効 means “take effect, effect”

きく · kiku

Also: merit, efficacy, efficiency, benefit

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

きく, ききめ, ならう

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 5 · 8 strokes

The story

Crossing (交) and power (力): picture medicine mixing into the blood and starting to work. 効く is to take effect, 効果 is the effect itself, and 有効期限 is the date a ticket or coupon stops being valid.

Used in 効く (kiku, to take effect), 効果 (kouka, effect), and 有効 (yuukou, valid/effective)

More from Health & Healing

• 療 treatment
• 患 illness
• 汚 dirty
• 浴 bathe
• 乳 milk
• 毒 poison
• 脂 fat

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.