使

See also: 便

使	U+4F7F, 使 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4F7F

← 佾
[U+4F7E]

CJK Unified Ideographs

侀 →
[U+4F80]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

使 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+6, 8 strokes, cangjie input 人十中大 (OJLK), four-corner 2520₆, composition ⿰亻吏)

Derived characters

𣷱𧍇𩸲𧍅𦲺𭈓𪮈𰜇𣔤𧳡𧍇

References

KangXi: page 101, character 5
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 573
Dae Jaweon: page 213, character 12
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 145, character 2
Unihan data for U+4F7F

Chinese

simp. and trad.		使
alternative forms		駛／驶 (sai2; Cantonese “need”) 洗 (sai2; Cantonese “need”)

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 使

**Oracle bone script**
j19037

**Bronze inscriptions**
b12363	b12364

**Small seal script**
s05813

**Transcribed ancient scripts**
L13528	L13529	L13530	L13531	L13532	L13533	L13534	L13535

References:

Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation),
which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:

Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (史) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
吏	*rɯs
倳	*ʔsrɯs
剚	*ʔsrɯs
事	ʔsrɯs, zrɯs
史	*srɯʔ
使	srɯʔ, srɯs
駛	srɯʔ, srɯs

Phono-semantic compound (形聲, OC *srɯʔ, *srɯs) : semantic 亻 + phonetic 吏 (OC *rɯs).

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Pinyin): shǐ (shi³)
(Zhuyin): ㄕˇ
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): sai², si²
(Taishan, Wiktionary): soi²
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): sṳ́
(Meixian, Guangdong): si³
Jin (Wiktionary): si²
Min Dong (BUC): sāi / sṳ̄
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): sái / sú / sír
(Teochew, Peng'im): sai²
Wu (Wiktionary): sr (T2)

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: shǐ
  - Zhuyin: ㄕˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: shǐh
  - Wade–Giles: shih³
  - Yale: shř
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyy
  - Palladius: ши (ši)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩²¹⁴/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: sai², si²
  - Yale: sái, sí
  - Cantonese Pinyin: sai², si²
  - Guangdong Romanization: sei², xi²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɐi̯³⁵/, /siː³⁵/

Note:

sai2 - vernacular;
si2 - literary.

- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: soi²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sᵘɔi⁵⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ́
  - Hakka Romanization System: sii`
  - Hagfa Pinyim: si³
  - Sinological IPA: /sɨ³¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: si³
  - Sinological IPA: /sz̩³¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: si²
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /sz̩⁵³/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: sāi / sṳ̄
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sai³³/, /sy³³/

Note:

sāi - vernacular;
sṳ̄ - literary.

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sái
  - Tâi-lô: sái
  - Phofsit Daibuun: sae
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /sai⁵³/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /sai⁵⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /sai⁴¹/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sú
  - Tâi-lô: sú
  - Phofsit Daibuun: suo
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /su⁴¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /su⁵³/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sír
  - Tâi-lô: sír
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /sɯ⁵⁵⁴/

Note:

sái - vernacular (including Quanzhou “to fuck”);
sú/sír - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: sai²
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sái
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sai⁵²/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: sr (T2)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³⁴/

Middle Chinese: /ʃɨ^X/

Rime
Character	使
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	生 (21)
Final (韻)	之 (19)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	踈士切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʃɨ^X/
Pan Wuyun	/ʃɨ^X/
Shao Rongfen	/ʃie^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʂɨ^X/
Li Rong	/ʃiə^X/
Wang Li	/ʃĭə^X/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʂi^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shǐ
Expected Cantonese Reflex	si²

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*s-rəʔ/
(Zhengzhang): /*srɯʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	使
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shǐ
Middle Chinese	‹ sri^X ›
Old Chinese	/*s-rəʔ/
English	send; cause
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	使
Reading #	1/2
No.	11488
Phonetic component	史
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	史
Old Chinese	/*srɯʔ/

