▎使得, shĭde, (Vst), expressing causation, so as to make

 

Function The state verb 使得 is a causative verb. What precedes it is the causer, which can be expressed by means of an NP or a clause. What comes after the causative is the result, which is always indicated by a sentence.

1 因為老闆決定裁員，使得他不得不另謀發展。

Yīnwèi lǎobǎn juédìng cáiyuán, shǐde tā bùdébù lìngmóu fāzhǎn.

The boss’s decision to cut staff has forced him to explore other career avenues.

2 該國雖然已不施行一胎化政策，但並未使得少子化的問題得到解決。

Gāi guó suīrán yǐ bù shīxíng yìtāihuà zhèngcè, dàn bìngwèi shǐde shǎozǐhuà de wèntí dédào jiějué.

The country may have ended the one-child policy, but that hasn’t solved the problem of a declining birth rate.

3 她的婆婆還有傳宗接代的觀念，使得她的壓力更大了。

Tā de pópo hái yǒu chuánzōng jiēdài de guānniàn, shǐde tā de yālì gèng dà le.

Her mother-in-law’s traditional view of lineage is only added pressure.

4 今年因為奇怪的氣候，使得農民收成減少。

Jīnnián yīnwéi qíguài de qìhòu, shǐde nóngmín shōuchéng jiǎnshǎo.

Unusual weather this year has caused a decrease in harvest.

 

Usage

(1) 使得 and 使 are both causative verbs. They are often used interchangeably, e.g.,

1 聽說小王病得很嚴重，使/使得我們非常擔心。

Tīngshuō Xiǎo Wáng bìng de hěn yánzhòng, shǐ/shǐde wǒmen fēicháng dānxīn.

We understand that Xiao Wang is seriously ill. It has caused us to worry a great deal.

2 有話直說的人，有時真使/使得大家討厭。

Yǒu huà zhí shuō de rén, yǒushí zhēn shǐ/shǐde dàjiā tǎoyàn.

People who speak directly sometimes really annoy everybody.

3 因為沒念大學的關係，使/使得我一直害怕比不上別人。

Yīnwèi méi niàn dàxué de guānxi, shǐ/shǐde wǒ yīzhí hàipà bǐbúshàng biérén.

Because I didn’t go to university, I’m afraid that I can never compare favorably with others.

(2) For ‘virtual’ instances (hypothetical situations), instances that have not already happened, 使 is often used.

1 人民希望政府能施行新政策，使物價穩定。

Rénmín xīwàng zhèngfǔ néng shīxíng xīn zhèngcè, shǐ wùjià wěndìng.

The people hope that the government will implement new policies to stabilize commodity prices.

2 如果想使頭髮看起來多一點的話，可以使用這種產品。

Rúguǒ xiǎng shǐ tóufà kànqǐlái duō yìdiǎn de huà, kěyǐ shǐyòng zhè zhǒng chǎnpǐn.

If you want your hair to look fuller, you can use a product like this.

3 如果去醫院動手術也不能使人恢復健康，那麼誰還願意去呢？

Rúguǒ qù yīyuàn dòng shǒushù yě bù néng shǐ rén huīfù jiànkāng, nàme shéi hái yuànyì qù ne?

If going to the hospital and undergoing surgery isn’t going to make you regain your health, who would be willing to go?

(3) 使得 is often used with ‘actual’ instances, instances that have happened already.

1 這次颱風，由於民眾事前毫無準備，使得災情慘重。

Zhè cì táifēng, yóuyú mínzhòng shìqián háowú zhǔnbèi, shǐde zāiqíng cǎnzhòng.

This typhoon caused a disaster, because people were not at all prepared.

2 因為同學積極參與，使得這門課更加熱鬧、活潑。

Yīnwèi tóngxué jījí cānyù, shǐde zhè mén kè gèngjiā rènào, huópō.

The students actively participate, making this class more exciting and lively.

3 低所得、高物價的情況使得年輕人成了無殼蝸牛。

Dī suǒdé, gāo wùjià de qíngkuàng shǐde niánqīng rén chéngle wúké guāniú.

Low incomes and high prices have made it impossible for young people to afford homes.

(4) There are other causative verbs in modern Chinese, e.g., 讓 and 叫, which are highly colloquial. 使 is more formal, though not as formal as 使得.

1 漢堡吃多了對健康不好，而且容易讓你變胖。

Hànbǎo chī duō le duì jiànkāng bù hǎo, érqiě róngyì ràng nǐ biàn pàng.

Eating a lot of hamburgers is bad for the health and furthermore can make you fat.

2 這個消息叫我很難過。

Zhè ge xiāoxí jiào wǒ hěn nánguò.

This news has made me sad.