使 Stroke Order — How to Write 使
使 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 亻, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
使 Radical and Character Components
使 is an ideographic compound. A person 亻 working for the government 吏.
Radical: 亻 + 6 more strokes
使 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- shǐ
Meanings of 使 in Chinese
1
shǐ使
To use; to exert force or effort; to employ.
她使劲推开了沉重的木门
She pushed open the heavy wooden door with great effort.
To send, dispatch; to make use of, command (e.g., a person).
别把我当使唤丫头，我也有自己的想法。
Don't treat me like a maidservant; I have my own ideas too.
To make, cause, or enable someone or something to do or become something; to force.
他的幽默使大家开怀大笑。
His humor made everyone laugh heartily.
If; even if; supposing that.
即使下雨，我们也要去公园玩。
Even if it rains, we will still go play in the park.
An envoy, messenger, or representative; a person dispatched to perform a duty, often for official purposes, as in '使者' (envoy/messenger) or '大使' (ambassador).
古代的使者通常会带着重要的信件或礼物。
Ancient envoys usually carried important letters or gifts.
Common Words and Phrases with 使
1
To trip someone (literally); to hinder or undermine someone by unfair means (figuratively).
他总是喜欢在关键时刻给别人使绊儿，真是让人头疼。
He always likes to trip others up at critical moments, which is really a headache.
2
an envoy; a messenger
古代，国王派遣使臣前往邻国，传递友好的信息
In ancient times, the king dispatched an envoy to a neighboring kingdom to convey a message of friendship.
3
Usable; workable; to make or cause (something to happen).
新的学习方法使得学生更容易理解复杂的概念。
The new learning method made it easier for students to understand complex concepts.
4
An embassy is the official office of a country's diplomatic mission in another country.
他去使馆办理了旅行签证。
He went to the embassy to apply for a travel visa.
5
to order someone around; to make use of (e.g., tools, animals)
她喜欢使唤别人做家务，自己却很少动手
She likes to make others do the housework, but rarely does it herself.
6
A diplomatic envoy or representative sent by one country to another.
这位使节带来了友好的问候，并向主人表达了美好的祝愿。
This envoy brought friendly greetings and conveyed good wishes to the host.
7
to exert strength or effort; to put in great effort
他使劲推开那扇沉重的门。
He pushed open the heavy door with all his might.
8
An honorific title for a civil governor or chief official of a prefecture or province in ancient China.
城中百姓都感念使君的恩德。
The city's residents were all grateful for the Prefect's benevolence.
9
to exert force; to apply strength
他使力推开了沉重的大门，才得以进入房间。
He exerted force to push open the heavy door, only then was he able to enter the room.
10
to order someone about; a servant or attendant
经理使令秘书整理会议纪要，确保信息准确无误。
The manager instructed the secretary to organize the meeting minutes, ensuring all information was accurate.
11
A dialectal term for a housekeeper or nanny.
我们家雇了一个使妈来帮忙照看小宝宝
Our family hired a nanny to help look after the baby.
12
A mission or a significant responsibility.
作为一名园丁，我的使命是让每一棵植物都健康成长。
As a gardener, my mission is to ensure every plant grows healthily.
13
a maidservant
在古老的庄园里，使女们负责打理主人的日常生活。
In the old manor, the maidservants were responsible for managing their masters' daily lives.
14
To spend money; to bribe.
办成这件事需要使钱，但结果会很值得。
To accomplish this, one needs to spend money, but the outcome will be well worth it.
15
An apostle, especially in Christianity, is a person sent to preach or spread the teachings of Jesus or an early Christian group.
彼得是耶稣十二使徒中的一位，他致力于传播福音。
Peter was one of Jesus' twelve apostles, and he dedicated himself to spreading the Gospel.
16
to throw a tantrum; to get into a huff
小孩子得不到玩具就喜欢使性子。
Children tend to throw tantrums when they don't get the toys they want.
More words with 使
- pò迫shǐ使to force; to compel
- qū驱shǐ使drive, spur
- sǒu嗾shǐ使incite, instigate
- bī逼shǐ使to force; to compel
- suō唆shǐ使incite, instigate
- tǎng倘shǐ使If; in case; provided that.
- yì役shǐ使To employ for labor or service.
- jí即shǐ使Even if, Even though
- cù促shǐ使cause, prompt
- qí祈shǐ使jù句Imperative sentence, Imperative
- hán函shǐ使envoy, messenger
- jié节dù度shǐ使military commissioner, jiedushi
- nú奴shǐ使to enslave; to treat as a slave
- shè设shǐ使If; suppose
- xiàng向shǐ使If, Supposing that
- yì驿shǐ使an ancient post station messenger
- zhì致shǐ使cause, result in
- dū都yù御shǐ使Censor-in-chief
- qí祈qǐng请shǐ使Envoy of Appeal, Intercessor
- shǐ使qí其make it, cause it to
Idioms with 使
- shǐ使bì臂shǐ使zhǐ指command or direct with perfect ease
- shǐ使wén蚊fù负shān山Attempt an impossible task
- shǐ使zhì智shǐ使yǒng勇employ people's intelligence and courage
- bái白yī衣tiān天shǐ使angel in white
- bù不rǔ辱shǐ使mìng命fulfill one's mission honorably
- guǐ鬼shǐ使shén神chāi差as if by a supernatural force
- huáng黄yī衣shǐ使zhě者eunuch envoy for imperial market procurements
- jiàn见fēng风shǐ使duò舵adapt to circumstances opportunistically
- jiàn见fēng风shǐ使fān帆adapt to circumstances
- jiè借fēng风shǐ使chuán船exploit a favorable situation
- jǔ举xián贤shǐ使néng能recommend the virtuous and appoint the capable
- kàn看fēng风shǐ使chuán船adapt to changing circumstances
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Open the tool →Questions about 使
What does 使 mean in Chinese?
使 (shǐ) means “To use” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 使?
使 is pronounced shǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 使 have?
使 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 使?
使 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 亻. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 使?
The radical of 使 is 亻, and 使 is an ideographic compound.