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生效 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
生效shēngxiàoto take effectHSK 7, n, 15 strokes, rank #7973, Very Hard
生效shēngxiàoto go into effectHSK 7, n, 15 strokes, rank #7973, Very Hard
shēngxiào(sheng1xiao4)sheng xiao T1
  1. 1to take effect
  2. 2to go into effect
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March 24, 2026

生效shēngxiào(sheng1xiao4)

生效 (shēngxiào) means 'to take effect' or 'to go into effect.' It is commonly used in legal or formal contexts, such as when a contract or law is enacted. Understanding this term is crucial for discussions related to policies, agreements, or regulations.

Strokes15Frequency#7973DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The concept of contracts and laws taking effect is deeply rooted in Chinese legal culture, reflecting the importance placed on formal agreements in business and governance. The precision of timing when something goes into effect is often emphasized.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'life' (生 shēng) event that suddenly 'shines' (效 xiào) with power when it begins—this is when something takes effect. Picture a contract coming to life with a bright light, symbolizing its activation.

Meanings of 生效

shēngxiào(sheng1xiao4)
1to take effect
2to go into effect
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 生效

生效Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7973Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 生效

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Podcast: 生效

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AI study notes for 生效

Quick Contrast

生效 (shēngxiào) vs 产生 (chǎnshēng): use 生效 when referring specifically to laws or contracts taking effect, while 产生 is broader, meaning 'to produce' or 'to generate'.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 生效 with 发生 (fāshēng), which means 'to happen.' It is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '法律生效' (law takes effect) and '合同生效' (contract takes effect).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 生效 connects with other legal or formal vocabulary such as 合同 (contract), 规定 (regulation), and 实施 (implement). Focus on its usage in formal writing and discussions to reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 生效 when referring to something that simply happened, such as saying '这个事件生效了' (This event took effect), which should instead be '这个事件发生了' (This event happened).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 生效

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Component characters

生shēngto be born
HSK 45 strokes生
View full entry
效xiàoto imitate
HSK 410 strokes攵
View full entry

How to say to take effect in Chinese

“to take effect” in Chinese is生效shēngxiào

生效 (shēngxiào) means 'to take effect' or 'to go into effect.' It is commonly used in legal or formal contexts, such as when a contract or law is enacted. Understanding this term is crucial for discussions related to policies, agreements, or regulations.

When to use 生效

Learners often confuse 生效 with 发生 (fāshēng), which means 'to happen.' It is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '法律生效' (law takes effect) and '合同生效' (contract takes effect).

生效 or something close to it

生效 (shēngxiào) vs 产生 (chǎnshēng): use 生效 when referring specifically to laws or contracts taking effect, while 产生 is broader, meaning 'to produce' or 'to generate'.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 生效 when referring to something that simply happened, such as saying '这个事件生效了' (This event took effect), which should instead be '这个事件发生了' (This event happened).

Write 生效

生
效

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

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Grammar patterns of 生效

生效 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他有权维持法庭判决,批准死刑____。

He can let the court's decision stand and permit the execution.

Example sentences for 生效 (4)

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1
他有权维持法庭判决,批准死刑生效。

tā yǒu quán wéichí fǎtíng pànjué, pīzhǔn sǐ xíng shēngxiào。

He can let the court's decision stand and permit the execution.
2
本协定自即日起生效.

běn xiédìng zì jírì qǐ shēngxiào.

The present agreement takes effect as from today.
3
周四早上签订的合同实际生效日期追溯到3月11日。

zhōu sì zǎoshang qiāndìng de hétóng shíjì shēngxiào rìqī zhuīsù dào3 yuè11 rì。

The contract that was signed on Thursday morning was backdated to March
4
马尔科姆的合同将与他手头的合同同时生效。

mǎ ěr kē mǔ de hétóng jiāng yǔ tā shǒutóu de hétóng tóngshí shēngxiào。

Malcolm's contract will run in tandem with his existing one.

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Frequently asked questions about 生效

It's best used in formal contexts, such as discussions about laws or contracts, rather than casual conversations.

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