利き・効き|ききkiki[0]heiban (flat)

1. nouneffectiveness; efficacy; efficaciousness効き often refers to medicine
2. noun (suffix), noun (prefix)dominance (e.g. of left or right hand)
3. nountasting (alcohol, tea, etc.)

• Synonym効き目ききめNeutralRefers to an effect showing itself, esp. of medicine, as in 「効き目がある」; 「利き」 mostly appears in compounds like 「利き手」「利き酒」.
• Synonym効能こうのうWrittenWritten/formal prose for efficacy or curative effects, common on medicine labels such as 「効能書き」.
• Synonym効果こうかNeutralThe most general word for an effect; 「利き」 focuses on a function working or a drug taking effect.
• Synonym効力こうりょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means potency or force, and also legal validity, as in 「効力を失う」.
• Synonym効験こうけんWrittenWritten/formal prose and very rare; say 「効き目」 instead in ordinary use.
• Related実効じっこうWrittenWritten/formal prose for the actual effectiveness of measures, systems or actions, as in 「実効性」; 「利き」 speaks of a function working or a drug acting.
• Related効こうWrittenWritten/formal prose for efficacy, rarely used alone; seen in set phrases like 「効を奏する」. 「利き」 mostly forms compounds.
• Related甲斐かいNeutralWorth or payoff of an effort, as in 「努力の甲斐」; stresses that something was worthwhile.
• Antonym利かずNeutralDenotes failing to work, the opposite of 「利き」's effectiveness; used rarely.

For an effect, 「効果」 and 「効き目」 are the usual choices. 「利き」 mostly appears in compounds like 「利き手」 (dominant hand), 「利き酒」 (sake tasting) and 「ブレーキの利き」 (brake response). Use 「甲斐」 when saying an effort was worthwhile.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. (利り, 効こう) 機能きのうの働はたらき。作用さよう。
2. (効こう) 薬くすりなどの効果こうかが現あらわれること。効能こうのう。
3. (利り) はたらきが優すぐれていること。
4. (聞きき, 利り) 酒さけなどの味あじわいや香かおりを試ためすこと。
5. 「きく」の連用形れんようけい。