Chinese word

起到

Pronunciation

Pinyinqǐ dào

Meaning

  • verbplay a role

Example

志愿者在活动中起到了重要作用。zhì yuàn zhě zài huó dòng zhōng qǐ dào le zhòng yào zuò yòng

The volunteers played an important role in the activity.

Illustration for 起到 (play a role)

More examples

政府拨款在项目中起到桥梁作用。zhèng fǔ bō kuǎn zài xiàng mù zhōng qǐ dào qiáo liáng zuò yòng

Government funding plays a bridging role in the project.

Core concept

Something takes an active part in bringing a result about, whether its contribution is a role or a useful function.

Common phrases

  • 起到关键作用qǐ dào guān jiàn zuò yòng

    play a key role

  • 起到重要作用qǐ dào zhòng yào zuò yòng

    play an important role

  • 起到桥梁作用qǐ dào qiáo liáng zuò yòng

    play a bridging role

Similar words

起作用qǐ zuò yòng: To produce an effect or result through its action.
发挥fā huī: To bring out and use available strength or ability for a good result.
影响yíng xiǎng: To bring change to another person, thing, or situation.
产生chǎn shēng: To cause something new, such as a state or result, to come into being.

Definition in Chinese

表示某人或事物发挥一定作用并对结果产生影响，常用于说明角色或效用。biǎo shì mǒu rén huò shì wù fā huī yí dìng zuò yòng bìng duì jié guǒ chǎn shēng yíng xiǎng cháng yòng yú shuō míng jué sè huò xiào yòng

Word origin

起到 (qǐdào, "to play a role") is formed from 起 (qǐ, "to arise or begin") and 到 (dào, "to reach"), linking an active contribution with the result it helps produce.

Usage tips

  • English may separate a person's role from a thing's function, but this Chinese verb can describe both kinds of contribution with the same pattern.

Other meanings

  • functionverb

Related words

  • 起作用qǐ zuò yònghave an effectverb

Word lists with this word