Meaning of 促使
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to prompt; to induce; to spur
How to use 促使
促使 usually has a cause as the subject, followed by a person or thing and then the result: A 促使 B + verb. It sounds a bit formal and is common in news and writing. 这件事促使他改变了主意。(Zhè jiàn shì cùshǐ tā gǎibiàn le zhǔyi.) This incident prompted him to change his mind.
促 (cù) means to urge or push, as in 促进 (cùjìn), and 使 (shǐ) means to make someone do something. Put them together and something pushes and makes a change happen: to prompt or spur.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 促使 with 促进 (cùjìn). 促进 takes a noun object like 促进发展 (promote development), while 促使 needs a person or thing plus an action after it, so 促使经济发展 is fine but 促使经济 alone is incomplete.
促使 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
促 cù · to urge · 9 strokes
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- 9
使 shǐ · to make · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 促使.
| 使用 | shǐyòng | to use; to employ |
| 大使馆 | dàshǐguǎn | embassy |
| 使劲 | shǐjìn | to exert all one's strength |
| 促进 | cùjìn | to promote (an idea or cause); to advance; boost |
| 促销 | cùxiāo | to promote sales |
| 即使 | jíshǐ | even if; even though |
| 使得 | shǐde | usable; serviceable; feasible; workable; doable |
| 大使 | dàshǐ | ambassador; envoy |
| 天使 | tiānshǐ | angel |
| 使命 | shǐmìng | mission; long-term task to which one devotes oneself |
| 使者 | shǐzhě | emissary; envoy |
| 迫使 | pòshǐ | to force; to compel |
Questions about 促使
What does 促使 mean?
促使 (cùshǐ) means "to prompt; to induce; to spur" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 促使?
促使 is made of 2 characters: 促 (9 strokes), 使 (8 strokes). That is 17 strokes in total.
Is 促使 an HSK word?
Yes. 促使 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 促使 and 使 or 让?
使 and 让 (ràng) simply mean to make or let someone do something. 促使 adds the idea of pushing or motivating, and it is more formal. In casual speech, 让 is far more common.
Can a person be the subject of 促使?
Yes, but it is more natural when the subject is an event, situation or factor. For example, 经济压力促使很多年轻人离开家乡 (Economic pressure drove many young people to leave their hometowns).