效用 (xiào yòng) — effectiveness, usefulness | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

effectivenessusefulness

Examples

，效用。
Zhè zhǒng yào de xiào guǒ hěn hǎo, dàn shì tā de xiào yòng hái xū yào jìn yí bù yán jiū.
This medicine's effect is good, but its effectiveness needs further research.
效用。
Xīn xì tǒng de xiào yòng dé dào le yòng hù de kěn dìng.
The usefulness of the new system was affirmed by users.
效用。
Wǒ men yào píng gū zhè ge fāng àn de xiào yòng.
We need to evaluate the effectiveness of this plan.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

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

'效' points to effect and '用' to use, together giving usefulness.

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.

交攵效

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

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