致使

• Pinyin: zhì shǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 致 = 至 + 攵 (arrive at, cause); 使 = 亻+ 吏 (make someone do)

Meaning

To cause; to result in. As a conjunction, so that or with the result that.

A formal causal connector indicating that one event or action leads to a specific outcome, typically negative. Common in legal documents, formal reports, and academic writing.

Examples

1. 暴雨致使多条河流决堤。 The torrential rain caused multiple rivers to breach their banks.
2. 管理不善致使公司亏损严重。 Poor management caused the company to suffer heavy losses.
3. 他的鲁莽行为致使整个项目失败。 His reckless behavior caused the entire project to fail.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, reports, academic

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 司机酒驾致使三人受伤。(The driver's drunk driving caused three people to be injured.)
• 原材料短缺致使生产被迫中断。(The shortage of raw materials caused production to be forcibly interrupted.)

Don't Say

• 好天气致使我们去公园 — too formal and implies negative causation; use 让 or 使得 for neutral outcomes

Origin & History

致 (to cause) + 使 (to make)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal