# 使

| 使 | U+4F7F, &#20351; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4F7F |
| ← 佾 [U+4F7E] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 侀 → [U+4F80] |

## Translingual
### Han character

使 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+6, 8 strokes, cangjie input 人十中大 (OJLK), four-corner 2520$_6$, composition ⿰亻吏)

#### Derived characters

* 𭈓 𪮈 𣔤 𣷱 𧍇 𧳡 𩸲 𫤄 𠅚 𦲺 𮦙 𧍅 𰜇

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 101, character 5
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 573
* Dae Jaweon: page 213, character 12
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 145, character 2
* Unihan data for U+4F7F

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

* Historical forms of the character 使
* Oracle bone scriptj19037Bronze inscriptionsb12363b12364Small seal scripts05813Transcribed ancient scriptsL13528L13529L13530L13531L13532L13533L13534L13535
* References:
* Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:
* Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
* Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
* Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
* Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).
| | Old Chinese |
| 吏 | *rɯs |
| 倳 | *ʔsrɯs |
| 剚 | *ʔsrɯs |
| 事 | *ʔsrɯs, *zrɯs |
| 史 | *srɯʔ |
| 使 | *srɯʔ, *srɯs |
| 駛 | *srɯʔ, *srɯs |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *srɯʔ, *srɯs) : semantic 亻 + phonetic 吏 (OC *rɯs). However, the phonetic component should add part of the meaning since it represents a hand holding perhaps a flag to mean "representative, ambassador".

### Etymology

Compare Burmese စေ (ce, “to order, send someone on an errand”) (Luce, 1981).

### Pronunciation 1

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): shǐ (shi$^3$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄕˇ
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): sai$^2$ / si$^2$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): soi$^2$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): sṳ́
    (Meixian, Guangdong): si$^3$
* Jin (Wiktionary): si$^2$
* Eastern Min (BUC): sāi / sṳ̄
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): sai$^3$ / so$^3$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): sái / sú / sír
    (Teochew, Peng'im): sai$^2$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^5$sy
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shǐ
*** Zhuyin: ㄕˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shǐh
*** Wade–Giles: shih$^3$
*** Yale: shř
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyy
*** Palladius: ши (ši)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂʐ̩²¹⁴/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sai$^2$ / si$^2$
*** Yale: sái / sí
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sai$^2$ / si$^2$
*** Guangdong Romanization: sei$^2$ / xi$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /sɐi̯³⁵/, /siː³⁵/
* sai2 - vernacular;
* si2 - literary.
* Middle Chinese: sriX
Rime :
| Character | 使 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 生 (21) |
| Final (韻) | 之 (19) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 踈士切 |
| Baxter | sriX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ʃɨ$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ʃɨ$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ʃie$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ʂɨ$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /ʃiə$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /ʃĭə$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ʂi$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | shǐ |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | si$^2$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*s-rəʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*srɯʔ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 使 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | shǐ |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ sri$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*s-rəʔ/ |
| English | send; cause |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 使 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| No. | 11488 |
| Phonetic component | 史 |
| Rime group | 之 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 史 |
| Old Chinese | /*srɯʔ/ |

