懂中文 Dong Chinese

使

shǐ

to use

The characters 史 (history), 吏 (government official), 使 (cause; use; instruct), and 事 (matter; work; affair) are all etymologically related and all derive from the same ancient character, depicting a hand (又) holding a container for writing utensils.

Components
亻 meaning component

亻  Meaning component

rén

  

person

亻 is a component form of 人.

吏 sound,iconic component

吏  Sound Iconic component

lì

  

government official

Depicts a hand holding a container for writing utensils.

Evolution

使 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
使 Bronze script Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)
使 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
使 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
使 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

使  

shǐ

cause, send on a mission, order; envoy, messenger, ambassador; to make; to cause; to enable; to use; to employ; to send; to instruct sb to do sth; envoy; messenger

Most common words with 使
Freq.
Word
Meaning

使

to make

使用

to use

即使

even if

天使

angel

使得

usable