使
send, make, envoy
At a glance · 使
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
使字小篆从人吏声，为形声字；本义为派遣、命令，亦指使者。甲骨文未见。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
使本义为派遣、出使，引申为使令、使用。
Structure
形声字，左部『人』为意符，右部『吏』为声符。
At a glance
Pinyinshǐ
Radical亻
Strokes8
UnicodeU+4F7F
Character type形声
Theme动作
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
send, make, envoy
Shi is a phonetic-semantic character meaning to send on a mission and cause, also an envoy.
Français
envoyer, faire, envoyé
Shi est un caractère phonético-sémantique signifiant envoyer en mission et faire, aussi un envoyé.
Español
enviar, hacer, enviado
Shi es un carácter fonosemántico que significa enviar en misión y hacer, también un enviado.
العربية
يرسل، مبعوث
شي حرف صوتي دلالي يعني الإرسال في مهمة والإنجاز، وكذا المبعوث.
Русский
посылать, заставлять
Ши — фоносемантический знак, означающий посылать с поручением и побуждать, также посланник.
Common words
- 使用shǐ yònguse
- 使者shǐ zhěenvoy