Translation guide
How to express that a rule, law, policy, or change becomes active or starts to apply.
The speaker wants to say that a law, rule, or regulation officially starts to apply.
The standard, formal term for a law or regulation coming into effect. Used in official contexts.
The new law will take effect in April next year.
Often used for treaties, agreements, or contracts becoming effective. Slightly more formal and specific to documents.
The treaty takes effect 30 days after ratification.
A legalistic phrase meaning 'to become effective' or 'to come into force'. Used in contracts and legal documents.
This contract takes effect upon signing.
The speaker wants to say that a change, measure, or action begins to have its intended impact.
Literally 'the effect appears'. Natural way to say that a measure or action starts showing results.
It takes time for the medicine to take effect.
More casual than 効果が現れる. Often used for medicine, treatments, or practical measures.
This medicine takes effect quickly.
Means 'to demonstrate/exert its effect'. Used when something shows its full effectiveness, often in formal or written contexts.
The speaker wants to say that something becomes operative or starts to apply, without specifying law or medicine.
施行される is the general term for laws and regulations coming into effect. 発効する is more specific to treaties, contracts, and international agreements. In many legal contexts they overlap, but 発効する emphasizes the moment a document becomes legally binding.
The law takes effect one year after promulgation.
The agreement takes effect upon signing.
Do not translate 'take effect' literally as 効果を取る or 効果を持つ. These are not natural Japanese. Use the phrases provided above depending on context.
The new policy has begun to take effect.