Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
副作用 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
副作用fùzuòyòngside effectHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #6299, Very Hard
fùzuòyòng(fu4zuo4yong4)fu zuo yong T4
  1. 1side effect
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

副作用fùzuòyòng(fu4zuo4yong4)

副作用 refers to side effects, which are unintended consequences or reactions that occur alongside the primary effects of a drug or treatment. This term is commonly used in medical contexts, especially when discussing medications and their impact on patients.

Strokes23Frequency#6299DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese medicine, understanding side effects (副作用) is crucial, as traditional practices often emphasize the balance of effects in treatments. This reflects a holistic approach to health that values harmony and careful monitoring of treatments.

Memory tip

Think of 副作用 (fù zuò yòng) as '副' meaning 'assistant' or 'secondary,' and '作用' meaning 'action' or 'effect.' Imagine a secondary action that sneaks in alongside the main action of a medicine, like an unexpected guest at a party!

Meanings of 副作用

fùzuòyòng(fu4zuo4yong4)
1side effect
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 副作用 means.

About 副作用

副作用Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 副作用

JasonAmy

Podcast: 副作用

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 副作用

Quick Contrast

副作用 (side effects) vs 不良反应 (adverse reactions) — use 副作用 when specifically referring to unintended effects of a treatment, while 不良反应 encompasses broader negative responses.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 副作用 with 主要作用 (zhǔ yào zuò yòng), which means 'main effect.' This term is generally used in formal discussions about health and medicine, so be mindful of the context when using it.

HSK Study Tips

As a word related to health, 副作用 may not directly appear in HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance comprehension of medical texts. Focus on the radicals: 副 (fù) and 作用 (zuò yòng) to grasp related vocabulary better.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 副作用 with 负面影响 (fù miàn yǐng xiǎng), which means 'negative impact.' A wrong example would be saying '这种药物有负面影响' instead of '这种药物的副作用.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 副作用

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 副作用, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 副作用 to you

Let me explain 副作用 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 副作用 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 副作用?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 副作用 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

副fùsecondary
HSK 511 strokes刂
View full entry
作zuōto do
HSK 67 strokes亻
View full entry
用yòngto use
HSK 35 strokes用
View full entry

How to say side effect in Chinese

“side effect” in Chinese is副作用fùzuòyòng

副作用 refers to side effects, which are unintended consequences or reactions that occur alongside the primary effects of a drug or treatment. This term is commonly used in medical contexts, especially when discussing medications and their impact on patients.

When to use 副作用

Common mistakes include confusing 副作用 with 主要作用 (zhǔ yào zuò yòng), which means 'main effect.' This term is generally used in formal discussions about health and medicine, so be mindful of the context when using it.

副作用 or something close to it

副作用 (side effects) vs 不良反应 (adverse reactions) — use 副作用 when specifically referring to unintended effects of a treatment, while 不良反应 encompasses broader negative responses.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 副作用 with 负面影响 (fù miàn yǐng xiǎng), which means 'negative impact.' A wrong example would be saying '这种药物有负面影响' instead of '这种药物的副作用.'

Write 副作用

副
作
用

Practice writing 副作用 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 副作用?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 副作用

副作用 refers to side effects, while 主要作用 refers to the main effects of a drug or treatment.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 副作用?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab