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.
- 被使唤 (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.