Definitions

使

to order (somebody to do something); to send (somebody)
- 夜，鄭伯使祭足勞王，且問左右。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  夜，郑伯使祭足劳王，且问左右。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Yè, Zhèng bó shǐ Jì Zú láo wáng, qiě wèn zuǒyòu. [Pinyin]
  At night [the earl of Zheng] sent Zu of Zhai to comfort the king, and to ask after the welfare of his officers.
- 其食客三千人，邑入不足以奉客，使人出錢於薛。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  其食客三千人，邑入不足以奉客，使人出钱于薛。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
  Qí shíkè sānqiān rén, yìrù bù zúyǐ fèng kè, shǐ rén chūqián yú Xuē. [Pinyin]
  He had 3000 retainers, and the income from his fief was not enough to support his retainers. Thus, he dispatched people to provide loans in Xue.
(literary) to put (people) to work
- 節用而愛人，使民以時。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  节用而爱人，使民以时。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Jiéyòng ér ài rén, shǐ mín yǐ shí. [Pinyin]
  Economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.
to let; to make; to cause to
這突如其來的消息使他大為震驚。 [MSC, trad.]
这突如其来的消息使他大为震惊。 [MSC, simp.]
Zhè tūrúqílái de xiāoxī shǐ tā dàwéi zhènjīng. [Pinyin]
This sudden news caused him great shock.
- 科學精神是使人擺脫愚昧盲目的有效武器，是推動社會進步的強大力量。 [MSC, trad.]
  科学精神是使人摆脱愚昧盲目的有效武器，是推动社会进步的强大力量。 [MSC, simp.]
  From: 周忠和; 武向平; 王挺 (14 July 2021), “推动科学素质建设迈上新台阶”, in People's Daily, page 5
  Kēxuéjīngshén shì shǐ rén bǎituō yúmèi mángmù de yǒuxiào wǔqì, shì tuīdòng shèhuì jìnbù de qiángdà lìliàng. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this example)
- 出師未捷身先死，長使英雄淚滿襟。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  出师未捷身先死，长使英雄泪满襟。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: c. 760, Du Fu, 蜀相
  Chūshī wèi jié shēn xiān sǐ, cháng shǐ yīngxióng lèi mǎn jīn. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this example)
to use; to employ
呢把刀幾好使 [Cantonese, trad.]
呢把刀几好使 [Cantonese, simp.]
ne¹ baa² dou¹ gei² hou² sai² [Jyutping]
This knife is pretty good to use.
- 嫂嫂，借扇子我使使。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, 16^th century CE
  Sǎosao, jiè shànzi wǒ shǐ shǐ. [Pinyin]
  Sister, lend the fan to me.
to play; to play with; to resort to; to dally with
使心眼 ― shǐ xīnyǎn ― (please add an English translation of this example)
to indulge
使性子 ― shǐ xìngzi ― to get angry; to lose one's temper
(literary) if
- 使死者無知，則已矣，若其有知，君何面目以見員也！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  使死者无知，则已矣，若其有知，君何面目以见员也！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Guoyu, circa 4^th century BCE
  Shǐ sǐzhě wú zhī, zé yǐ yǐ, ruò qí yǒu zhī, jūn hé miànmù yǐ jiàn Yuán yě! [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this example)
(Cantonese, always negated or interrogative) need to [do something]; have to
你唔使攞咁多！ [Cantonese, trad.]
你唔使𫽋咁多！ [Cantonese, simp.]
nei⁵ m⁴ sai² lo² gam³ do¹! [Jyutping]
You don't need to get so much!
你陣間使唔使落街買嘢呀？ [Cantonese, trad.]
你阵间使唔使落街买嘢呀？ [Cantonese, simp.]
nei⁵ zan⁶ gaan¹ sai² m⁴ sai² lok⁶ gaai¹ maai⁵ je⁵ aa³? [Jyutping]
Do you need to use head out to buy things later?
(Cantonese, always negated or interrogative) need [something]; require; want strongly
(Quanzhou Min Nan, vulgar) to fuck

