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傚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
傚xiàoto mimic, to imitatezg, 12 strokes, radical 亻
xiào(xiao4) T4
  1. 1to mimic, to imitate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

傚xiào(xiao4)

The character 傚 (xiào) means 'to mimic' or 'to imitate.' It is often used in contexts where one is trying to replicate the actions, behaviors, or styles of another person or thing, whether in art, behavior, or other forms of expression. This word can convey both positive and negative connotations depending on the context, such as admiration in imitation or criticism when one is seen as merely copying without originality.

Strokes12Radical亻
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, imitation can be seen as a form of respect and learning, especially in traditional arts like calligraphy or music, where students often imitate their masters before developing their own style.

Memory Tip

Imagine a performer on stage, mimicking another's dance moves to perfection. The character 傚 has the radical '人' (rén) which means 'person,' and the component '效' (xiào) suggests 'effect' or 'influence.' Visualize the 'person' (人) who is creating an 'effect' (效) through imitation.

Meanings of 傚

xiào(xiao4)
1to mimic, to imitate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 傚

傚Simplified
12Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 傚

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Podcast: 傚

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AI Study Notes for 傚

Quick Contrast

效 (xiào) - use this entry for 'to effect' or 'to take effect' rather than merely 'to mimic'; 模仿 (mófǎng) - prefer this term when emphasizing imitation that lacks originality.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 傚 (to mimic) with 相 (to see or to regard), which is a different concept. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but be mindful of the tone; using it in a derogatory context can offend. Typical collocations include 傚仿 (xiào fǎng - to imitate) and 傚法 (xiào fǎ - imitation method).

HSK Study Tips

While 傚 is not part of the HSK levels, it shares similarities with words like 复制 (fùzhì - to reproduce) and 模仿 (mófǎng - to imitate). Focus on the nuances of imitation versus reproduction, as these distinctions are crucial for effective communication at advanced levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 傚 with the character 模 (mó), which specifically means 'to model' or 'to mold.' For example, saying '我模你' (Wǒ mó nǐ) instead of '我傚你' (Wǒ xiào nǐ) alters the intended meaning from 'I imitate you' to a concept of shaping you, which is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 傚

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Etymology of 傚

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 攵 represents the meaning and 交 represents the sound. Simplified form of 傚.

Memory Hint

To effect 效 another person 亻; 效 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 傚

Phonosemantic compound. 攵 represents the meaning and 交 represents the sound. Simplified form of 傚.

  1. 1The giveawayTo effect 效 another person 亻; 效 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 傚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 傚?

Decomposition of 傚

IDS Structure⿰亻效
傚Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
效xiao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 傚?

How to say to mimic, to imitate in Chinese

“to mimic, to imitate” in Chinese is傚xiào

The character 傚 (xiào) means 'to mimic' or 'to imitate.' It is often used in contexts where one is trying to replicate the actions, behaviors, or styles of another person or thing, whether in art, behavior, or other forms of expression. This word can convey both positive and negative connotations depending on the context, such as admiration in imitation or criticism when one is seen as merely copying without originality.

When to use 傚

Common mistakes include confusing 傚 (to mimic) with 相 (to see or to regard), which is a different concept. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but be mindful of the tone; using it in a derogatory context can offend. Typical collocations include 傚仿 (xiào fǎng - to imitate) and 傚法 (xiào fǎ - imitation method).

傚 or something close to it

效 (xiào) - use this entry for 'to effect' or 'to take effect' rather than merely 'to mimic'; 模仿 (mófǎng) - prefer this term when emphasizing imitation that lacks originality.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 傚 with the character 模 (mó), which specifically means 'to model' or 'to mold.' For example, saying '我模你' (Wǒ mó nǐ) instead of '我傚你' (Wǒ xiào nǐ) alters the intended meaning from 'I imitate you' to a concept of shaping you, which is incorrect.

Write 傚

傚

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 傚

Words Containing This Character20
效果xiàoguǒresult
有效yǒuxiàoeffective
效劳to work for效勞
无效wúxiàonot valid無效
效率xiàolǜefficiency
效应xiàoyìngeffect (scientific phenomenon)效應
效xiàoeffect
效益xiàoyìbenefit
疗效liáoxiàohealing efficacy療效
生效shēngxiàoto take effect
失效shīxiàoto fail
奏效zòuxiàoeffective
高效gāoxiàoefficient
成效chéngxiàoeffect
效力xiàolìeffectiveness
效忠to vow loyalty and devotion to
功效gōngxiàoefficacy
特效special effect
绩效performance績效
音效sound effect
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 效果 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 傚

You can say, '他傚我画画' (Tā xiào wǒ huà huà) which means 'He mimics my painting.'

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