Definitions

suō (bound form) to incite; to instigate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 唆, which has maintained a consistent structure in its traditional form, is a phonosemantic compound composed of the mouth radical (口) on the left, indicating a verbal action, and the component 夋 on the right, which primarily provides phonetic guidance but also carries connotations of perversion or subversion. Its core meaning has consistently revolved around the act of instigation or incitement, specifically prompting or egging someone on to take an action. While this prompting could theoretically be neutral, historical usage has overwhelmingly imbued the term with a negative moral charge, associating it with the act of whispering temptations, abetting wrongdoing, or encouraging others toward mischief or vice, a semantic shading that remains dominant in its modern application.

Example Sentences Hide

不要使孩子撒谎。

Bú yào suōshǐ háizi sāhuǎng.

English: Don't instigate children to lie.

他经常使朋友违反规则。

Tā jīngcháng suōshǐ péngyou wéifǎn guīzé.

English: He often instigates friends to break the rules.

犯罪是违法行为。

Jiàosuō fànzuì shì wéifǎ xíngwéi.

English: Instigating crime is illegal behavior.

有人使他去偷东西。

Yǒu rén suōshǐ tā qù tōu dōngxi.

English: Someone instigated him to steal things.

她否认使下属泄露公司机密。

Tā fǒurèn suōshǐ xiàshǔ xièlòu gōngsī jīmì.

English: She denied instigating subordinates to leak company secrets.

这种使年轻人吸毒的行为必须制止。

Zhè zhǒng suōshǐ niánqīng rén xīdú de xíngwéi bìxū zhìzhǐ.

English: This kind of behavior that instigates young people to take drugs must be stopped.

尽管被多次使,他依然坚持自己的原则。

Jǐnguǎn bèi duō cì suōshǐ, tā yīrán jiānchí zìjǐ de yuánzé.

English: Although instigated multiple times, he still adhered to his principles.

那个团伙专门使未成年人从事非法活动。

Nàge tuánhuǒ zhuānmén suōshǐ wèichéngnián rén cóngshì fēifǎ huódòng.

English: That gang specifically instigates minors to engage in illegal activities.