The Chinese word **主使 (zhǔshǐ)** is a verb-object compound formed by combining the character **主 (zhǔ)**, meaning "master," "primary," or "to be in charge," with **使 (shǐ)**, meaning "to cause," "to employ," or "to dispatch." In this construction, **主** acts as the agent or principal figure, while **使** signifies the action of making something happen or ordering someone to act. Thus, the term literally means "to be the master who causes/orders [an action]," and its modern meaning is "to instigate," "to incite," or "to mastermind" (often a negative or clandestine act), where one person is the primary director behind the actions carried out by another.