作用 zuòyòng action
action; activity; effect
How to remember 作用: 作 do + 用 to use (Kangxi radical 101) = action.
Characters
How it is used
- Effect / function / role - 起作用 (qǐ zuòyòng) to take effect/work; 副作用 (fù zuòyòng) side effect.
- 起作用 is the key collocation for 'to have an effect'. 对…有作用 (duì… yǒu zuòyòng) have an effect on.
- Contrast 效果 (xiàoguǒ, the result/effectiveness observed) and 功能 (gōngnéng, a feature/function of a device): 作用 is the role or effect something exerts.
Example sentences
- 药开始起作用了。 Yào kāishǐ qǐ zuòyòng le.The medicine began to take effect.
- 电视在日常生活中起着重要的作用。 Diànshì zài rìchángshēnghuó zhōng qǐzhe zhòngyào de zuòyòng.TV plays an important part in everyday life.
- 毛巾完全没起作用。 Máojīn wánquán méiqǐ zuòyòng.The towel wasn't useful at all.