The word 使命 is formed by combining the character 使, which conveys the idea of "dispatching" or "causing to act on behalf of another", with the character 命, which carries the weight of "command", "decree", or "life's destiny". Together, they create a compound whose meaning transcends a simple task; it conceptually fuses an external, authoritative assignment (the command) with an internalized sense of purpose and responsibility (the destiny one is sent to fulfill). Thus, the formation embodies the idea of a duty or order one is entrusted with, which by its very nature becomes a defining life purpose or sacred charge.