出使

chūshǐ

verb #77,445

Meanings

HSK 2

张骞两次出使西域。

Zhāng Qiān liǎng cì chūshǐ Xīyù.

Zhang Qian twice went to the Western Regions as an envoy.

HSK 7-9

苏武出使匈奴，被扣留了十九年。

Sū Wǔ chūshǐ Xiōngnú, bèi kòuliú le shíjiǔ nián.

Su Wu went as an envoy to the Xiongnu and was held there for nineteen years.

memory

使 here is 'envoy', as in 大使 'ambassador' and 使馆 'embassy': 出 'to go out' as an envoy.

usage

Mostly about history, but still used for ambassadors: 他曾出使法国 'he once served as envoy to France'. A modern state visit is 出访.

出 chū

使 shǐ