使 — A cause makes a person or thing end up in a new state: [cause] 使 [target] [resulting state].

grammar → 使

TSUMUGU · TBCL 5 (est.) · 語法

使 grammar point · tier 1 · causative 使 (make/cause someone to …)

· shǐ

A cause makes a person or thing end up in a new state: [cause] 使 [target] [resulting state].

Hook inherited from 讓.

A cause makes a person or thing end up in a new state

框 · Frame

[cause] 使 [target] [resulting state]

觸 · Trigger

One thing brings about a change of state in another, and you want to name the cause as the doer.

序 · The move

1Put the cause first — the event or thing that brings the change about.Is the subject of 使 a force or event, not the one being changed?

2After 使, name the person or thing acted on.Does the target sit between 使 and the result?

3Close with the new state the target lands in, often + 更/變得/一個 adjective or clause.Does the line end on a state, not a fresh bare action?

例 · Examples

1早上喝一杯咖啡能使make / cause to他頭腦mind更加even more清醒clear-headed, awake。

A cup of coffee in the morning can make his mind clearer.

界 · Boundary

讓

使 is written, the cause is an event or condition; 讓 is spoken, and leans to a person permitting or letting it happen. 使 fronts a force; 讓 fronts a granter.

把

使 hands you a resulting STATE the target falls into; 把 hands you an active DISPOSAL where an agent does something to a definite object. 使他清醒 = ends up clear; 把它喝完 = drinks it up.

✗ 這件事使我。 → ✓ 這件事使我很難過。 (a result state must close it)

✗ 我使他去。 → ✓ 這個消息使他決定去。 (the cause is an event, not a person ordering)

✗ 使他高興了這個禮物。 → ✓ 這個禮物使他高興。 (cause first, target and state after)

English 'make him happy' lets a person be the maker; 使 prefers an event or condition as the cause, so a person-subject often reads stiff — spoken Mandarin reaches for 讓 instead.