Chinese word

作用

Pronunciation

Pinyinzuò yòng

Meaning

  • nouneffect

Example

他的话对我没有作用。tā de huà duì wǒ méi yǒu zuò yòng

His words have no effect on me.

Illustration for 作用 (effect)

More examples

这个办法很能起作用，问题很快解决了。zhè ge bàn fǎ hěn néng qǐ zuò yòng wèn tí hěn kuài jiě jué le

This method works very well, and the problem was solved quickly.

Core concept

A thing's working power: what it can bring about or the job it performs.

Common phrases

  • 起作用qǐ zuò yòng

    have an effect

  • 有作用yǒu zuò yòng

    be effective

Similar words

效果xiào guǒ: A clear result produced by an action, method, or treatment.
影响yíng xiǎng: The way a person or thing brings about change in another person or thing.

Definition in Chinese

使事物发生变化并产生效果的力量或影响。shǐ shì wù fā shēng biàn huà bìng chǎn shēng xiào guǒ de lì liàng huò yíng xiǎng

Word origin

作用 (zuòyòng, "effect") is built from 作 (zuò, "act") and 用 (yòng, "use"), a compact pairing that connects doing something with what it brings about or is good for.

Usage tips

  • For tools and systems, English speakers may choose a verb such as "work" where Chinese uses this noun, so context matters when describing what something does.

Other meanings

  • influencenoun
  • functionnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word