効率的(こうりつてき)な

A very common modifier in business, academic, and daily contexts. Formed from 効率(こうりつ) (efficiency) + 的(てき) (suffix making na-adjectives). The base noun 効率(こうりつ) is also frequently used on its own.

Common collocations

• 効率的(こうりつてき)な方法(ほうほう): an efficient method
• 効率的(こうりつてき)に働(はたら)く: to work efficiently
• 効率的(こうりつてき)な運用(うんよう): efficient operation/management
• 効率的(こうりつてき)な使(つか)い方(かた): efficient way of using

Similar words

• 能率的(のうりつてき)な: efficient — very similar but slightly more formal and less commonly used
• 効果的(こうかてき)な: effective — focuses on achieving good results, not necessarily with minimal waste
• 合理的(ごうりてき)な: rational / reasonable — focuses on being logical and well-reasoned
• 生産的(せいさんてき)な: productive — focuses on output and results

Usage

The adverbial form 効率的(こうりつてき)に (efficiently) is extremely common in workplace and study contexts. The opposite concept is 非効率的(ひこうりつてき)な (inefficient).