使

shǐ

亻 + 吏

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

shǐ (verb) to make; to cause; to enable

shǐ (verb) to use; to employ

shǐ (verb) to send; to dispatch

shǐ (noun) envoy; messenger

Etymology

The characters 史 (history), 吏 (government official), 使 (cause; use; instruct), and 事 (matter; work; affair) are all etymologically related and all derive from the same ancient character, depicting a hand (又) holding a container for writing utensils.

About

使 combines the person radical 亻 with 吏, which originally depicted a hand holding a container for writing utensils and came to mean "government official". The character thus represents a person acting in an official capacity, first denoting an envoy or messenger dispatched by a superior. From this nominal sense, the meaning extended to the verb "employ", "dispatch", or "use" someone or something for a purpose. In modern Chinese, 使 most commonly functions as a causative verb, indicating that one entity causes or enables another to perform an action or enter a state.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

学习使我进步。

Xuéxí shǐ wǒ jìnbù.

Studying makes me progress.

使用手机很方便。

Shǐyòng shǒujī hěn fāngbiàn.

Using a mobile phone is very convenient.

他使我感到惊讶。

Tā shǐ wǒ gǎndào jīngyà.

He makes me feel surprised.

运动能使身体健康。

Yùndòng néng shǐ shēntǐ jiànkāng.

Exercise can make the body healthy.

恶劣天气使航班延误。

Èliè tiānqì shǐ hángbān yánwù.

Bad weather causes flight delays.

良好的教育能使孩子未来成功。

Liánghǎo de jiàoyù néng shǐ házi wèilái chénggōng.

Good education can make children successful in the future.

政府的新政策使经济发展加速。

Zhèngfǔ de xīn zhèngcè shǐ jīngjì fāzhǎn jiāsù.

The government's new policy accelerates economic development.

如果缺乏沟通，会使双方产生误会。

Rúguǒ quēfá gōutōng, huì shǐ shuāngfāng chǎnshēng wùhuì.

If there is a lack of communication, it will cause misunderstandings between both parties.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Example Words