影响

• Pinyin: yǐng xiǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 影 = 景 (scenery) + 彡 (light/shadow strokes), meaning 'shadow'; 响 = 口 (mouth) + 向 (direction), meaning 'sound/echo'

Meaning

To influence; to affect; influence; impact. Both a verb meaning 'to have an effect on' and a noun meaning 'influence.'

Extremely common in Chinese. As a verb: 这会影响你的成绩 (This will affect your grades). As a noun: 他对我有很大的影响 (He has had a big influence on me). Can be positive or negative depending on context.

Examples

1. 下雨影响了我们的计划。 The rain affected our plans.
2. 老师对我的影响很大。 My teacher has had a big influence on me.
3. 吸烟会影响身体健康。 Smoking will affect your health.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, academic, work

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这件事对他影响很大。(This matter had a big impact on him.)
• 别让这件事影响你的心情。(Don't let this affect your mood.)

Don't Say

• 他影响了我一个好人。(Don't use 影响 to directly mean 'make someone become' — say 他的影响让我变得更好 instead.)

Origin & History

Compound of 影 (shadow) and 响 (sound/echo), literally 'shadow and echo' — things that extend and reach beyond their source, hence 'influence.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal