Meaning of 有效
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- effective
- in effect
- valid
How to use 有效
有效 describes things that work well, like a method or medicine, and things that are officially valid, like a ticket or passport. It often appears with 期 as 有效期 (yǒuxiàoqī), the validity period or expiry date. Example: 这个办法很有效。(Zhège bànfǎ hěn yǒuxiào.) This method is very effective.
有 (yǒu) means to have, and 效 (xiào) means effect, so 有效 literally means "has an effect." If something has an effect, it works or it counts.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 有效 (effective) with 有用 (yǒuyòng, useful). A pen is 有用, but a ticket is 有效 because it is still valid, not because it is handy. Also note that 效 is pronounced xiào with a fourth tone, the same sound as 笑 (laugh), so do not confuse the characters in writing.
有效 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.
有 yǒu · to have · 6 strokes
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- 3
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效 xiào · result · 10 strokes
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- 10
Related words
Words that share a character with 有效.
| 没有 | méiyǒu | haven't; hasn't |
| 还有 | hái yǒu | there still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition |
| 有些 | yǒuxiē | some; somewhat; rather; a bit |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes; now and then |
| 有时候 | yǒushíhou | sometimes |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous; well-known |
| 有的 | yǒude | (there are) some (who are...); some (exist) |
| 有一些 | yǒuyīxiē | somewhat; rather |
| 所有 | suǒyǒu | all; to have; to possess; to own |
| 有人 | yǒu rén | someone; people |
| 有意思 | yǒu yìsi | interesting; meaningful |
Questions about 有效
What does 有效 mean?
有效 (yǒuxiào) means "effective; in effect" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 有效?
有效 is made of 2 characters: 有 (6 strokes), 效 (10 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 有效 an HSK word?
Yes. 有效 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say something is invalid or no longer works?
Use 无效 (wúxiào), meaning invalid or ineffective, for example 这张票已经无效了 (This ticket is no longer valid). In casual speech you can also say 没有效果 (méiyǒu xiàoguǒ), meaning it had no effect.
Can 有效 be used before a verb like an adverb?
Yes. With 地 it modifies a verb, as in 有效地解决问题 (yǒuxiào de jiějué wèntí), to solve a problem effectively. It can also come directly before some two-syllable verbs in formal writing, as in 有效控制 (effectively control).