zuoyong: 作用 - Effect, Function, Role

• Keywords: 作用, zuoyong, Chinese for effect, Chinese for function, meaning of zuoyong, what does zuoyong mean, to have an effect in Chinese, Chinese grammar, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 4, 效果 vs 作用.
• Summary: “作用 (zuòyòng)” is a fundamental and versatile Chinese word used to describe the effect, function, or role of something or someone. Whether you're discussing the effect of medicine, the function of a button on your phone, or the role a person plays in a team, “作用” is the go-to term. Understanding “作用” is crucial for moving beyond basic descriptions to talk about cause and effect, purpose, and impact in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuòyòng
• Part of Speech: Noun (primarily), Verb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: The effect, function, or role that something or someone has.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “作用 (zuòyòng)” as the “job” or “impact” of something. It answers the question, “What does it do?” or “What is its purpose?”. It's a neutral word that describes the mechanism or influence of an action, object, or person. A policy has a 作用 on society, a medicine has a 作用 on the body, and a leader has a 作用 in a company. It's all about the part something plays and the effect it produces.

• 作 (zuò): To do, to make, to act. This character is about action and creation. You see it in common words like 工作 (gōngzuò - work) and 作业 (zuòyè - homework). It implies an active process.
• 用 (yòng): To use, utility, function. This character is about application and purpose. You know it from words like 有用 (yǒuyòng - useful) and 使用 (shǐyòng - to use). It implies a purpose or utility.

When combined, 作用 (zuòyòng) literally means “action-utility” or “making-use.” This beautifully captures its meaning: the utility that comes from an action, which we understand in English as its function or effect.

While “作用 (zuòyòng)” is a practical, everyday word, its usage can reflect a subtle cultural perspective. In many Western contexts, especially in business, a person's identity is often tied to their title (e.g., “I am the CEO”). In Chinese culture, there is often a greater emphasis on the 作用 (role, function) a person performs within a collective or system. What you do and how you contribute to the group (i.e., your 作用) can be more defining than your official title. This concept is also central to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). An herbalist won't just say a herb is “good”; they will explain its specific 作用 on the body's systems—whether it's to cool heat (清热的作用), expel dampness (祛湿的作用), or invigorate blood (活血的作用). The focus is on the herb's specific function within the complex system of the body, which is a perfect real-world application of the word's meaning.

“作用” is an incredibly common word used in various contexts, from casual conversation to formal reports.

• As “Effect” or “Impact”: This is its most common usage. It's used to talk about the consequences of an action, policy, or substance. It's often used with the verb 起 (qǐ), as in 起作用 (qǐ zuòyòng), which means “to take effect” or “to produce an effect.”
  • e.g., 他的话对我起了很大的作用。(Tā de huà duì wǒ qǐle hěn dà de zuòyòng.) - His words had a great effect on me.
• As “Function” or “Purpose”: When asking what something does or explaining its purpose, 作用 is the perfect word.
  • e.g., 这个软件有什么作用？(Zhège ruǎnjiàn yǒu shéme zuòyòng?) - What is the function of this software?
• As “Role”: It can describe the part someone or something plays in a situation.
  • e.g., 他在谈判中扮演了关键作用。(Tā zài tánpàn zhōng bànyǎnle guānjiàn zuòyòng.) - He played a key role in the negotiations.
• Common Phrases:
  • 起作用 (qǐ zuòyòng): to take effect, to be effective.
  • 副作用 (fùzuòyòng): side effect (literally “deputy/secondary effect”).
  • 没(有)作用 (méi(yǒu) zuòyòng): to be useless, to have no effect.

