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效命 (xiào mìng) — to devote oneself to (someone) in loyal service; to obey an order (and carry it out faithfully)

Definition

A formal, literary verb meaning to devote one's life or effort in loyal service to a person or cause. Stronger and more elevated than everyday 服从 or 听命 — it implies risking or giving one's life.

verb
to devote oneself to (someone) in loyal serviceto obey an order (and carry it out faithfully)

Examples

  • 效命。
    Tā yuàn yì wèi guó jiā xiào mìng.
    He is willing to devote himself to the country.
  • ，。
    Tā wèi guó jiā xiào guò mìng, lì xià xǔ duō gōng láo.
    He served the country and made many contributions.
  • 效命。
    Jiāng jūn mìng lìng shì bīng men xiào mìng yú zhàn chǎng.
    The general ordered the soldiers to obey and fight on the battlefield.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

效xiàooffer/devote
命mìnglife/order

效 means to offer or devote, and 命 means life or orders, so the word means offering one's life or obeying orders.

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 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng命mìng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Open 命 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

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