使命
shǐmìng
mission, sacred task
Part of speech · noun
Pattern visualization
使use
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命life
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8 strokes · 5.5s
8 strokes · 5.5s
Examples
- 医生肩负救死扶伤的使命。Doctors bear the mission of saving lives.
- 他们光荣地完成了使命。They gloriously fulfilled their mission.
Collocations
肩负使命完成使命历史使命使命感
Mnemonic
使 shǐ "to send, commission" + 命 mìng "command, mandate": a weighty mandate one is commissioned with, i.e. a mission. Same as the Korean word sa-myeong (使命). A grave, sacred duty one must fulfill (肩负使命 to shoulder a mission, 历史使命 a historical mission, 使命感 a sense of mission). Heavier than an everyday 任务 (task), with the weight of a sacred, momentous calling. 使 means "to send, envoy" (使用, 大使); 命 means "life, command" (命令, 生命).
Related
任务职责责任担当
Quick check
What is the nuance of 使命 versus everyday 任务?