使然 (shǐ rán) — (idiom) to cause to be so; to lead to this resu… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

使然 (shǐrán) is a written/idiomatic way of saying 'caused by X' — it usually appears in set phrases like …所致 and explains that something is the result of the cause just mentioned. Use it in formal writing, not everyday speech.

idiom

to cause to be soto lead to this resultwrittenused to explain cause or effect

Examples

使然。
Tā de chéng gōng shì nǔ lì shǐ rán.
His success is the result of hard work.
使然。
Zhè zhǒng wén huà chā yì shì lì shǐ shǐ rán.
This cultural difference is caused by history.
使然。
Wǒ men jīn tiān de shēng huó tiáo jiàn shì duō fāng miàn yīn sù shǐ rán.
Our living conditions today are the result of many factors.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

使 means cause and 然 means so, together expressing cause it to be so.

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.

亻吏使

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.

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

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Appears in

Cause, Effect & Logic

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