迫使 (pò shǐ) — to force, to compel | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

迫使 (pò shǐ) means external circumstances force a result — war, opposition, or financial problems compel an outcome. Similar to 强迫 and 强迫, but emphasizes the situation as the agent, not a person deliberately pressuring someone.

verb

to forceto compel

Examples

迫使。
Zhàn zhēng de bào fā pò shǐ xǔ duō jiā tíng lí kāi jiā xiāng.
The outbreak of war forced many families to leave their hometowns.
迫使。
Fù mǔ de fǎn duì pò shǐ tā fàng qì nà ge jì huà.
His parents' opposition forced him to abandon that plan.
迫使。
Gōng sī de zī jīn wèn tí pò shǐ wǒ men cái yuán.
The company's financial problems forced us to lay off staff.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

迫 and 使 both express compelling action, together meaning to force someone.

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.

辶白迫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

白

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form 迫 pairs the walking radical 辶 (written in full as 辵) with 白, which gives the sound.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Cause, Effect & Logic

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