成效。
    Xīn zhèng cè shí shī hòu, jīng jì chū jiàn chéng xiào.
    After the new policy was implemented, the economy began to show preliminary results.
  • 初见成效，。
    Xiàng mù yǐ jīng chū jiàn chéng xiào, yù jì míng nián kě yǐ wán chéng.
    The project has already shown initial results and is expected to be completed next year.
  • ，初见成效。
    Jīng guò jǐ gè yuè de nǔ lì, gǎi gé zhōng yú chū jiàn chéng xiào.
    After months of effort, the reform has finally started to yield results.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

初 combines 衤 (clothes) and 刀 (knife), showing the start of making clothes by cutting cloth.

Open 初 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūto strike; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo效xiào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

效 pairs 攵 (written in full as 攴), meaning “to strike; action,” with 交, which gives the sound.

Open 效 →

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