The Meaning of kōritsu [効率] In Japanese

効率
こうりつ
Romaji: kōritsu N2

What does 効率 mean?

Translation and Meaning

efficiency, effectiveness

Definition

What does 効率 mean? It denotes the degree to which inputs are transformed into outputs, capturing how effectively a process or system converts effort into results.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 能率 (nōritsu) – practical efficiency or throughput in tasks and operations.
  • 生産性 (seisansei) – productivity, output per unit input, commonly used in manufacturing and economics.
  • 効率性 (kōritsu-sei) – efficiency as a property or quality of a system, method, or process.

Etymology

On’yomi formation from Chinese readings of 効 and 率; the current pronunciation kôritsu reflects historical vowel lengthening typical of Sino-Japanese compounds.

Origin

The term entered modern Japanese during the Meiji era with industrialization and administrative reform, where efficiency became a central concept in management, engineering, and economic policy.

Composition

  • 効 – meaning effect, efficacy
  • 率 – meaning rate, ratio
  • Together they express the rate at which an input produces an effect, i.e., efficiency

Usage

Used across business, engineering, academia, and daily speech to discuss how well resources are converted into results; common in formal reports and technical writing, often paired with 効率的 to form adjectives like efficient and with 効率を上げる to describe raising efficiency.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a rate gauge measuring the effect of a process—the higher the gauge, the higher the efficiency; the long vowel in kōritsu helps remember the extended sound in the word.

Variations

  • 能率 (nōritsu) – efficiency, especially in practical work
  • 生産性 (seisansei) – productivity
  • 効率性 (kōritsu-sei) – efficiency as a characteristic

Example Phrases

  • 資料を整理すると 作業が 捗る ので 効率が上がる。
    Shiryō o seiri suru to sagyō ga hodoru node kōritsu ga agaru.
    Organizing materials makes the work progress smoothly, so efficiency improves.
    Lista:
    • 資料を整理すると (Shiryō o seiri suru to) – If you organize materials
    • 作業が (sagyō ga) – the work
    • 捗る (hodoru) – progresses smoothly
    • ので (node) – so
    • 効率が上がる (kōritsu ga agaru) – efficiency improves
    Core grammar: 「捗る」 is an intransitive verb; here 作業が「捗る」 describes the work progressing smoothly.
  • 新しい アプリを 使えば 日常の 作業効率が 着実に 上がる。
    atarashii apuri o tsukaeba nichijō no sagyō kōritsu ga chakujitsu ni agaru.
    If you use a new app, your daily work efficiency will steadily improve.
    Lista:
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • アプリを (apuri o) – app
    • 使えば (tsukaeba) – if you use
    • 日常の (nichijō no) – everyday/daily
    • 作業効率が (sagyō kōritsu ga) – work efficiency
    • 着実に (chakujitsu ni) – steadily
    • 上がる (agaru) – rises
    Uses the conditional form 〜ば (使えば) to mean ‘if you use’; the word 「効率」 appears in 作業効率 meaning ‘work efficiency’.
効率