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假使 (jiǎ shǐ) — if, supposing (formal, literary)

Definition

假使 is a written, literary 'if', close to 假如. For everyday speech use 如果; 假使 sounds more formal than 假如.

conjunction
ifsupposing (formal, literary)

Examples

  • 假使，。
    jiǎ shǐ Nǐ zǎo yì diǎn gào sù wǒ, wǒ jiù bú huì chí dào le.
    If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have been late.
  • 假使，。
    jiǎ shǐ Míng tiān bú xià yǔ, wǒ men jiù qù gōng yuán sàn bù.
    If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go for a walk in the park.
  • 假使，。
    jiǎ shǐ Zhè ge jì huà shī bài, wǒ men hái yǒu bèi yòng fāng àn.
    Supposing this plan fails, we still have a backup plan.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

假jiǎif
使shǐif

Both 假 and 使 carry an if sense and join to mean supposing that.

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rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
叚
叚jiǎ假jiǎ
Same sound today

假 pairs 亻 (person) with 叚, which gives the sound jiǎ.

Open 假 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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