效力 xiàolì effectiveness
effectiveness; positive effect; to serve (in some capacity)
How to remember 效力: 效 result + 力 power = effectiveness.
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How it is used
- As a noun: potency / binding force - 法律效力 (fǎlǜ xiàolì) legal effect, 药物效力 (yàowù xiàolì) a drug's efficacy.
- As a verb: to serve (an organization) - 为国效力 (wèi guó xiàolì) serve one's country, 效力于某队 (xiàolì yú mǒu duì) play for a team. The verb sense is formal and devoted.