指使 (zhǐ shǐ) — to instigate; to incite; to order someone to do… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

指使 (zhǐshǐ) means to be behind the scenes pulling strings — to instigate or order someone else to do something, usually something shady. It carries a negative, manipulative tone, unlike neutral ‘让’ or ‘叫’.

verb

to instigateto inciteto order someone to do something (often with negative undertones)

Examples

指使。
Lǎo bǎn zhǐ shǐ yuán gōng zuò jiǎ zhàng.
The boss instigated the employees to cook the books.
指使。
Zhè jiàn shì yí dìng shì yǒu rén zài bèi hòu zhǐ shǐ.
This matter must have someone instigating from behind the scenes.
。
Tā zhǐ shǐ shǒu xià qù pò huài duì shǒu de shēng yù.
He instigated his subordinates to ruin the opponent's reputation.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

使shǐcommand

指 means direct and 使 means command, so the meaning is to direct and command 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.

扌旨指

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

旨

旨zhǐ指zhǐ

Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 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

Communication & Speech

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