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効

merit
Stroke count: 8

Readings

On readingコウ
Kun readingき.く、ききめ、なら.う
JLPT level: N2JōyōGrade 5

Meanings

  1. meritRtK
  2. efficacy
  3. efficiency
    彼は事務効率をよくする案を出した。He put forward a plan for improving office efficiency.tatoeba
  4. benefit
  1. to be effective
  2. to take effect
  3. to be good (for)
  4. to work
  5. to function well

Popular Usage

効く効果効力効き目

Radicals and components

Radical力power
Components
How it's built
効
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Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

mingle · top hat (亠) · father · power (力) · muscle (力) · arnold

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 1369

Compound words

効果こうか
effect; effectiveness; efficacy; result; effects (e.g. sound effects, visual effects, special effects)
効くきく
to be effective; to take effect; to be good (for); to work; to function well
効力こうりょく
effect; efficacy; validity; potency
効き目ききめ
effect; virtue; efficacy; impression; one's dominant eye
効能こうのう
effect; effectiveness; efficacy; virtue; benefit
効用こうよう
use; utility; effect; benefit
効率こうりつ
efficiency
時効じこう
statute of limitations; lapse of rights after a period of time; prescription (including acquisitive and extinctive prescription); becoming invalid or void after a set time; ageing
実効じっこう
practical effect; efficacy; efficiency
即効そっこう
immediate effect; instant effect
発効はっこう
coming into effect
無効むこう
invalid; void; ineffective; unavailable
有効ゆうこう
valid; effective; yuko (judo)
逆効果ぎゃくこうか
opposite effect; adverse effect; backfiring
効果的こうかてき
effective; successful
効率的こうりつてき
efficient
特効薬とっこうやく
specific medicine; wonder drug; silver bullet
有効活用ゆうこうかつよう
effective use; making effective use (of)
偉効いこう
great effect
卓効たっこう
great efficiency
効果音こうかおん
sound effect
圧電効果あつでんこうか
piezoelectric effect
経済効果けいざいこうか
(positive) economic effect
効果覿面こうかてきめん
having an immediate effect

Additional Examples

彼は、効果的な手段が取れなかった。
He could not take effective measures.tatoeba
彼の発言は逆効果になった。
His remarks had the opposite effect.tatoeba
彼の契約はもう１年間有効だ。
His contract runs for one more year.tatoeba
血症、高血圧症などに効く。
They are effective for blood diseases and high blood pressure.wiki
飲泉は便秘やじんましんに効く。
Drinking the water is effective for constipation and hives.wiki
日清戦争勃発まではその効力が続いていた。
It was effective until the Sino-Japanese War broke out.wiki
政令としての効力を有すると解されている。
It is interpreted as a valid Cabinet Order.wiki

Stroke Order

8 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 効

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step