作用zuò yòngaction; function; activity

1. 1.

   action; function; activitynoun

2. 2.

   impact; result; effectnoun

3. 3.

   to act on; to affectverb

• 作to do; to engage in
• 用usefulness; utility

作用 is often used in 起作用, 有作用, or 对……有作用; the verb use "to act on" is mostly written.

1. HSK 3

   这个药没有作用。

   Zhège yào méiyǒu zuòyòng.

   This medicine has no effect.

2. HSK 3

   多运动对身体有很好的作用。

   Duō yùndòng duì shēntǐ yǒu hěn hǎo de zuòyòng.

   Exercising more has a very good effect on the body.

3. HSK 3

   这个办法起了很大的作用。

   Zhège bànfǎ qǐ le hěn dà de zuòyòng.

   This method had a big effect.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你的感冒好点儿了吗？

   Nǐ de gǎnmào hǎo diǎnr le ma?

   Is your cold any better?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   好多了，医生给的药很有作用。

   Hǎo duō le, yīshēng gěi de yào hěn yǒu zuòyòng.

   Much better; the medicine from the doctor works well.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   那你明天能来上课吗？

   Nà nǐ míngtiān néng lái shàngkè ma?

   Then can you come to class tomorrow?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   能，不过我还得多喝水。

   Néng, búguò wǒ hái děi duō hē shuǐ.

   Yes, but I still need to drink lots of water.

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• HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.

Related words

• 作品zuò pǐnwork (of art)HSK 4
• 动作dòng zuòmovement; motion; actionHSK 4
• 作为zuò wéias (in the capacity of)HSK 4
• 使用shǐ yòngto useHSK 4
• 不用bú yòngneed notHSK 3
• 用yòngto use; to make use of; to employHSK 3

Browse every entry in the Chinese word dictionary.