Meaning and Usage
The term "失效" (shīxiào) primarily means "to lose effectiveness" or "to become invalid." It is commonly used in contexts where something that once had legal, functional, or practical power no longer does. This can apply to contracts, coupons, licenses, warranties, or software keys.
Common Contexts
- Legal and contractual documents: when agreements or clauses no longer hold.
- Commercial promotions: coupons or discount codes that have expired.
- Technology: software licenses or keys that are no longer valid after updates or expiration.
Collocations and Patterns
- 优惠券失效 (coupon expires): used when a discount coupon can no longer be used.
- 合同失效 (contract invalid): refers to a contract losing its legal effect.
- 许可证失效 (license invalid): often used in software or official permits.
Usage Notes
"失效" is a formal term often seen in written or official contexts rather than casual speech. It contrasts with "过期" (guòqī), which specifically means "to expire" and is often used for food or documents with a fixed expiration date. "失效" emphasizes the loss of effectiveness or validity, which may be due to expiration or other conditions not being met.
Avoid confusing "失效" with "失败" (failure), as the former relates to invalidity or loss of effect, while the latter means failure or defeat.