‘支使’ is a verb meaning to order someone around, usually in a casual, somewhat dismissive or unbalanced way — often implying the speaker has authority (real or assumed) and treats the other person as a tool for their convenience. The first character ‘支’ (zhī) originally means ‘to support’ or ‘to dispatch’, and here conveys the idea of directing or sending someone off to do something; the second character ‘使’ (shǐ) means ‘to use’ or ‘to employ’. Together, they form a compound that emphasizes using another person instrumentally, rather than collaborating or requesting politely.

This word carries a mild negative connotation: it suggests imbalance in power or respect, and is commonly used in family, workplace, or service contexts — for example, a boss assigning menial tasks without consideration, or a sibling constantly asking a younger brother to run errands. It’s rarely used in formal writing but frequent in spoken Chinese, especially when expressing annoyance or describing unfair dynamics.