使唤

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"使唤" (shǐhuan) means to boss someone around or to order someone to do tasks, often implying a somewhat commanding or controlling attitude. It is commonly used in informal contexts where one person directs another, sometimes with a negative nuance of exploitation or over-demanding.

Common Contexts

This verb is frequently used to describe situations where someone is made to do chores, errands, or work, especially when the person feels they are being treated like a servant or under excessive control.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 使唤别人 (boss others around): used to describe commanding others to do things.
  • 使唤 (be bossed around): passive form indicating someone is being ordered or controlled.
  • 不要使唤 (don’t boss around): a common phrase advising against commanding others harshly.

Register and Tone

"使唤" is informal and can carry a slightly negative or critical tone, so it’s best used in casual conversation rather than formal writing.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "使唤" with "使用" (shǐyòng), which means "to use" in a neutral sense. "使唤" specifically involves commanding or ordering people, not objects.

Example Sentences

He always likes to boss others around to do things for him.

Don’t let the child feel like you are bossing him around; communicate more.

At the company, he is bossed around harshly by the boss.