yǐngxiǎng: 影响 - Influence, Effect, To Affect

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• Summary: A comprehensive guide to understanding the crucial Chinese word 影响 (yǐngxiǎng), which means “influence” or “effect.” This page breaks down the characters, explains the cultural context, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Learn how to use 影响 as both a noun and a verb to discuss how people, events, and decisions affect one another in Mandarin Chinese, a key skill for any beginner learner.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǐngxiǎng
• Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To influence or affect; an influence or an effect.
• In a Nutshell: 影响 is a fundamental and versatile word used to describe the power one thing has to cause a change in another. Think of it as a “cause and effect” word. Whether you're talking about how the weather affects your plans, how a teacher influences a student, or the economic impact of a new policy, 影响 is the word you need. It can be positive, negative, or neutral, making it an essential tool for expressing complex ideas.

• 影 (yǐng): This character's original meaning is “shadow” or “reflection.” A shadow is an indirect image cast by an object, which perfectly captures the idea of an unseen or indirect force causing an effect.
• 响 (xiǎng): This character means “echo” or “sound.” An echo is a sound caused by another sound bouncing off a surface. It's a direct reaction or consequence.
• Together, 影响 (yǐngxiǎng) combines the concepts of a “shadow” and an “echo.” Both are consequences or results produced by an original source. This beautiful pairing creates the abstract meaning of “influence”—the invisible force and resulting reaction that one thing has upon another.

While “influence” is a universal concept, 影响 (yǐngxiǎng) in Chinese culture often carries a subtle weight tied to interconnectedness and social responsibility. In a more collectivist society like China, an individual's actions are seen as having a significant 影响 on their family, their company, and their social circle. The “ripple effect” of one's behavior is a constant consideration. This can be contrasted with the more individualistic focus in many Western cultures. For example, while a Westerner might say, “My career choice is my own business,” the traditional Chinese perspective would be to deeply consider the 影响 of that choice on one's parents' expectations and the family's reputation. This concept is particularly strong in education. The 影响 of a teacher (老师的影响 - lǎoshī de yǐngxiǎng) on a student is a deeply respected and powerful idea, rooted in Confucian values that place a high premium on mentorship and the transmission of knowledge and ethics. A good teacher has a positive lifelong influence, while a bad one can have a damaging, negative influence.

影响 is an everyday word used in all contexts, from casual chats to formal reports. Its flexibility as both a noun and a verb is key. As a Verb (to affect/influence): It often follows the structure: Subject + 影响 + Object.

• e.g., 坏天气影响了交通。(Huài tiānqì yǐngxiǎng le jiāotōng.) - The bad weather affected the traffic.

As a Noun (an influence/effect): It is commonly used in these patterns:

• 对…有影响 (duì… yǒu yǐngxiǎng): to have an influence on…
  • e.g., 他的话对我很有影响。(Tā de huà duì wǒ hěn yǒu yǐngxiǎng.) - His words had a big influence on me.
• 受到…影响 (shòudào… yǐngxiǎng): to be influenced/affected by… (passive)
  • e.g., 我受到了他的影响。(Wǒ shòudào le tā de yǐngxiǎng.) - I was influenced by him.
• 产生影响 (chǎnshēng yǐngxiǎng): to produce an effect.
  • e.g., 这件事产生了不好的影响。(Zhè jiàn shì chǎnshēng le bù hǎo de yǐngxiǎng.) - This matter produced a bad effect.

The connotation is determined by adjectives:

• 积极影响 (jījí yǐngxiǎng): Positive influence
• 负面影响 (fùmiàn yǐngxiǎng): Negative influence
• 巨大影响 (jùdà yǐngxiǎng): Huge influence

