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差使 (chāi shǐ) — to assign (a task), to dispatch (someone on an errand)

Definition

差使 (chāishi) as a verb means 'to assign / dispatch' someone to do a task — the subject (often a superior or organization) sends another person to carry something out. As a noun it can mean the errand or messenger itself.

verb
to assign (a task)to dispatch (someone on an errand)

Examples

  • 差使。
    Lǎo bǎn chāi shǐ tā qù bàn yí jiàn shì.
    The boss assigned him to handle a matter.
  • 差使？
    Nǐ bèi chāi shǐ dào nǎ ge bù mén le?
    Which department were you assigned to?
  • 差使。
    Tā jīng cháng bèi chāi shǐ qù zuò yì xiē wú liáo de gōng zuò.
    He often gets dispatched to do some boring tasks.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

差chàdispatch
使shǐemploy

差 and 使 both convey sending or employing, so together they mean to dispatch someone on a task.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 來來láiwheat
  • 𠂇𠂇𠂇left hand

差 pairs 來 (wheat) with 𠂇 (left hand), showing wheat rubbed in a hand to remove its hull.

Open 差 →

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
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