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效率 (xiào lǜ) — efficiency

Definition

效率 is how quickly and productively work gets done (efficiency), often paired with 高/低. 效益 (HSK7) is the resulting benefit or economic return, not the speed.

noun
efficiency

Examples

  • 效率。
    Zhè tái jī qì de xiào lǜ fēi cháng gāo.
    The efficiency of this machine is very high.
  • ，效率。
    Tā zuò shì hěn rèn zhēn, xiào lǜ yě hěn gāo.
    He does things very carefully, and his efficiency is also high.
  • 效率。
    Wǒ men zhèng zài xiǎng bàn fǎ tí gāo xiào lǜ.
    We are trying to find ways to improve efficiency.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

效xiàoeffect
率lǜrate

效 means effect or efficacy, 率 means rate; together they name the rate at which work produces effect.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

率 was drawn as a bird-catching net, with a stick above and below. In the form described, the lower horizontal stroke is missing, so the whole shape represents a rope.

Open 率 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Workplace & Office

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