TongTong
Sign in

效应 (xiào yìng) — effect (in science or social phenomena)

Definition

效应 names a specific, often named phenomenon or pattern (e.g. 马太效应), more abstract and technical than 效果 (a practical result) or 影响 (an influence/impact).

noun
effect (in science or social phenomena)

Examples

  • 效应。
    Zhè ge zhèng cè chǎn shēng le jī jí de shè huì xiào yìng.
    This policy has produced a positive social effect.
  • ，效应。
    Zhè zhǒng yào wù yǒu fù zuò yòng, dàn zhèng miàn xiào yìng yě hěn míng xiǎn.
    This medicine has side effects, but its positive effects are also obvious.
  • 效应。
    Mǎ tài xiào yìng zài jīng jì xué zhōng hěn cháng jiàn.
    The Matthew effect is very common in economics.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

效xiàoeffect
应yìngresponse

效 (effect) and 应 (response) together name an observable effect or reaction in science.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 應; 应 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
䧹
䧹䧹應yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 應 pairs 心 (heart) with 䧹 as a sound part; the simplified 应 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the original components.

Open 应 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsScience (General)

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.