Definition
作用 (zuòyòng) is a general noun for 'effect, function, impact' — the result or role something has. It is broader than 效果 (xiàoguǒ), which emphasizes a concrete, observable outcome or result, and less active than 影响 (yǐngxiǎng), which focuses on the process of influencing or changing something.
noun
effectfunctionimpact
verb
to act onto affect (often used in 起作用 or 作用于)
Examples
- 作用？Zhè zhǒng xīn yào yǒu shénme zuò yòng?What effect does this new medicine have?
- 作用。Jiàoyù duì shèhuì de fāzhǎn yǒu zhòngyào zuò yòng.Education has an important effect on the development of society.
- 作用。Zhège juédìng chǎnshēng le jījí de zuò yòng.This decision produced a positive effect.
Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.