<p>起 = establish</p>
<p>作用 = effect</p>
<p>起作用 = take effect</p>
<p>反(opposite) --&gt; (opposite of positive = negative)</p>
<p><strong>起反作用</strong> = take opposite (negative) effect  --&gt; The opposite result of the intended goal = <strong>counterproductive</strong></p>
<p>When your action cause a positive/productive effect, that is 起(正面)作用</p>
<p>When your action cause a negative/ counterproductive, effect, that is 起反面作用 = 起反作用</p>
<p>正面 in 起正面作用 is omitted because the term 'effect' is presumed positive.</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>突襲起了作用 -- The raid took effect (a positive effect/ result of improving the odds of winning)</p>
<p>突襲起了反作用 -- The raid took opposite effect (a negative effect/ result of worsening the odds of winning)</p>
<p>'到' in '起到作用' is a verb particle that indicates the verb is succefully completed</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-25T23:00:15.990Z
Great, makes sense!
Curiosity
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-25T10:25:20.837Z
2021-04-25T13:42:34.980Z
2021-04-25T13:42:34.980Z
Tang Ho
<p>I think you can see it nicely here:</p>
<p>作为回应采取了一些措施，<br />
Some measures adopted in response,<br />
比如限制出口，<br />
such as export restrictions,<br />
起到了强烈的反作用。<br />
led to (a) strong counter-effect. = have been highly counterproductive.</p>
<p>起到： give rise to<br />
反作用： opposite, counter-effect</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-25T23:00:38.430Z
Thanks, the example helped.
Curiosity
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-25T14:05:20.710Z
2021-04-25T14:05:20.710Z
Pedroski
<p>I learned that in Chinese <strong>counterproductive</strong> is <strong>起到反作用</strong> or <strong>起反作用</strong></p>
<p>I'm trying to figure out what the characters or words mean in this phrase.</p>
<p>I know 作用 means <em>result</em> or <em>effect</em> here, 反 means <em>opposite</em>. How does 起 fit in here and what part of speech is it? Is 到 necessary, or is it a completed action marker here?</p>
<p>Many thanks!</p>

<grammar><meaning>
Counterproductive - 起到反作用 - how to parse?
# Counterproductive - 起到反作用 - how to parse?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-25)

I learned that in Chinese **counterproductive** is **起到反作用** or **起反作用**

I'm trying to figure out what the characters or words mean in this phrase.

I know 作用 means *result* or *effect* here, 反 means *opposite*. How does 起 fit in here and what part of speech is it? Is 到 necessary, or is it a completed action marker here?

Many thanks!

**Tags:** grammar, meaning


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-25. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

起 = establish

作用 = effect

起作用 = take effect

反(opposite) --> (opposite of positive = negative)

**起反作用** = take opposite (negative) effect --> The opposite result of the intended goal = **counterproductive**

When your action cause a positive/productive effect, that is 起(正面)作用

When your action cause a negative/ counterproductive, effect, that is 起反面作用 = 起反作用

正面 in 起正面作用 is omitted because the term 'effect' is presumed positive.

Example:

突襲起了作用 -- The raid took effect (a positive effect/ result of improving the odds of winning)

突襲起了反作用 -- The raid took opposite effect (a negative effect/ result of worsening the odds of winning)

'到' in '起到作用' is a verb particle that indicates the verb is succefully completed

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Great, makes sense!  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-25. Score: 2

I think you can see it nicely here:

作为回应采取了一些措施，  
Some measures adopted in response,  
比如限制出口，  
such as export restrictions,  
起到了强烈的反作用。  
led to (a) strong counter-effect. = have been highly counterproductive.

起到： give rise to  
反作用： opposite, counter-effect

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, the example helped.  

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