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奏效 (zòu xiào) — to be effective; to produce the desired result

Definition

奏效 (zòuxiào) means a remedy, strategy, or plan produces the desired result after being applied — stronger than 有效 ('valid/has effect in principle') and more action-focused than 见效 ('take effect', often gradual).

verb
to be effectiveto produce the desired result

Examples

  • 奏效，。
    Zhè ge yào hěn zòu xiào, chī le yí gè xīng qī jiù hǎo le.
    This medicine is very effective; it worked after a week of taking it.
  • 奏效。
    Tā de tán pàn cè lüè zhōng yú zòu xiào le.
    His negotiation strategy finally worked.
  • 奏效。
    Xīn de xiāo shòu fāng àn shì fǒu zòu xiào hái xū yào guān chá.
    We still need to observe whether the new sales plan will be effective.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

奏zòuto bring about
效xiàoeffect

奏 means to bring about and 效 means effect, so together they mean to produce results.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 奏 pictures hands holding an object, perhaps an instrument used in a ritual, or hands collecting resin dripping from a cut tree.

Open 奏 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Success & Failure

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