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使命 (shǐ mìng) — mission; calling (a long-term task one devotes oneself to)

Definition

使命 (shǐmìng) is a grand, long-term 'mission' or 'calling' — more weighty and idealistic than the everyday 任务 ('task/assignment'), which can be any concrete job.

noun
missioncalling (a long-term task one devotes oneself to)

Examples

  • 使命。
    Shí xiàn zhè ge shǐ mìng shì wǒ men de gòng tóng mù biāo.
    Realizing this mission is our common goal.
  • 使命。
    Tā bǎ zì jǐ de yì shēng xiàn gěi le zhè ge shǐ mìng.
    He dedicated his whole life to this calling.
  • 使命。
    Bǎo hù huán jìng shì měi gè rén de shǐ mìng.
    Protecting the environment is everyone's mission.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

使shǐdispatch/assign
命mìngcommand

使命 joins 使 (to dispatch or assign) with 命 (a command), giving the sense of an assigned command or calling.

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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