#### Definitions

使
* to order (somebody to do something); to send (somebody)
    From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Yè, Zhèng bó shǐ Jì Zú láo wáng, qiě wèn zuǒyòu. [Pinyin]
    At night [the earl of Zheng] sent Zu of Zhai to comfort the king, and to ask after the welfare of his officers.
    From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
    Qí shíkè sānqiān rén, yìrù bù zúyǐ fèng kè, shǐ rén chūqián yú Xuē. [Pinyin]
    He had 3000 retainers, and the income from his fief was not enough to support his retainers. Thus, he dispatched people to provide loans in Xue.
* (literary) to put (people) to work
    From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Jiéyòng ér ài rén, shǐ mín yǐ shí. [Pinyin]
    Economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.
* to let; to make; to cause to
       Zhè tūrúqílái de xiāoxī shǐ tā dàwéi zhènjīng. [Pinyin]
       This sudden news caused him great shock.
    From: 227, 諸葛亮 (Zhūgě Liàng) (Zhuge Liang), 前出師表 (Former Chu Shi Biao)
    Yú yǐwèi yíng zhōng zhī shì, xī yǐ zī zhī, bì néng shǐ xíngzhèn hémù, yōuliè dé suǒ. [Pinyin]
    I think he should be consulted on all military affairs. This can certainly make the troops harmonious and put the good and the bad in their proper places.
    From: c. 760, Du Fu, 蜀相
    Chūshī wèi jié shēn xiān sǐ, cháng shǐ yīngxióng lèi mǎn jīn. [Pinyin]
    Before winning while sending out his troops, he died / Eternally making heroes cry all over their sleeves.
** 2021 July 14, 周忠和, 武向平, 王挺, “推动科学素质建设迈上新台阶”, in People's Daily, page 5:
       Kēxuéjīngshén shì shǐ rén bǎituō yúmèi mángmù de yǒuxiào wǔqì, shì tuīdòng shèhuì jìnbù de qiángdà lìliàng. [Pinyin]
       The scientific spirit is an effective weapon that makes people cast off ignorance and blind beliefs. It is a strong force that drives forward the progress of society.
* to use; to employ
       ni$^1$ baa$^2$ dou$^1$ gei$^2$ hou$^2$ sai$^2$ [Jyutping]
       This knife is pretty good to use.
    From: Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, 16th century CE
    Sǎosao, jiè shànzi wǒ shǐ shǐ. [Pinyin]
    Sister, lend the fan to me.
* to play; to play with; to resort to; to dally with
    使心眼 ― shǐ xīnyǎn ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* to indulge
    使性子 ― shǐ xìngzi ― to get angry; to lose one's temper
* (literary) if
    From: Guoyu, circa 4th century BCE
    Shǐ sǐzhě wú zhī, zé yǐ yǐ, ruò qí yǒu zhī, jūn hé miànmù yǐ jiàn Yuán yě! [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* (Cantonese, always negated or interrogative) need to [do something]; have to
       nei$^5$ m$^4$ sai$^2$ lo$^2$ gam$^3$ do$^1$! [Jyutping]
       You don't need to get so much!
       nei$^5$ zan$^6$ gaan$^1$ sai$^2$ m$^4$ sai$^2$ lok$^6$ gaai$^1$ maai$^5$ je$^5$ aa$^3$? [Jyutping]
       Do you need to head out to buy things later?
    仲使講嘅？／仲使讲嘅？ [Cantonese] ― zung$^6$ sai$^2$ gong$^2$ ge$^2$? [Jyutping] ― Surely it goes without saying.
* (Cantonese, always negated or interrogative) need [something]; require; want strongly
* (Quanzhou and Philippine Hokkien, vulgar) to fuck

