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效仿 (xiào fǎng) — to imitate, to follow the example of

Definition

效仿 means to follow someone's example, especially a person or role model. More literary than 模仿 (neutral 'imitate/copy'), and broader than 仿制, which is specifically copying a physical product.

verb
to imitateto follow the example of

Examples

  • 效仿。
    Xǔ duō qǐ yè kāi shǐ xiào fǎng chéng gōng gōng sī de guǎn lǐ mó shì.
    Many companies have begun to imitate the management models of successful firms.
  • 效仿。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi xiào fǎng tā de qín fèn jīng shén.
    We should follow his example of diligence.
  • 效仿。
    Zhè zhǒng shè jì bèi guǎng fàn xiào fǎng.
    This design has been widely imitated.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

效xiàoimitate
仿fǎngimitate

效 and 仿 both mean to imitate, so the sense stresses copying another example.

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
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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 仿 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Thinking & Cognition

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