Synonyms

(to let; to make; to cause to): 令 (lìng), 讓／让 (ràng)
(to dispatch): 送 (sòng)
(to use):

Dialectal synonyms of 用 (“to use”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		用, 使用
Mandarin	Beijing	使, 用
	Jinan	使, 用
	Xi'an	使喚
	Wuhan	用
	Chengdu	用, 使
	Guilin	用
	Yangzhou	用
	Hefei	使, 用
	Malaysia	用
	Singapore	用
Cantonese	Guangzhou	用, 使
	Hong Kong	用, 使
	Yangjiang	使
	Singapore (Guangfu)	用
Gan	Nanchang	用
Hakka	Meixian	用
Jin	Taiyuan	使喚, 用
Min Bei	Jian'ou	使
Min Dong	Fuzhou	使
Min Nan	Xiamen	用
	Penang (Hokkien)	用
	Singapore (Hokkien)	用
	Chaozhou	用, 使
	Singapore (Teochew)	用
Wu	Suzhou	用
Wu	Wenzhou	用
Xiang	Changsha	用
Xiang	Shuangfeng	用

(if):

Dialectal synonyms of 如果 (“if”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		若, 假, 如, 使, 假, 令, 苟, 向, 向使, 向令, 假令, 假使, 誠, 誠使, 倘, 儻, 當使
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		若, 如, 如果, 若果, 假如, 假若, 假使, 假設, 倘若, 倘或, 倘然, 倘使, 若是, 若然, 設若, 設使, 設令
Mandarin	Beijing	要是, 要
	Taiwan	要是, 要, 如果
	Jinan	要是
	Xi'an	要是
	Wuhan	要是
	Chengdu	要是, 假比
	Yangzhou	要是, 要, 假使
	Hefei	要是, 倘此, 倘倘
	Malaysia	如果
	Singapore	如果
Cantonese	Guangzhou	如果, 若果, 若然, 假使間
	Hong Kong	如果, 若果, 若然, 若然之, 假使, 假使間
	Macau	假如
	Taishan	如果, 假使
	Yangjiang	設若
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	如果
	Singapore (Guangfu)	如果
Gan	Nanchang	要是, 若是
Hakka	Meixian	係話, 若係, 如果
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	若果, 係講, 係話
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	係講, 若係, 假使
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	係講, 係準, 係準講, 準講, 準假, 係若, 若係, 假使, 假詐
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	係講, 若係, 假使
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	準講, 可比, 假使, 係講, 若係, 若係講, 準若講
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	係講, 若係, 假使
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	若係講, 假使, 若講, 係講, 若係
	Kuching (Hepo)	假使
Jin	Taiyuan	要是
Min Bei	Jian'ou	來是, 如果
Min Bei	Pucheng (Shibei)	來是, 如果
Min Dong	Fuzhou	儷是, 若還
Min Nan	Xiamen	設使, 若是, 若, 若欲是, 假若, 假若是, 欲, 欲是
	Quanzhou	設使, 若是, 若, 若欲是, 假若, 假若是, 欲, 欲是
	Zhangzhou	設使, 若是, 若, 假若, 假若是, 欲, 欲是
	Taipei	若是, 若準, 若, 假使, 設使, 欲
	Penang (Hokkien)	若是, 若準
	Singapore (Hokkien)	若是
	Manila (Hokkien)	若是, 若, 假使
	Chaozhou	若是
	Shantou	如果
	Jieyang	若, 若是
	Singapore (Teochew)	若是
Wu	Shanghai	要是, 如果, 假使, 倘然, 倘使, 是得
	Suzhou	要, 如果
	Wenzhou	若是, 若
Xiang	Changsha	要是
Xiang	Shuangfeng	要是, 要此

