生效 shēngxiào to come into force
(of a law, contract, agreement, ban etc) to come into force; to go into effect; to become operative
How to remember 生效: 生 life + 效 result = to come into force.
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How it is used
- To take effect / come into force - 合同即日生效 (hétong jírì shēngxiào) the contract takes effect today.
- Legal-administrative: laws, contracts, bans, agreements 生效; pairs with 失效 (shīxiào, to lapse/expire).
- Note it's about legal/formal effect, not medical efficacy - for a drug working you'd say 药起作用/见效.