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唆使 (suō shǐ) — to instigate, to abet, to incite (usually to do something bad)

Definition

A formal written verb meaning to instigate or abet someone into wrongdoing — the agent is usually hidden (幕后), pulling strings. More negative and conspiratorial than plain 鼓励.

verb
to instigateto abetto incite (usually to do something bad)

Examples

  • 唆使。
    Tā bèi rén suō shǐ qù tōu dōng xi.
    He was instigated by someone to steal.
  • 唆使。
    Bú yào tīng xìn bié rén de suō shǐ qù zuò wéi fǎ de shì.
    Don't listen to others' instigation and do illegal things.
  • 唆使。
    Mù hòu yǒu rén suō shǐ zhè chǎng chōng tū.
    Someone behind the scenes instigated this conflict.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

唆suōinstigate
使shǐcause

唆使 joins 唆 (instigate) and 使 (cause) to mean urging someone to act.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
夋
夋qūn唆suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 口 shows a mouth, and the right part 夋 was chosen for its sound.

Open 唆 →

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 →
Appears in
Crime & PoliceCommunication & Speech

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