(Cantonese) (need): 需要 (xūyào)
(to fuck):

Dialectal synonyms of 肏 (“to fuck; to have sex with”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Mandarin	Beijing	肏₁, 日
	Taiwan	幹, 肏₁
	Harbin	肏₁
	Shenyang	肏₁
	Yantai (Muping)	肏₁
	Jinan	肏₁
	Luoyang	日, 尻
	Wanrong	日
	Xi'an	窄, 失
	Yinchuan	日
	Lanzhou	日
	Xining	日
	Ürümqi	日
	Wuhan	日, 搞
	Chengdu	日
	Guiyang	日, 肏₁
	Kunming	日
	Guilin	屌, 肏₁
	Liuzhou	屌, 肏₁
	Xuzhou	日, 尻, 操, 肏₁
	Yangzhou	入
	Nanjing	日, 操
	Hefei	弄
	Malaysia	幹
	Singapore	幹
Cantonese	Guangzhou	屌
	Hong Kong	屌
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	屌
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	屌
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	屌
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	屌
	Macau	屌
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	屌
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	屌
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	屌
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	屌
	Foshan	屌
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	屌
	Foshan (Shunde)	屌
	Foshan (Sanshui)	屌
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	屌
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	屌
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	屌
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	屌
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	屌
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	屌
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	屌
	Taishan	屌
	Kaiping (Chikan)	屌
	Enping (Niujiang)	屌
	Heshan (Yayao)	屌
	Dongguan	屌
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	屌
	Qingyuan	屌
	Fogang	屌
	Yingde (Hanguang)	屌
	Yangshan	屌
	Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)	屌
	Shaoguan	屌
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	屌
	Renhua	屌
	Lechang	屌
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	屌
	Sihui	屌
	Guangning	屌
	Deqing	屌
	Huaiji	屌
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	屌
	Yunfu	屌
	Xinxing	屌
	Luoding	屌
	Yunan (Pingtai)	屌
	Yangjiang	屌
	Xinyi	屌
	Lianjiang	屌
	Beihai	屌
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	屌
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	屌
	Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	屌
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	屌
	Penang (Guangfu)	屌
	Singapore (Guangfu)	屌
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	屌
	Móng Cái	屌
Gan	Nanchang	戳
	Lichuan	戳
	Pingxiang	戳
Hakka	Meixian	屌
	Dabu (Xihe)	屌
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	屌
	Huidong (Daling)	屌
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	屌
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	屌
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	屌
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	屌
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	屌
	Wengyuan	屌
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	屌
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	屌
	Liannan	屌
	Conghua (Lütian)	屌
	Jiexi	屌
	Changting	屌
	Wuping	屌
	Wuping (Yanqian)	屌
	Wuping (Pingyu)	屌
	Liancheng	屌
	Ninghua	屌
	Yudu	屌, 戳
	Ningdu	屌
	Ruijin	屌
	Shicheng	屌
	Shangyou (Shexi)	屌
	Tonggu (Sandu)	屌, 戳
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	屌
	Dayu	屌
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	屌
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	屌
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	屌
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	屌
	Hong Kong	屌
	Yangxi (Tangkou)	屌
	Yangchun (Sanjia)	屌
	Xinyi (Sihe)	屌
	Xinyi (Qianpai)	屌
	Gaozhou (Xindong)	屌
	Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)	屌
	Huazhou (Xin'an)	屌
	Lianjiang (Shijiao)	屌
	Lianjiang (Qingping)	屌
	Mengshan (Xihe)	屌
	Luchuan	屌
	Sabah (Longchuan)	屌
	Kuala Lumpur (Dabu)	屌
Jin	Taiyuan	透, 肏₁, 日
	Xinzhou	透, 日
	Linhe	透
	Jining	透
	Hohhot	透
	Baotou	透
Min Bei	Jian'ou	饁
Min Dong	Fuzhou	𠚺
	Changle	𠚺
	Fuqing	𠚺
	Gutian	𠚺
	Fu'an	操
	Ningde	操
	Shouning	戳
	Zhouning	戳
	Fuding	操
Min Nan	Xiamen	姦
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	箍
	Quanzhou	使
	Jinjiang	使
	Nan'an	使
	Hui'an	使
	Anxi	使
	Yongchun	使
	Dehua	使
	Zhangzhou	姦, 躄
	Taipei	姦
	Kaohsiung	姦
	Yilan	姦
	Taichung	姦
	Tainan	姦
	Taitung	姦
	Penang (Hokkien)	姦
	Singapore (Hokkien)	姦, 使
	Manila (Hokkien)	使
	Chaozhou	甫
	Shantou	甫
	Shantou (Chenghai)	甫
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	甫
	Jieyang	甫
	Lufeng	甫
	Haifeng	甫
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	甫
	Singapore (Teochew)	甫
	Leizhou	肏₄
	Wenchang	肏₄
	Haikou	肏₄
Puxian Min	Putian	騷
Puxian Min	Xianyou	騷
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	屌
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	屌
Wu	Shanghai	戳
	Shanghai (Chongming)	戳
	Suzhou	戳
	Danyang	肏₅
	Ningbo	嬉
	Wenzhou	裝
	Jinhua	弄, 入
Xiang	Changsha	肏₃
	Loudi	肏₃
	Shuangfeng	肏₃