##### Synonyms

* (to let; to make; to cause to): 令 (lìng), 讓／让 (ràng)
* (to dispatch): 送 (sòng)
* (to use):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 用, 使用 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 使, 用 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 用 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 用 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 使, 用 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 使喚 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 用, 使 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 用 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 用 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 用 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 使, 用 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 用, 使 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 用, 使 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 使 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 用 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 用 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 用 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 使喚, 用 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 使 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 使 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 用 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 用 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 用 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 用, 使 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 用 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 用 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 用 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 用 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 用 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 用 |
* (if):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 若, 假, 如, 使, 令, 苟, 向, 向使, 向令, 假令, 假使, 誠, 誠使, 倘, 儻, 當使 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 若, 如, 如果, 若果, 果若, 假如, 假若, 假使, 假設, 倘若, 倘或, 倘然, 倘使, 若是, 若然, 設若, 設使, 設令, 設或, 設 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 要是, 要 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 要是, 要, 如果 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 如果 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 如果 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 要是 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 要是 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 要是, 假比 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 要是 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 要是, 要, 假使 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 要是, 倘此, 倘倘 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 如果, 若果, 若然, 假使間 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 如果, 若果, 若然, 若然之, 假使, 假使間, 假如 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 假如 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 如果, 若果, 假使 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 若果 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 設若 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 如果 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 如果 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 要是, 若是 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 假使 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 係話, 若係, 如果 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 若果, 係講, 係話 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 係講, 若係, 假使 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 係講, 係準, 係準講, 準講, 準假, 係若, 若係, 假使, 假詐 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 係講, 若係, 假使 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 準講, 可比, 假使, 係講, 若係, 若係講, 準若講 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 係講, 若係, 假使 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 若係講, 假使, 若講, 係講, 若係 |
| Hakka | Kuching (Hepo) | 假使 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 要是 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 來是, 如果 |
| Northern Min | Pucheng (Shibei) | 來是, 如果 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 儷是, 若還 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 設使, 若是, 若, 若欲是, 假若, 假若是, 欲, 欲是, 甲若, 甲若是 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 設使, 若是, 若, 若欲是, 假若, 假若是, 欲, 欲是 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 設使, 若是, 若, 假若, 假若是, 欲, 欲是, 甲若, 甲若是 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 若是, 若準, 若, 假使, 設使 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 若是, 若準 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 若是 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 若是, 若, 假使 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 若是 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 如果 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 若, 若是 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 若是 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 但見, 欲 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 麼是, 設如, 設使 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 要是, 如果, 假使, 倘然, 倘使, 是得 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 要, 如果 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 若是, 若 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 要是 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 要是, 要此 |
* (Cantonese) (need): 需要 (xūyào)
* (to fuck):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 肏$_1$, 日, 弄 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 幹, 肏$_1$ |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 肏$_1$ |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Shenyang | 肏$_1$ |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 幹 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 幹 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 肏$_1$ |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 肏$_1$ |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 日, 尻 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 日 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 窄, 失 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 日 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 日, 尻, 操, 肏$_1$ |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 日 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 日 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 日 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 日 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 日, 搞 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 日, 肏$_1$ |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Kunming | 日 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 屌, 肏$_1$ |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 屌, 肏$_1$ |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 日, 操 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 入 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 弄 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Qingyuan | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Fogang | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Yingde (Hanguang) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Yangshan | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Lianzhou (Qingshui; Sihui) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Renhua | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Lechang | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Zhaoqing (Gaoyao) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Sihui | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Guangning | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Deqing | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Huaiji | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Fengkai (Nanfeng) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Xinxing | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Luoding | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Yunan (Pingtai) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Xinyi | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Lianjiang | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Penang (Guangfu) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 屌 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 屌 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 戳 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 戳 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 戳 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 屌 |
| Hakka | Dabu (Xihe) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Huidong (Daling) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Huacheng) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Heyuan (Bendihua) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Wengyuan | 屌 |
| Hakka | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Liannan | 屌 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Jiexi | 屌 |
| Hakka | Changting | 屌 |
| Hakka | Wuping | 屌 |
| Hakka | Wuping (Yanqian) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Wuping (Pingyu) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Liancheng | 屌 |
| Hakka | Ninghua | 屌 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 屌, 戳 |
| Hakka | Ningdu | 屌 |
| Hakka | Ruijin | 屌 |
| Hakka | Shicheng | 屌 |
| Hakka | Shangyou (Shexi) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Tonggu (Sandu) | 屌, 戳 |
| Hakka | Ganzhou (Panlong) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Dayu | 屌 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 屌 |
| Hakka | Yangxi (Tangkou) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Yangchun (Sanjia) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Xinyi (Sihe) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Xinyi (Qianpai) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Gaozhou (Xindong) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Huazhou (Xin'an) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Lianjiang (Shijiao) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Lianjiang (Qingping) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Mengshan (Xihe) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Luchuan | 屌 |
| Hakka | Sabah (Longchuan) | 屌 |
| Hakka | Kuala Lumpur (Dabu) | 屌 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 透, 肏$_1$, 日 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 透, 日 |
| Jin | Linhe | 透 |
| Jin | Jining | 透 |
| Jin | Hohhot | 透 |
| Jin | Baotou | 透 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 饁 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 𠚺 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 𠚺 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 𠚺 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 𠚺 |
| Eastern Min | Fu'an | 操 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 操 |
| Eastern Min | Shouning | 戳 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 戳 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 操 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen (Tong'an) | 箍 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 使, 獛 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 使 |
| Southern Min | Nan'an | 使 |
| Southern Min | Hui'an | 使 |
| Southern Min | Anxi | 使 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 使 |
| Southern Min | Dehua | 使 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 姦, 躄 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Taitung | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 姦 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 姦, 使 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 使 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chenghai) | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chaoyang) | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Lufeng | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 甫 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 肏$_4$ |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 肏$_4$ |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 肏$_4$ |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 騷 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 騷 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 屌 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 屌 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 戳 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 戳 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 戳 |
| Wu | Haining (Yanguan) | 戳 |
| Wu | Danyang | 肏$_5$ |
| Wu | Ningbo | 嬉 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 裝 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 弄, 入 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 肏$_3$ |
| Xiang | Loudi | 肏$_3$ |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 肏$_3$ |

