功效
gōngxiào · HSK 7
efficacy
💊 功 (merit/work) + 效 (effect) = the effect of one's work = efficacy
功 means achievement or work done; 效 means effect or result. Together they describe the working effect of something, often a medicine, treatment, or method — its efficacy.
功 — work 工 (phonetic) + strength 力 (semantic)
功 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The right side 力 (strength, a pictograph of a plow or flexed arm) gives the meaning, while 工 (work, originally a carpenter's square) supplies the sound. Together they convey effort applied to work — hence 'achievement, merit, accomplishment.'