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): shǐ, shì (shi³, shi⁴)
(Zhuyin): ㄕˇ, ㄕˋ
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): si³
(Taishan, Wiktionary): lhu²
Hakka (Sixian, PFS): sṳ́
Min Dong (BUC): sái / sé̤ṳ
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): sài / sù / sìr
(Teochew, Peng'im): sai³
Wu (Wiktionary): sr (T2)

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: shǐ
  - Zhuyin: ㄕˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: shǐh
  - Wade–Giles: shih³
  - Yale: shř
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyy
  - Palladius: ши (ši)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩²¹⁴/
- (Standard Chinese, rare variant)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: shì
  - Zhuyin: ㄕˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: shìh
  - Wade–Giles: shih⁴
  - Yale: shr̀
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyh
  - Palladius: ши (ši)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: si³
  - Yale: si
  - Cantonese Pinyin: si³
  - Guangdong Romanization: xi³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /siː³³/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: lhu²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬu⁵⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ́
  - Hakka Romanization System: sii`
  - Hagfa Pinyim: si³
  - Sinological IPA: /sɨ³¹/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: sái / sé̤ṳ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɑi²¹³/, /søy²¹³/

Note:

sái - vernacular;
sé̤ṳ - literary.

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sài
  - Tâi-lô: sài
  - Phofsit Daibuun: saix
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung): /sai²¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /sai⁴¹/
  - IPA (Taipei): /sai¹¹/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sù
  - Tâi-lô: sù
  - Phofsit Daibuun: sux
  - IPA (Taipei): /su¹¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung): /su²¹/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sìr
  - Tâi-lô: sìr
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /sɯ⁴¹/

Note:

sài - vernacular;
sù/sìr - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: sai³
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sài
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sai²¹³/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: sr (T2)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³⁴/

Middle Chinese: /ʃɨ^H/

Rime
Character	使
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	生 (21)
Final (韻)	之 (19)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	踈吏切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʃɨ^H/
Pan Wuyun	/ʃɨ^H/
Shao Rongfen	/ʃie^H/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʂɨ^H/
Li Rong	/ʃiə^H/
Wang Li	/ʃĭə^H/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʂi^H/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	shì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	si³

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*s-rəʔ-s/
(Zhengzhang): /*srɯs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	使
Reading #	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	shǐ
Middle Chinese	‹ sri^H ›
Old Chinese	/*s-rəʔ-s/
English	envoy
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	使
Reading #	2/2
No.	11491
Phonetic component	史
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	𩢲
Old Chinese	/*srɯs/

