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促使 (cù shǐ) — to cause, to bring about (a change or development); to prompt, to urge (someone to do something)

Definition

促使 focuses on pushing an action or change into motion. Stronger than 导致 (which states a result, often negative) and more active than 有助于 (which only helps).

verb
to causeto bring about (a change or development)to promptto urge (someone to do something)

Examples

  • 促使。
    Zhè ge fā xiàn cù shǐ le kē xué yán jiū de jìn bù.
    This discovery prompted progress in scientific research.
  • 促使。
    Lǎo shī de huà cù shǐ tā jué dìng nǔ lì xué xí.
    The teacher's words prompted him to decide to study hard.
  • 促使。
    Shì chǎng xū qiú de zēng jiā cù shǐ gōng sī kāi fā xīn chǎn pǐn.
    The increase in market demand impelled the company to develop new products.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

促cùurge
使shǐcause

促 means to urge and 使 means to make or cause, so together they express causing something to happen.

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
足
足zú促cù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

促 pairs 亻 (person, written 人 when complete) with 足, which helps show its sound.

Open 促 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Cause, Effect & Logic

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