长效

• Pinyin: cháng xiào
• Hanzi breakdown: 长 = 长 (long/grow); 效 = 交 + 攴 (interact + strike — produce effect)

Meaning

Long-acting; producing sustained effects over an extended period. Describes mechanisms, policies, or substances whose impact is durable rather than temporary.

Common in medicine (long-acting medications), policy-making (long-term mechanisms), and public administration. Contrasts with 短效 (short-acting) and emphasises systemic, sustained results rather than quick fixes.

Examples

1. 政府致力于建立长效的生态保护机制，而非仅仅依赖临时性的整治措施。 The government is committed to building a long-term mechanism for ecological protection, rather than relying only on temporary cleanup measures.
2. 这种长效避孕针一次注射可维持三个月的效果。 This long-acting contraceptive injection can last for three months with a single shot.
3. 构建长效的廉政体系是推进反腐工作的根本之道。 Building a long-term integrity system is the fundamental way to advance anti-corruption efforts.

Usage Guide

Context: policy, medicine, administration, governance

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 建立长效监管机制是保障食品安全的核心举措，不能仅靠运动式执法。(Establishing a long-acting regulatory mechanism is the core measure for ensuring food safety — one cannot rely solely on campaign-style enforcement.)
• 该药物的长效配方使患者只需每周服药一次，大幅提高了治疗依从性。(The long-acting formulation of this drug allows patients to take it only once a week, greatly improving treatment adherence.)

Don't Say

• 这个措施很长效 — while understandable, 长效 is typically used attributively before a noun; use 这个措施效果持久 for a predicate position

Origin & History

长 (long/prolonged) + 效 (effect/efficacy)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal