作用 (zuò yòng) — to act on in Mandarin
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#653 most common word · HSK 3 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
作用 is pronounced zuò yòng. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Zhège yào yǒu hěnhǎo de zuòyòng.
This medicine has a very good effect.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 作用 mean?+
作用 (zuò yòng) means "to act on" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 作用?+
作用 is pronounced zuò yòng. It uses the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 作用 in Mandarin?+
作用 is the #653 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 作用 fits
Every HSK 3 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
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What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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