• Example 1:
  • 这种药有什么作用？
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng yào yǒu shéme zuòyòng?
  • English: What is the function of this medicine?
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using 作用 to ask about the intended function or primary effect of something.
• Example 2:
  • 老师的鼓励对学生起到了积极的作用。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī de gǔlì duì xuéshēng qǐdàole jījí de zuòyòng.
  • English: The teacher's encouragement had a positive effect on the students.
  • Analysis: Here, 作用 is used to mean “effect” or “impact.” The phrase 起到了…作用 (qǐdàole…zuòyòng) is a very common pattern meaning “played a…role/had a…effect.”
• Example 3:
  • 抱怨解决不了问题，不起任何作用。
  • Pinyin: Bàoyuàn jiějué bùliǎo wèntí, bù qǐ rènhé zuòyòng.
  • English: Complaining can't solve the problem; it has no effect whatsoever.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form, 不起作用 (bù qǐ zuòyòng), meaning “doesn't work” or “has no effect.”
• Example 4:
  • 节食和运动在减肥方面都起着重要作用。
  • Pinyin: Jiéshí hé yùndòng zài jiǎnféi fāngmiàn dōu qǐzhe zhòngyào zuòyòng.
  • English: Diet and exercise both play important roles in losing weight.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 作用 to mean “role.” Notice how it can apply to concepts (diet, exercise) and not just people or objects.
• Example 5:
  • 这个药的主要作用是止痛。
  • Pinyin: Zhège yào de zhǔyào zuòyòng shì zhǐtòng.
  • English: The main function of this medicine is to relieve pain.
  • Analysis: This clearly distinguishes function (作用) from the result. Compare this with “The medicine's result was good” (这个药的效果很好 - Zhège yào de xiàoguǒ hěn hǎo).
• Example 6:
  • 互联网在现代社会中扮演着越来越重要的作用。
  • Pinyin: Hùliánwǎng zài xiàndài shèhuì zhōng bànyǎnzhe yuèláiyuè zhòngyào de zuòyòng.
  • English: The internet plays an increasingly important role in modern society.
  • Analysis: 扮演…作用 (bànyǎn…zuòyòng) is a set phrase for “to play a…role.”
• Example 7:
  • 耐心点，药效很快就会起作用的。
  • Pinyin: Nàixīn diǎn, yàoxiào hěn kuài jiù huì qǐ zuòyòng de.
  • English: Be patient, the medicine will take effect soon.
  • Analysis: The phrase 起作用 (qǐ zuòyòng) is used here as a verb phrase meaning “to become effective.”
• Example 8:
  • 这个按钮的作用是什么？
  • Pinyin: Zhège ànniǔ de zuòyòng shì shénme?
  • English: What is the function of this button?
  • Analysis: A simple and very practical question you can use to ask about the purpose of any object.
• Example 9:
  • 我觉得我的建议对他没什么作用。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juédé wǒ de jiànyì duì tā méishénme zuòyòng.
  • English: I feel like my suggestion didn't have much effect on him.
  • Analysis: 没什么作用 (méishénme zuòyòng) is a softer way of saying “had little to no effect.”
• Example 10:
  • 物理作用和化学作用是不同的。
  • Pinyin: Wùlǐ zuòyòng hé huàxué zuòyòng shì bùtóng de.
  • English: Physical effects and chemical effects are different.
  • Analysis: This shows 作用 being used in a formal, scientific context, equivalent to “action,” “force,” or “effect.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 作用 (zuòyòng) and 效果 (xiàoguǒ). They can both be translated as “effect,” but they are not interchangeable.

• 作用 (zuòyòng) refers to the function, process, or intended effect. It describes what something does.
• 效果 (xiàoguǒ) refers to the result, outcome, or consequence. It describes how well something worked.

Think of it this way:

• The 作用 of aspirin is to relieve pain. (A statement of function).
• The 效果 of the aspirin was amazing; my headache disappeared in 10 minutes! (A statement of the result).

Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: 这个药的作用很好。 (Zhège yào de zuòyòng hěn hǎo.)
• Why it's wrong: You are judging the result, not stating the function. You should use 效果 to talk about how good or bad the outcome was.
• Correct: 这个药的效果很好。 (Zhège yào de xiàoguǒ hěn hǎo.) - The effect/result of this medicine is very good.
• Correct: 这个药的作用是消炎。 (Zhège yào de zuòyòng shì xiāoyán.) - The function of this medicine is to reduce inflammation.

• 效果 (xiàoguǒ) - The result or outcome. While 作用 is the function, 效果 is the final grade it gets.
• 功能 (gōngnéng) - Function, feature. More specific than 作用, it's almost exclusively used for machines, software, or tools (e.g., a phone's camera 功能).
• 影响 (yǐngxiǎng) - Influence, to affect. This is often more subtle, long-term, or indirect than 作用. A person can 影响 you, while a medicine has a 作用 on you.
• 副作用 (fùzuòyòng) - Side effect. A direct and common compound word using 作用, referring to the unintended, secondary effects of something, usually medicine.
• 起作用 (qǐ zuòyòng) - A verb-object phrase meaning “to take effect” or “to be effective.”
• 目的 (mùdì) - Purpose, goal, objective. This describes the reason you do something (the “why”), whereas 作用 describes what the thing does (the “what it does”).
• 角色 (juésè) - Role, character. This is much more specific than 作用 and usually refers to a part in a play, movie, or a clearly defined social position (e.g., the role of a mother).