Definitions

xiào (noun) effect; efficacy; result
xiào (verb) to imitate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 效 is structurally formed from the phonetic element 交, which suggests its sound, combined with the semantic component 攵, a variant denoting an action or striking, thereby conceptually linking to the idea of putting something into practice or enacting a model. Its etymological roots lie in the notion of imitation or following a standard, as seen in early texts where it conveyed the act of emulating or proving oneself through example. The semantic range gradually broadened from this active sense of modeling to include the resulting consequence or manifestation of that action, which solidified into the modern meanings of effect, efficiency, and result. This evolution is evident in its application within compounds, where it can reference either the process, such as in 效法 (to follow a method), or the outcome, as in 效果 (effect).

Example Sentences Hide

这个药物很有

Zhège yàowù hěn yǒuxiào.

This medicine is very effective.

提高工作率很重要。

Tígāo gōngzuò xiàolǜ hěn zhòngyào.

Improving work efficiency is very important.

仿了哥哥的好习惯。

Tā xiàofǎng le gēge de hǎo xíguàn.

He imitated his older brother's good habits.

实验证明了新方法的力。

Shíyàn zhèngmíng le xīn fāngfǎ de xiàolì.

The experiment proved the effectiveness of the new method.

这种教学模式成显著。

Zhè zhǒng jiàoxué móshì chéngxiào xiǎnzhù.

This teaching model has achieved remarkable results.

新的政策开始发挥能了。

Xīn de zhèngcè kāishǐ fāhuī xiàonéng le.

The new policy is starting to take effect.

我们必须对这次行动进行验评估。

Wǒmen bìxū duì zhè cì xíngdòng jìnxíng xiàoyàn pínggū.

We must conduct an effectiveness evaluation of this operation.

该项目旨在通过技术创新实现增降本。

Gāi xiàngmù zhǐ zài tōngguò jìshù chuàngxīn shíxiàn zēng xiào jiàng běn.

The project aims to increase efficiency and reduce costs through technological innovation.