#### Compounds

* 不中使
* 不聽使 / 不听使
* 不聽使喚 / 不听使唤
* 中使
* 主使 (zhǔshǐ)
* 主使者
* 任賢使能 / 任贤使能
* 但使
* 使不得
* 使乖
* 使乜
* 使令 (shǐlìng)
* 使低嘴
* 使勁 / 使劲 (shǐjìn)
* 使動 / 使动 (shǐdòng)
* 使君子 (shǐjūnzǐ)
* 使喚 / 使唤 (shǐhuàn)
* 使嘴使舌
* 使壞 / 使坏 (shǐhuài)
* 使女 (shǐnǚ)
* 使巧兒 / 使巧儿
* 使得 (shǐde)
* 使心作倖 / 使心作幸
* 使心用腹
* 使心眼兒 / 使心眼儿
* 使性地 (sái-sìng-tē) (Min Nan)
* 使性子 (shǐ xìngzi)
* 使數 / 使数
* 使氣 / 使气 (shǐqì)
* 使然 (shǐrán)
* 使用 (shǐyòng)
* 使用借貸 / 使用借贷
* 使用權 / 使用权 (shǐyòngquán)
* 使用率
* 使用錢 / 使用钱
* 使眼色 (shǐ yǎnsè)
* 使絆兒 / 使绊儿 (shǐ bànr)
* 使絆子 / 使绊子 (shǐ bànzi)
* 使羊將狼 / 使羊将狼
* 使脾氣 / 使脾气
* 使臂使指
* 使蚊負山 / 使蚊负山
* 使貪使愚 / 使贪使愚
* 使費 / 使费 (shǐfèi)
* 使酒 (shǐjiǔ)
* 使錢 / 使钱 (shǐqián)
* 促使 (cùshǐ)
* 倘使 (tǎngshǐ)
* 借使
* 借風使船 / 借风使船
* 假使 (jiǎshǐ)
* 動使 / 动使
* 占風使帆
* 即使 (jíshǐ)
* 向使 (xiàngshǐ)
* 呼奴使婢
* 唆使 (suōshǐ)
* 唔使
* 唔使客氣 / 唔使客气
* 唔聽使 / 唔听使
* 嗾使 (sǒushǐ)
* 器使 (qìshǐ)
* 如臂使指 (rúbìshǐzhǐ)
* 官使
* 尊賢使能 / 尊贤使能
* 就使
* 差使 (chāishǐ)
* 強使 / 强使
* 役使 (yìshǐ)
* 役使動物 / 役使动物
* 指使 (zhǐshǐ)
* 插科使砌
* 支使 (zhīshǐ)
* 會使 / 会使
* 𣍐使 / 𫧃使
* 混合使用
* 炙冰使燥
* 目使頤令 / 目使颐令
* 目指氣使 / 目指气使
* 相風使帆 / 相风使帆
* 看風使帆 / 看风使帆
* 看風使船 / 看风使船
* 看風使舵 / 看风使舵 (kànfēngshǐduò)
* 祈使句 (qíshǐjù)
* 神差鬼使
* 給使 / 给使
* 縱使 / 纵使 (zòngshǐ)
* 致使 (zhìshǐ)
* 致使動詞 / 致使动词
* 舉賢使能 / 举贤使能
* 若使 (ruòshǐ)
* 行使 (xíngshǐ)
* 見風使帆 / 见风使帆
* 見風使舵 / 见风使舵 (jiànfēngshǐduò)
* 設使 / 设使 (shèshǐ)
* 負才使氣 / 负才使气
* 迫使 (pòshǐ)
* 逼使
* 鋪堂使費 / 铺堂使费
* 錢可使鬼 / 钱可使鬼
* 隨才器使 / 随才器使
* 頤指氣使 / 颐指气使 (yízhǐqìshǐ)
* 驅使 / 驱使 (qūshǐ)
* 鬼使神差

