纵使 (zòng shǐ) — (conjunction) even if, even though (formal, literary)

Definition

A formal, written conjunction meaning 'even if / even though' — stronger and more literary than the everyday 即使.

conjunction
even ifeven though (formal, literary)

Examples

  • 纵使，。
    zòng shǐ Rèn wu zài nán, wǒ men yě yào jiān chí wán chéng.
    Even if the task is very difficult, we must persist and complete it.
  • 纵使，。
    zòng shǐ Suǒ yǒu rén dōu fǎn duì, tā hái shì jiān chí zì jǐ de jué dìng.
    Even though everyone opposed him, he still stuck to his own decision.
  • 纵使，。
    zòng shǐ Xiāng gé wàn lǐ, wǒ men de yǒu yì yī rán bú biàn.
    Even if we are thousands of miles apart, our friendship remains unchanged.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

纵zòngeven if
使shǐif

纵 and 使 both carry the sense of even if or if, so together they mean even if.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 縱; 纵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
從
從cóng縱zòng
Same sound today

The traditional form 縱 pairs the 糸 part with 從 as a sound part; the simplified 纵 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 纵 →

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 →

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