verb HSK 5
to pledge loyalty · to be loyal to · to swear allegiance
Meaning
效忠 means to demonstrate or pledge loyalty to someone or something, typically a leader, country, or cause. It carries a formal and serious tone, often used in political, military, or historical contexts where sworn allegiance is expected.
Usage
This is a formal term most commonly used in official, political, or historical contexts. It often appears with prepositions like 向 (xiàng) or 于 (yú) to indicate the object of loyalty. In modern everyday speech, simpler words like 忠诚 are more common for expressing loyalty.
Examples
- 01士兵们向国旗宣誓效忠。.The soldiers swore allegiance to the flag.
- 02在古代，大臣必须效忠于皇帝。, .In ancient times, ministers had to pledge loyalty to the emperor.
Characters
Common collocations
- 效忠于to pledge loyalty to
- 效忠国家to be loyal to one's country
- 宣誓效忠to swear allegiance
Antonyms
Origin
效 originally meant to imitate or follow, while 忠 represents loyalty and faithfulness. Together they form a compound meaning to demonstrate loyalty through devoted service.