### Pronunciation 2

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): shǐ, shì (shi$^3$, shi$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄕˇ, ㄕˋ
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): si$^3$ / si$^5$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): lhu$^2$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): sṳ́
    (Meixian, Guangdong): si$^3$
* Eastern Min (BUC): sái / sé̤ṳ
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): so$^4$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): sài / sù / sìr
    (Teochew, Peng'im): sai$^3$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^5$sy
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shǐ
*** Zhuyin: ㄕˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shǐh
*** Wade–Giles: shih$^3$
*** Yale: shř
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyy
*** Palladius: ши (ši)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂʐ̩²¹⁴/
** (Standard Chinese, rare variant)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: shì
*** Zhuyin: ㄕˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: shìh
*** Wade–Giles: shih$^4$
*** Yale: shr̀
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyh
*** Palladius: ши (ši)
*** Sinological IPA : /ʂʐ̩⁵¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: si$^3$ / si$^5$
*** Yale: si / síh
*** Cantonese Pinyin: si$^3$ / si$^5$
*** Guangdong Romanization: xi$^3$ / xi$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /siː³³/, /siː¹³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: lhu$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬu⁵⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ́
*** Hakka Romanization System: sii$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: si$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /sɨ³¹/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: si$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /sz̩³¹/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: sái / sé̤ṳ
*** Sinological IPA : /sɑi²¹³/, /søy²¹³/
* sái - vernacular;
* sé̤ṳ - literary.
* Middle Chinese: sriH
Rime :
| Character | 使 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 生 (21) |
| Final (韻) | 之 (19) |
| Tone (調) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 踈吏切 |
| Baxter | sriH |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ʃɨ$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ʃɨ$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ʃie$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ʂɨ$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /ʃiə$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /ʃĭə$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ʂi$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | shì |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | si$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*s-rəʔ-s/
    (Zhengzhang): /*srɯs/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 使 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | shǐ |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ sri$^H$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*s-rəʔ-s/ |
| English | envoy |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 使 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| No. | 11491 |
| Phonetic component | 史 |
| Rime group | 之 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 𩢲 |
| Old Chinese | /*srɯs/ |

#### Definitions

使
* to be sent as an envoy
    From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Zǐhuá shǐ yú Qí, Rǎnzǐ wèi qí mǔ qǐng sù. [Pinyin]
    Zi Hua being employed on a mission to Qi, the disciple Ran requested grain for his mother.
* envoy; messenger
    來使／来使 ― láishǐ ― envoy from another country

