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效益 (xiào yì) — benefit; effectiveness; efficiency (especially in economic or social contexts)

Definition

效益 stresses the measurable output (effectiveness, efficiency) of a system or investment, especially economic or social. Unlike 好处 (general personal benefit) or 利益 (interest/advantage), it focuses on results, not favors.

noun
benefiteffectivenessefficiency (especially in economic or social contexts)

Examples

  • 效益。
    Gōng sī qù nián de xiào yì tí gāo le.
    The company's efficiency improved last year.
  • 效益。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù néng dài lái hěn hǎo de shè huì xiào yì.
    This project can bring good social benefits.
  • 效益。
    Tí gāo shēng chǎn xiào yì shì qǐ yè de mù biāo.
    Improving production efficiency is the goal of the enterprise.

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
益yìbenefit

效 denotes effect and 益 denotes benefit, so the sense is beneficial results or gains.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

益 puts 水 (water) above 皿 (a vessel), originally showing water overflowing the vessel.

Open 益 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsBusiness & Commerce

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