Definitions

使

to be sent as an envoy
- 子華使於齊，冉子為其母請粟。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  子华使于齐，冉子为其母请粟。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Zǐhuá shǐ yú Qí, Rǎnzǐ wèi qí mǔ qǐng sù. [Pinyin]
  Zi Hua being employed on a mission to Qi, the disciple Ran requested grain for his mother.
envoy; messenger
來使／来使 ― láishǐ ― envoy from another country

Compounds

Derived terms from 使

三司使
不中使
不辱使命 (bùrǔshǐmìng)
中使
主使 (zhǔshǐ)
主使者
五瘟使
任使
但使
使不得 (shǐbùdé)
使乖
使乜
使令 (shǐlìng)
使低嘴
使君 (shǐjūn)
使君子 (shǐjūnzǐ)
使命 (shǐmìng)
使命感 (shǐmìnggǎn)
使嘴使舌
使女 (shǐnǚ)
使徒 (shǐtú)
使得 (shǐde)
使心用腹
使性地 (sái-sìng-tē) (Min Nan)
使性子 (shǐ xìngzi)
使星
使然 (shǐrán)
使犬 (Shǐquǎn)
使用 (shǐyòng)
使用率
使眼色 (shǐ yǎnsè)
使者 (shǐzhě)
使臂使指
使臣 (shǐchén)
使酒 (shǐjiǔ)
促使 (cùshǐ)
信使 (xìnshǐ)
倘使 (tǎngshǐ)
借使
假使 (jiǎshǐ)
公使 (gōngshǐ)
出使 (chūshǐ)
勾使
勾使鬼
十二使徒
即使 (jíshǐ)
向使 (xiàngshǐ)
君臣佐使
呼奴使婢
和平使者 (hépíng shǐzhě)
唆使 (suōshǐ)
唔使
嗾使 (sǒushǐ)
器使 (qìshǐ)
大使 (dàshǐ)
天使 (tiānshǐ)
奉使
如臂使指 (rúbìshǐzhǐ)
官使
密使 (mìshǐ)
小使

就使
巡按使
左使
差使 (chāishǐ)
布政使 (bùzhèngshǐ)
廉使
役使 (yìshǐ)
指使 (zhǐshǐ)
按察使 (àncháshǐ)
插科使砌
搪差使
支使 (zhīshǐ)
敕使
星使
河伯使者
混合使用
炙冰使燥
特使 (tèshǐ)
番使
白差使
白衣天使 (báiyī tiānshǐ)
祈使句 (qíshǐjù)
神差鬼使
箕帚之使
致使 (zhìshǐ)
若使 (ruòshǐ)
草根大使
行使 (xíngshǐ)
赤衣使者
迫使 (pòshǐ)
逼使
遣唐使
鬼使神差
不聽使／不听使
不聽使喚／不听使唤
任賢使能／任贤使能
使勁／使劲 (shǐjìn)
使動／使动 (shǐdòng)
使君有婦／使君有妇
使喚／使唤 (shǐhuàn)
使壞／使坏 (shǐhuài)
使巧兒／使巧儿
使心作倖／使心作幸
使心眼兒／使心眼儿
使數／使数
使氣／使气 (shǐqì)
使用借貸／使用借贷
使用權／使用权 (shǐyòngquán)
使用錢／使用钱
使節／使节 (shǐjié)
使節團／使节团
使絆兒／使绊儿 (shǐ bànr)
使絆子／使绊子 (shǐ bànzi)
使羊將狼／使羊将狼
使脾氣／使脾气
使蚊負山／使蚊负山
使貪使愚／使贪使愚
使費／使费 (shǐfèi)
使錢／使钱 (shǐqián)
使長／使长
使館／使馆 (shǐguǎn)

