让/叫/使 (causative verbs)

• 拼音: ràng / jiào / shǐ
• 结构: Subj. + 让/叫/使 + Person + Predicate
• 汉字拆解: 让 = 讠(speech) + 上 (above); 使 = 亻(person) + 吏 (official)

含义

Causative verbs like 让, 叫, and 使 are used to express that someone causes, makes, or allows another person to do something. The subject initiates an action that affects another person's behavior or state.

Among the three main causative verbs, 让 is the most versatile and commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, meaning 'to let,' 'to allow,' or 'to make.' 叫 is more colloquial and carries a similar meaning to 让, often used in everyday speech. 使 is more formal and literary, frequently appearing in written Chinese and expressing that something causes a certain result or feeling. A key distinction: 让 and 叫 can express permission ('let someone do something'), while 使 only expresses causation ('make something happen'). The person being caused to act comes directly after the causative verb, followed by the action they perform.

例句

1. 妈妈让我去超市买牛奶。
2. 老板叫大家明天加班。
3. 这首歌使我想起了小时候。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: directive

正确说法

• 爸爸让我周末回家吃饭。
• 别叫孩子玩太长时间的手机。
• 这部电影使很多观众感动得流泪。

错误说法

• 他使我去买咖啡。(使 is too formal and literary for simple everyday requests — use 让 or 叫 instead) → 他让我去买咖啡。
• 这件事让了我很生气。(Causative verbs do not take 了 between the verb and the person — 了 goes at the end if needed) → 这件事让我很生气。
• 她让我很高兴了的。(Do not add 了的 after the predicate adjective in this pattern — simply say 让我很高兴) → 她让我很高兴。

起源与历史

Chinese causative verbs developed from distinct original meanings: 让 originally meant 'to yield or give way,' 叫 meant 'to call or shout,' and 使 meant 'to send or dispatch.' Over time, they all acquired the causative function of making someone do something.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal