verb / noun HSK 4
Traditional 影響
to influence · to affect · influence · effect · impact
Meaning
影响 means to have an effect on something or someone, or the effect itself. It can be used as both a verb (to influence/affect) and a noun (influence/impact). The word is neutral and can describe positive, negative, or neutral effects depending on context.
Usage
Very common in both spoken and written Chinese. Often paired with adjectives like 好 (good), 坏 (bad), 大 (big), 深远 (profound) when used as a noun. As a verb, it typically takes an object indicating what is being affected. Frequently appears in formal contexts, news, and academic writing.
Examples
- 01这件事对他的学习产生了很大的影响。.This matter had a great impact on his studies.
- 02天气不好会影响我们的旅行计划。.Bad weather will affect our travel plans.
Characters
Measure words
- 种一种影响
Common collocations
- 受到影响to be affected/influenced
- 产生影响to produce an impact
- 深远的影响profound/far-reaching influence
- 不良影响negative/bad influence
Origin
The word combines 影 (shadow/image) and 响 (sound/echo). The metaphor suggests how an influence works like a shadow or echo—extending from the source to affect other things indirectly.