來使／来使 (láishǐ)
借風使船／借风使船
僕使／仆使
內使／内使 (nèishǐ)
全權公使／全权公使
公使團／公使团
公使館／公使馆 (gōngshǐguǎn)
動使／动使
勾欄使者／勾栏使者
占風使帆／占风使帆
唔使客氣／唔使客气
國使／国使
大使館／大使馆 (dàshǐguǎn)
天使魚／天使鱼 (tiānshǐyú)
專使／专使 (zhuānshǐ)
尊賢使能／尊贤使能
巡迴大使／巡回大使
庫大使／库大使
強使／强使
役使動物／役使动物
採訪使／采访使
會使／会使 (â̤-sāi)
樞密使／枢密使 (shūmìshǐ)
氤氳大使／氤氲大使
監齋使者／监斋使者
目使頤令／目使颐令
目指氣使／目指气使
相風使帆／相风使帆
看風使帆／看风使帆
看風使舵／看风使舵 (kànfēngshǐduò)
看風使船／看风使船
矜才使氣／矜才使气
節使／节使
節度使／节度使 (jiédùshǐ)
結使／结使
給使／给使
綠衣使者／绿衣使者 (lǜyī shǐzhě)
縱使／纵使 (zòngshǐ)
致使動詞／致使动词
舉賢使能／举贤使能
花鳥使／花鸟使
見風使帆／见风使帆
見風使舵／见风使舵 (jiànfēngshǐduò)
親善大使／亲善大使
觀察使／观察使
設使／设使 (shèshǐ)
護花使者／护花使者
負才使氣／负才使气
轉運使／转运使
鋪堂使費／铺堂使费
錢可使鬼／钱可使鬼
隨才器使／随才器使
頤指氣使／颐指气使 (yízhǐqìshǐ)
飛鳥使／飞鸟使
駐外使節／驻外使节
驅使／驱使 (qūshǐ)
驛使／驿使 (yìshǐ)
鹺使／鹾使
鹽運使／盐运使
鹽鐵使／盐铁使
𣍐使／𫧃使 (bē-sái)

Japanese

Kanji

使

(grade 3 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

Go-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
Kan-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
Kun: つかう (tsukau, 使う, Jōyō); しむ (shimu); せしむ (seshimu); しめば (shimeba)

Compounds

大(たい)使(し)館(かん) (taishikan): embassy
天(てん)使(し) (tenshi): angel
大(たい)使(し) (taishi): ambassador

Noun

使(し) • (shi)

messenger

Korean

Etymology

“to use; in order to; etc.”

From Middle Chinese 使 (MC ʃɨ^X).

Historical readings
Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞᆼ〯 (Yale: sǒ) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448. Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞ (so)^訓 (Yale: so) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

“envoy; messenger”

From Middle Chinese 使 (MC ʃɨ^H).

Historical readings
Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞᆼ〮 (Yale: só) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448. Recorded as Middle Korean 시 (si)^訓 (Yale: si) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [sʰa̠(ː)]
Phonetic hangul: [사(ː)]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Wikisource使 (eumhun 부릴 사 (buril sa))

Hanja form^? of 사 (“to use; to employ”).
Hanja form^? of 사 (“in order to do”).
Hanja form^? of 사 (“envoy; messenger”).

Compounds

노사 (勞使, nosa)
대사 (大使, daesa)
행사 (行使, haengsa)
구사 (驅使, gusa)
설사 (設使, seolsa)
특사 (特使, teuksa)
사주 (使嗾, saju)
사명 (使命, samyeong)
사신 (使臣, sasin)
사역 (使役, sayeok)
사절 (使節, sajeol)
공사 (公使, gongsa)
사도 (使徒, sado)
사자 (使者, saja)
천사 (天使, cheonsa)
고사 (苦使, gosa)
밀사 (密使, milsa)
사용 (使用, sayong, “use; usage”)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Vietnamese

Han character

使: Hán Nôm readings: sứ, sử, sửa, thửa

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Compounds

使者 (sứ giả)
使用 (sử dụng)

References

Nom Foundation