#### Compounds

* 三司使
* 不辱使命 (bùrǔshǐmìng)
* 五瘟使
* 任使
* 使令 (shǐlìng)
* 來使 / 来使 (láishǐ)
* 使君 (shǐjūn)
* 使君有婦 / 使君有妇
* 使命 (shǐmìng)
* 使命感 (shǐmìnggǎn)
* 使徒 (shǐtú)
* 使星
* 使犬 (Shǐquǎn)
* 使節 / 使节 (shǐjié)
* 使節團 / 使节团
* 使者 (shǐzhě)
* 使臣 (shǐchén)
* 使長 / 使长
* 使館 / 使馆 (shǐguǎn)
* 信使 (xìnshǐ)
* 僕使 / 仆使
* 內使 / 内使 (nèishǐ)
* 全權公使 / 全权公使
* 公使 (gōngshǐ)
* 公使團 / 公使团
* 公使館 / 公使馆 (gōngshǐguǎn)
* 出使 (chūshǐ)
* 勾使
* 勾使鬼
* 勾欄使者 / 勾栏使者
* 十二使徒
* 君臣佐使 (jūnchénzuǒshǐ)
* 和平使者 (hépíng shǐzhě)
* 國使 / 国使
* 大使 (dàshǐ)
* 大使館 / 大使馆 (dàshǐguǎn)
* 天使 (tiānshǐ)
* 天使魚 / 天使鱼 (tiānshǐyú)
* 奉使
* 密使 (mìshǐ)
* 專使 / 专使 (zhuānshǐ)
* 小使
* 左使
* 差使 (chāishi)
* 布政使 (bùzhèngshǐ)
* 庫大使 / 库大使
* 廉使
* 按察使 (àncháshǐ)
* 採訪使 / 采访使
* 搪差使
* 敕使
* 星使
* 樞密使 / 枢密使 (shūmìshǐ)
* 氤氳大使 / 氤氲大使
* 河伯使者
* 特使 (tèshǐ)
* 番使
* 白差使
* 白衣天使 (báiyī tiānshǐ)
* 監齋使者 / 监斋使者
* 矜才使氣 / 矜才使气
* 節使 / 节使
* 節度使 / 节度使 (jiédùshǐ)
* 箕帚之使
* 結使 / 结使
* 綠衣使者 / 绿衣使者 (lǜyī shǐzhě)
* 花鳥使 / 花鸟使
* 草根大使
* 行使 (xíngshǐ)
* 親善大使 / 亲善大使
* 觀察使 / 观察使
* 護花使者 / 护花使者
* 赤衣使者
* 轉運使 / 转运使
* 巡按使
* 巡迴大使 / 巡回大使
* 遣唐使 (qiǎntángshǐ)
* 飛鳥使 / 飞鸟使
* 駐外使節 / 驻外使节
* 驛使 / 驿使 (yìshǐ)
* 鹺使 / 鹾使
* 鹽運使 / 盐运使
* 鹽鐵使 / 盐铁使

### References

* “使”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* 莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “使”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 211.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Third grade kyōiku kanji)

#### Readings

* Go-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
* Kun: つかう (tsukau, 使う, Jōyō)、しむ (shimu)、せしむ (seshimu)、しめば (shimeba)

### Etymology

* Kanji in this term
* 使
* し Grade: 3
* on'yomi

### Noun

使(し) • (shi)
* messenger

#### Derived terms

* 大(たい)使(し) (taishi): ambassador
* 天(てん)使(し) (tenshi): angel

## Korean
### Etymology
#### “to use; in order to; etc.”

From Middle Chinese 使 (MC sriX).
* Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞᆼ〯 (Yale: sǒ) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
* Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞ (so)$^訓$ (Yale: so) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

#### “envoy; messenger”

From Middle Chinese 使 (MC sriH).
* Recorded as Middle Korean ᄉᆞᆼ〮 (Yale: só) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
* Recorded as Middle Korean 시 (si)$^訓$ (Yale: si) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [sʰa̠(ː)]
* Phonetic hangul: [사(ː)]
** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

### Hanja

Wikisource 使 (eumhun 부릴 사 (buril sa))
* hanja form of 사 (“to use; to employ”)
* hanja form of 사 (“in order to do”)
* hanja form of 사 (“envoy; messenger”)

#### Compounds

* 고사 (苦使, gosa)
* 공사 (公使, gongsa)
* 구사 (驅使, gusa)
* 노사 (勞使, nosa)
* 대사 (大使, daesa)
* 밀사 (密使, milsa)
* 사도 (使徒, sado)
* 사명 (使命, samyeong)
* 사신 (使臣, sasin)
* 사역 (使役, sayeok)
* 사용 (使用, sayong, “use; usage”)
* 사자 (使者, saja)
* 사절 (使節, sajeol)
* 사주 (使嗾, saju)
* 설사 (設使, seolsa)
* 천사 (天使, cheonsa)
* 특사 (特使, teuksa)
* 행사 (行使, haengsa)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Vietnamese
### Han character

使: Hán Nôm readings: sứ, sử, sửa, thửa
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

#### Compounds

* 使者 (sứ giả)
* 使用 (sử dụng)

#### References

* Nom Foundation