促使 (cùshǐ)

促使 means to cause or prompt a person, organization, or situation to take action or undergo change, emphasizing the motivating or driving force behind an action or development.

Meanings

[verb] to prompt; to cause; to drive; to motivate (to make someone or something act or change)

Example Sentences

市场竞争的加剧促使企业不得不加大技术创新的投入。 Shìchǎng jìngzhēng de jiājù cùshǐ qǐyè bùdébù jiādà jìshù chuàngxīn de tóurù. The intensification of market competition has prompted companies to increase their investment in technological innovation.

这次失败的经历促使他深刻反思自己的工作方式，并作出重要调整。 Zhè cì shībài de jīnglì cùshǐ tā shēnkè fǎnsī zìjǐ de gōngzuò fāngshì, bìng zuòchū zhòngyào tiáozhěng. This experience of failure prompted him to deeply reflect on his working methods and make important adjustments.

消费者对环保产品的需求日益增长，促使越来越多的企业走上绿色发展道路。 Xiāofèizhě duì huánbǎo chǎnpǐn de xūqiú rìyì zēngzhǎng, cùshǐ yuèlái yuèduō de qǐyè zǒu shàng lǜsè fāzhǎn dàolù. The growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products has driven more and more companies to pursue green development.

科技的进步促使人类不断重新定义劳动的意义和价值。 Kējì de jìnbù cùshǐ rénlèi bùduàn chóngxīn dìngyì láodòng de yìyì hé jiàzhí. Technological advances are constantly prompting humanity to redefine the meaning and value of labor.

严重的空气污染问题促使政府出台了更严格的排放标准。 Yánzhòng de kōngqì wūrǎn wèntí cùshǐ zhèngfǔ chūtāile gèng yángé de páifàng biāozhǔn. The serious air pollution problem prompted the government to introduce stricter emission standards.

国际社会的压力促使该国政府重新审视其人权政策。 Guójì shèhuì de yālì cùshǐ gāi guó zhèngfǔ chóngxīn shěnshì qí rénquán zhèngcè. International pressure has prompted the country's government to re-examine its human rights policies.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
促使...做出	to prompt ... to make (a decision/change)
促使...加快	to drive ... to accelerate
促使...改变	to cause ... to change
促使政府	to prompt/drive the government
促使企业	to drive/prompt companies
促使...重新思考	to cause ... to rethink

Usage Notes

促使 takes a subject (the cause or driving force) and is followed by the person or entity being prompted plus the action they take, in the structure: X 促使 Y (to do something). It always implies a causal push that results in a change or action.

促使 is similar to 推动 (to drive/push forward) and 导致 (to lead to/cause). 促使 emphasizes a motivating force acting on an agent who then takes action, while 导致 simply introduces a result and 推动 emphasizes ongoing momentum. 促使 is formal and appears frequently in news and academic writing.

Memory Hook

促 (to urge/push) + 使 (to cause/make) — 促使 is to "urge and make" someone do something, i.e., to prompt or drive action.