Meaning of 效率
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- efficiency
How to use 效率
效率 is a noun used for people, work, machines and systems. It often goes with 高 (gāo) or 低 (dī), or with verbs like 提高 (tígāo) to raise. Example: 他工作效率很高。(Tā gōngzuò xiàolǜ hěn gāo.) He works very efficiently.
效 (xiào) means effect or result, and 率 (lǜ) means rate, as in 汇率 (huìlǜ) exchange rate. Put them together and 效率 is your rate of results: how much you get done for the effort you put in.
Common mistake: 率 has two readings. It is lǜ in 效率 and 汇率, but shuài in 率先 (shuàixiān) and 率领 (shuàilǐng), so learners often say xiàoshuài by mistake. Also, lǜ uses ü, so do not pronounce it like lù.
效率 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
效 xiào · result · 10 strokes
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率 lǜ · ratio · 11 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 效率.
| 有效 | yǒuxiào | effective; in effect |
| 效果 | xiàoguǒ | result; effect |
| 率先 | shuàixiān | to take the lead; to show initiative |
| 汇率 | huìlǜ | exchange rate |
| 率领 | shuàilǐng | to lead; to command |
| 成效 | chéngxiào | effect; result |
| 无效 | wúxiào | not valid; ineffective |
| 效力 | xiàolì | effectiveness; positive effect |
| 频率 | pínlǜ | frequency |
| 奏效 | zòuxiào | to show results; to be effective |
| 失效 | shīxiào | to fail; to lose effectiveness |
| 生效 | shēngxiào | (of a law, contract, agreement, ban etc) to come into force; to go into effect; to become |
Questions about 效率
What does 效率 mean?
效率 (xiàolǜ) means "efficiency" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 效率?
效率 is made of 2 characters: 效 (10 strokes), 率 (11 strokes). That is 21 strokes in total.
Is 效率 an HSK word?
Yes. 效率 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 效率 and 效果?
效率 (xiàolǜ) is about speed and effort, meaning how efficiently something is done. 效果 (xiàoguǒ) is about the outcome, meaning whether something works. A method can have a good 效果 but a low 效率.
How do I say "efficient" as an adjective?
效率 is a noun, so you usually say 效率高 (xiàolǜ gāo), literally "efficiency is high". You can also say 高效 (gāoxiào), as in 高效的方法 (gāoxiào de fāngfǎ), an efficient method.