收效 (shōu xiào) — to produce results; to be effective; to have an effect

Definition

Used for actions, policies, or efforts that 'produce / yield results' over time — often in formal writing. Pairs with adverbs like 很好 or 不大 to judge effectiveness.

verb
to produce resultsto be effectiveto have an effect

Examples

  • 收效。
    Xīn de guǎn lǐ fāng fǎ shōu xiào hěn hǎo.
    The new management method has produced good results.
  • ，。
    Wǒ men nǔ lì le hěn jiǔ, cái shōu le yì diǎn xiào.
    We worked hard for a long time and only got a little result.
  • 收效。
    Zhè xiàng zhèng cè zài duǎn shí jiān nèi shōu xiào bú dà.
    This policy has not had much effect in a short time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

收shōuobtain
效xiàoeffect

收 means to obtain, and 效 means effect or result, so it expresses bringing about results.

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 →

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