使唤

使喚

shǐhuan

verb HSK 7-9 #10,646

Meanings

1 to order someone around
2 to use; to put to work

Characters

to make; to use

to call; to summon

Literally 'command and call' - summoning someone to do your bidding.

Examples

HSK 3

这把刀不好使唤了。

Zhè bǎ dāo bùhǎo shǐhuan le.

This knife doesn't work well anymore.

HSK 5

别老使唤别人，自己动手。

Bié lǎo shǐhuan biéren, zìjǐ dòngshǒu.

Stop ordering others around, do it yourself.

Tips

usage

使唤 has two distinct meanings: (1) ordering people around (often with a negative tone - 被人使唤 means being bossed around), and (2) using a tool or object (这个手机挺好使唤的, 'this phone works pretty well'). The second usage is colloquial and mostly northern.

Stroke Order

使 shǐ

唤 huàn