Meaning
致使 is a formal causative verb meaning 'to cause' or 'to lead to,' typically used in written or official contexts. It introduces a result or consequence, often negative, that follows from a particular action or situation. The word emphasizes the direct causation between an event and its outcome.
Usage
致使 is predominantly used in formal written Chinese, especially in news reports, legal documents, and official statements. It's less common in everyday spoken language, where simpler causative structures like 让, 使, or 导致 might be preferred. It typically precedes a negative consequence or undesirable result.
Examples
- 01恶劣的天气致使航班延误了三个小时。.The bad weather caused the flight to be delayed for three hours.
- 02司机的疏忽致使两人在车祸中受伤。.The driver's negligence caused two people to be injured in the car accident.
Characters
Common collocations
- 致使...死亡...to cause (someone's) death
- 致使损失to cause losses
- 致使事故发生to cause an accident to occur
Origin
Both characters independently carry causative meanings. 致 originally meant 'to send' or 'to reach,' while 使 means 'to cause' or 'to employ.' Together they form a compound verb emphasizing direct causation.