Formal Causative with 致使
致使 is a formal causative verb meaning 'to cause/result in,' typically introducing negative consequences.
Pattern
Cause + 致使 + Result Clause
Explanation
致使 is a formal causative verb used primarily in written Chinese to express that one event caused another, usually with negative implications. It is stronger and more formal than 使 alone, and almost always introduces undesirable outcomes such as damage, loss, or failure.
This word is extremely common in legal documents, accident reports, news articles, and formal analyses. It differs from 导致 in that 致使 more strongly implies a chain of causation with a clear responsible party, while 导致 is more neutral about agency.
Examples
暴雨致使多处道路中断。
Bàoyǔ zhìshǐ duō chù dàolù zhōngduàn.
The heavy rain caused multiple road closures.
管理不善致使公司蒙受巨大损失。
Guǎnlǐ bú shàn zhìshǐ gōngsī méngshòu jùdà sǔnshī.
Poor management caused the company to suffer huge losses.
他的疏忽致使整个项目延期。
Tā de shūhu zhìshǐ zhěnggè xiàngmù yánqī.
His negligence caused the entire project to be delayed.
Common Mistakes
好天气致使大家心情愉快。
好天气使大家心情愉快。
致使 is reserved for negative consequences. For positive results, use 使 or 让.
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