• Example 1:
  • 抽烟会影响你的健康。
  • Pinyin: Chōuyān huì yǐngxiǎng nǐ de jiànkāng.
  • English: Smoking will affect your health.
  • Analysis: A simple and direct use of 影响 as a verb. This is a common warning you might hear.
• Example 2:
  • 这部电影对我的影响很大。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng duì wǒ de yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.
  • English: This movie had a big influence on me.
  • Analysis: Here, 影响 is a noun. The structure “对 [someone] 的影响很大” (duì [someone] de yǐngxiǎng hěn dà) is extremely common for expressing that something was influential.
• Example 3:
  • 你不要让别人的意见影响你的判断。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ búyào ràng biérén de yìjiàn yǐngxiǎng nǐ de pànduàn.
  • English: Don't let other people's opinions influence your judgment.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the “让…影响…” (ràng…yǐngxiǎng…) structure, meaning “to let…influence…”. It's a great example of giving advice.
• Example 4:
  • 因为堵车，我上班受到了影响。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi dǔchē, wǒ shàngbān shòudào le yǐngxiǎng.
  • English: Because of the traffic jam, my commute to work was affected.
  • Analysis: The passive structure “受到影响” (shòudào yǐngxiǎng) means “to be affected” or “to receive an influence.” It emphasizes the thing that was affected.
• Example 5:
  • 父母的价值观对孩子有深远的影响。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ de jiàzhíguān duì háizi yǒu shēnyuǎn de yǐngxiǎng.
  • English: Parents' values have a profound influence on their children.
  • Analysis: This uses 影响 as a noun in a more formal context. “深远” (shēnyuǎn) means “profound” or “far-reaching.”
• Example 6:
  • 全球变暖对环境产生了负面影响。
  • Pinyin: Quánqiú biànnuǎn duì huánjìng chǎnshēng le fùmiàn yǐngxiǎng.
  • English: Global warming has produced a negative effect on the environment.
  • Analysis: This shows how to specify a negative influence (负面影响 - fùmiàn yǐngxiǎng) and uses the formal verb “产生” (chǎnshēng), meaning “to produce.”
• Example 7:
  • 请小声一点，不要影响到别人。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng xiǎo shēng yīdiǎn, búyào yǐngxiǎng dào biérén.
  • English: Please be a bit quieter, don't affect other people.
  • Analysis: The resultative complement “到” (dào) is often added to 影响 to emphasize that the influence has successfully reached its target. “影响到” is very common in spoken Chinese.
• Example 8:
  • 他的演讲没什么影响。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnjiǎng méi shénme yǐngxiǎng.
  • English: His speech didn't have much of an effect.
  • Analysis: This is a simple way to say something was not influential. “没什么” (méi shénme) means “not much” or “nothing.”
• Example 9:
  • 老师的鼓励给了我积极的影响。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī de gǔlì gěi le wǒ jījí de yǐngxiǎng.
  • English: The teacher's encouragement gave me a positive influence.
  • Analysis: This highlights a positive influence (积极影响 - jījí yǐngxiǎng) and uses the verb “给” (gěi - to give) to frame the effect.
• Example 10:
  • 这项新规定会影响很多小企业。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng xīn guīdìng huì yǐngxiǎng hěnduō xiǎo qǐyè.
  • English: This new regulation will affect many small businesses.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of how 影响 is used in a business or economic context.

• Mistake 1: Confusing Verb and Noun Usage.
  • A common error is using 影响 as an adjective.
  • Incorrect: `我爸爸对我影响很大。` (Wǒ bàba duì wǒ yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.)
  • Reason: This sentence is missing a noun. It literally says “My dad towards me influence very big.”
  • Correct: `我爸爸对我的影响很大。` (Wǒ bàba duì wǒ de yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.) - Here, 影响 is the noun “influence.”
  • Correct: `我爸爸影响了我很多。` (Wǒ bàba yǐngxiǎng le wǒ hěnduō.) - Here, 影响 is the verb “to influence.”
• Mistake 2: 影响 (yǐngxiǎng) vs. 效果 (xiàoguǒ).
  • These two words can both be translated as “effect,” but they are not interchangeable.
  • 影响 (yǐngxiǎng) is a broad, often indirect “influence” or “effect.” It can be unplanned.
    • Example: The rain had an influence (影响) on my mood.
  • 效果 (xiàoguǒ) is a more concrete “result” or “effect” that comes from a specific, purposeful action. It's the intended outcome.
    • Example: The medicine's effect (效果) was very good. (The medicine was taken for a specific purpose).
    • You would not say the medicine had a good 影响.
• Mistake 3: Forgetting the Target of the Influence.
  • When used as a verb, 影响 needs an object.
  • Incorrect: `玩游戏很影响。` (Wán yóuxì hěn yǐngxiǎng.)
  • Reason: This is an incomplete thought. What does playing games affect?
  • Correct: `玩游戏很影响学习。` (Wán yóuxì hěn yǐngxiǎng xuéxí.) - Playing games really affects studying.

• `效果 (xiàoguǒ)` - The direct result or outcome of a purposeful action; “effect.”
• `作用 (zuòyòng)` - Role, function, or effect, often in a more neutral, mechanical, or chemical sense (e.g., the function of a button).
• `后果 (hòuguǒ)` - Consequence or aftermath, almost always with a negative connotation.
• `干涉 (gānshè)` - To interfere or meddle. A more direct, active, and usually unwelcome form of influence.
• `改变 (gǎibiàn)` - To change; a change. An 影响 often leads to a 改变.
• `感动 (gǎndòng)` - To be moved or touched emotionally. A specific type of positive emotional 影响.
• `关系 (guānxi)` - Relationships and social connections, which are a primary medium through which 影响 is exerted in Chinese society.