效 (xiào) — (bound form) effect; result; (bound form) to imitate; to follow; (bound form) to devote oneself to; to render service
Definition
效 (xiào) is almost always a bound form in modern Chinese — it appears in compounds like 效果, 效仿, 效力, not standing alone. Learners meet it through these set words rather than as an independent verb.
bound form
effectresultto imitateto followto devote oneself toto render service
Examples
- 。Zhè zhǒng yào de xiào guǒ hěn hǎo.The effect of this medicine is very good.
- 。Hěn duō gōng sī xiào fǎng tā men de chéng gōng mó shì.Many companies imitate their successful model.
- 。Tā xiào lì yú yì jiā kuà guó gōng sī.He serves at a multinational company.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.