行使 (xíng shǐ) — to exercise (a right, power, authority, etc.)

Definition

行使 means to actively put a right or power into use. Unlike 享有 ('to enjoy/hold' a right), 行使 emphasizes the act of using it; 施展 is for personal abilities, not legal rights.

verb
to exercise (a right, power, authority, etc.)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 行使。
    Gōng mín yǒu quán xíng shǐ xuǎn jǔ quán hé bèi xuǎn jǔ quán.
    Citizens have the right to exercise the right to vote and stand for election.
  • 行使，。
    Zhèng fǔ bì xū yī fǎ xíng shǐ quán lì, bù néng làn yòng.
    The government must exercise power according to law and not abuse it.
  • ，行使。
    Tā zuò wéi dài biǎo, yǒu quán xíng shǐ biǎo jué quán.
    As a representative, he has the right to exercise his right to vote.

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.

行xíngcarry out
使shǐuse

行 means carry out and 使 means use; together they name exercising a right.

Characters in this word

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

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

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 7-9Rights & Citizenship

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