收效甚微 (shōu xiào shèn wēi) — to yield very little result; to have negligible effect

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'yielded very little result' — often used after 但是 / 却 to say that an effort (money, method, treatment) produced almost no effect.

idiom
to yield very little resultto have negligible effect

Examples

  • ，收效甚微。
    Gōng sī tóu rù le dà liàng zī jīn, dàn shōu xiào shèn wēi.
    The company invested a large amount of money, but the results were negligible.
  • ，收效甚微，。
    Zhè zhǒng xīn yào suī rán ān quán, dàn shōu xiào shèn wēi, bìng rén méi yǒu míng xiǎn hǎo zhuǎn.
    This new drug is safe, but its effect is very slight — the patient hasn't shown obvious improvement.
  • ，收效甚微，。
    Tā cháng shì le gè zhǒng xué xí fāng fǎ, què shōu xiào shèn wēi, chéng jì yī rán bù lǐ xiǎng.
    He tried various study methods, but with little result — his grades were still unsatisfactory.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
丩
丩jiū收shōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

收 uses 攴 to show an action and 丩 as a sound clue; the old meaning was 'to arrest.'

Open 收 →

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 →

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

甚 combines 甘 and 匕. The evidence gives no meaning for either part.

Open 甚 →

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

The old form showed 𡵂 (a variant of 美, a person with long hair) and 攵 (a hand with a tool) splitting or combing hairs, hence minute; 微 later added 彳 to emphasize action.

Open 微 →

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