效忠 (xiào zhōng) — to pledge loyalty to, to be loyal to

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to pledge loyalty to' (a country, leader, or cause). Stronger and more solemn than 忠诚 ('be loyal'), which describes a state of being loyal.

verb
to pledge loyalty toto be loyal to

Examples

  • 效忠。
    Tā xuān shì xiào zhōng guó jiā.
    He swore to pledge loyalty to the country.
  • 。
    Tā céng jīng xiào guò yí cì zhōng.
    He once pledged loyalty.
  • 效忠。
    Hěn duō rén xiào zhōng yú zì jǐ de shì yè.
    Many people are loyal to their own careers.

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
忠zhōngloyalty

效 means offer and 忠 means loyalty, so the action is offering loyalty.

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng忠zhōng
Same sound today

忠 pairs 心, meaning heart, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 忠 →

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