Writing Balance Rule: Keep the left radical (亻) narrow and upright, leaving enough open space for the right component (吏) so the character does not lean.
1. Meaning
to cause or to make someone do something
to use or employenvoy or messenger
VerbNeutral#action#causation#diplomacy
Sample Usage
这件事情使我很开心。
Zhè jiàn shì qing shǐ wǒ hěn kāi xīn.
This matter makes me very happy.
使馆
shǐ guǎn
embassy
2. Sound
/[ʂʐ̩²¹⁴]/Tone: 214
使
shǐshi3
|
++
ˇ(214)
=shǐ
Initial Consonant
sh
Type: Retroflex Fricative
Sounds like: sh sound with tongue curled back
UnaspiratedRetroflex
Airflow Tactile Test: Hollow wind sound through curled tongue channel.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip curled back near hard palate
Final Rhyme
i (-i*)
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: buzzing i sound after retroflex consonants
Note: Written as 'i (-i*)', pronounced as rounded 'i' [y].
Mouth Shape Guide: Combine initial 'zh-' (jr) with final '-i' (rr/zz).
Common Learner Trap: Do NOT pronounce '-i' as 'ee' after zh-! Keep your tongue in the consonant position and buzz 'rr/zz'.
Tone
T3 (214)
2 → 1 → 4 (214)
3rd Tone (Low-Dipping)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 3 dips low and rises, similar to a disbelieving English 'Really?'
Sandhi: When followed by another 3rd tone syllable, it shifts to a 2nd tone.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the retroflex initial 'sh-' with the dental fricative 's-'.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Trace a checkmark in the air: dip down from medium pitch to low, then rise up to high.
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 8 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: Keep the left radical (亻) narrow and upright, leaving enough open space for the right component (吏) so the character does not lean.
4. Components
Radical亻 · person radical (human or person)
Semantic Clue (形旁):亻 (indicates human action or agency)
Phonetic Clue (声旁):吏 (original sound: shi)
A person (亻) acting as an official or clerk (吏) who is sent out on a mission to cause things to happen.
亻 person
吏 official / clerk
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Originally combined the person radical (亻) with an official or clerk (吏), representing a person dispatched on official business.
Semantic Evolution: Shifted from meaning an official envoy sent on a mission to general causation ('to make', 'to cause') and utility ('to use').
The component 吏 originally depicted a hand holding a document, representing administrative duties.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
sứ
The Chinese Tone 3 corresponds closely to the Vietnamese hỏi or ngã tone range.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: シ / Kun: つかう
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
사
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
A person (亻) acts as a government clerk (吏) to MAKE things happen and USE their authority as an envoy.
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
驶
shǐto sail / to driveReplaces the person radical with the horse radical (马), representing driving a horse or vehicle fast.
便
biànconvenientUses the person radical with 更 on the right.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
驶(shǐ)
使 uses the person radical (亻) for a human envoy; 驶 uses the horse radical (马) for vehicles and sailing.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
这个消息[___]我很高兴。
Clue: shǐ
Common Learner Pitfall
Confusing the causative structure '使 + object + adjective/verb' with English word order, or mistaking it for the lookalike character 驶.
Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 使, what are its two primary grammatical functions?
Production: How do you write the character meaning 'to make/cause' with 8 strokes?
Real-World Video Context
Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.
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使shǐto make, to cause, to use, envoy
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