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诱使 (yòu shǐ) — to lure, to entice (someone into doing something); to inveigle

Definition

A formal written verb meaning 'to lure or entice someone into doing something (often something bad)'. Stronger and more negative than 教唆, which specifically means 'to instigate / abet' a crime.

verb
to lureto entice (someone into doing something)to inveigle

Examples

  • 诱使。
    Tā yòu shǐ péng you tóu zī le yí gè piàn jú.
    He lured his friend into investing in a scam.
  • 诱使。
    Guǎng gào yòu shǐ xiāo fèi zhě gòu mǎi bù xū yào de chǎn pǐn.
    Advertisements lure consumers into buying products they don't need.
  • 诱使。
    Fàn zuì fèn zǐ yòu shǐ nián qīng rén cān yù fēi fǎ huó dòng.
    Criminals entice young people to participate in illegal activities.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

诱yòulure
使shǐcause

“诱” gives luring and “使” gives causing, so the word means to lure someone into doing something.

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 誘; 诱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword, language
Sound part声符shēngfú
秀
秀xiù誘yòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 誘 pairs 言 (word, language) with 秀, which supplies the sound.

Open 诱 →

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
Will & Intention

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