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生效 (shēng xiào) — to take effect, to become effective

Definition

A formal/legal verb meaning 'to take effect' — used for laws, contracts, and policies that begin to be enforced on a set date. Contrast with 见效 ('produces the desired result') and 失效 ('loses validity').

verb
to take effectto become effective
Easily confused

Examples

  • 生效。
    Xīn fǎ lǜ jiāng yú míng nián yī yuè yī rì shēng xiào.
    The new law will take effect on January 1st next year.
  • 生效。
    Hé tong qiān zì hòu lì jí shēng xiào.
    The contract takes effect immediately after signing.
  • 生效。
    Zhè xiàng zhèng cè cóng gōng bù zhī rì qǐ shēng xiào.
    This policy takes effect from the date of announcement.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

生shēngproduce
效xiàoeffect

“生” (produce) and “效” (effect) combine to mean that something produces its effect.

Characters in this word

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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