使命感 (shǐ mìng gǎn) — sense of mission; sense of calling

Definition

A feeling that one's work or role has a meaningful purpose. As a noun it pairs with 有 or 充满 (e.g. 有使命感, 充满使命感), not with verbs like *感到.

noun
sense of missionsense of calling

Examples

  • 使命感。
    Tā zuò zhè fèn gōng zuò yǒu hěn qiáng de shǐ mìng gǎn.
    He has a strong sense of mission in doing this job.
  • ，使命感。
    Zuò wéi yì míng yī shēng, shǐ mìng gǎn ràng tā jiān chí le sān shí nián.
    As a doctor, her sense of calling kept her going for thirty years.
  • 使命感。
    Zhè zhī jiù yuán duì wu chōng mǎn le shǐ mìng gǎn.
    This rescue team is filled with a sense of mission.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

使命mission
使shǐcommand命mìngorder
联合Side by side
感gǎnfeeling

使命 is a mission or command, and 感 is the feeling of carrying it.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
吏
吏lì使shǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

使 pairs 亻 (person) with 吏, which pictures a hand holding something like a flag, giving the sense of a representative or ambassador.

Open 使 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng命mìng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Open 命 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

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