使命 (shǐmìng)

使命 refers to a mission or calling — a duty of great significance that one is entrusted with or feels compelled to fulfill. It carries a sense of gravity and purpose beyond mere tasks or assignments, often appearing in contexts of historical responsibility, institutional purpose, or personal vocation.

Meanings

[n] mission, calling (a solemn duty of high significance)
[n] mandate, charge (an official duty entrusted to a person or institution)

Example Sentences

教育者的使命不仅在于传授知识，更在于激发学生探索未知的勇气与热情。 Jiàoyù zhě de shǐmìng bùjǐn zàiyú chuánshòu zhīshì, gèng zàiyú jīfā xuéshēng tànsuǒ wèizhī de yǒngqì yǔ rèqíng. The mission of an educator lies not only in imparting knowledge but also in igniting students' courage and passion to explore the unknown.

这一代人肩负着推动技术创新与可持续发展相结合的历史使命。 Zhè yīdài rén jiānfù zhe tuīdòng jìshù chuàngxīn yǔ kě chíxù fāzhǎn xiāngjié hé de lìshǐ shǐmìng. This generation shoulders the historical mission of promoting the integration of technological innovation and sustainable development.

新闻媒体的社会使命是提供真实、公正的信息，而不是充当某一利益集团的喉舌。 Xīnwén méitǐ de shèhuì shǐmìng shì tígōng zhēnshí, gōngzhèng de xìnxī, ér bùshì chōngdāng mǒu yī lìyì jítuán de hóushé. The social mission of news media is to provide true and impartial information, not to serve as a mouthpiece for any particular interest group.

她将整个职业生涯都奉献给了儿童医疗事业，将其视为自己的终身使命。 Tā jiāng zhěnggè zhíyè shēngyá dōu fèngxiàn gěi le értóng yīliáo shìyè, jiāng qí shì wéi zìjǐ de zhōngshēn shǐmìng. She dedicated her entire career to children's healthcare, treating it as her lifelong mission.

面对全球气候危机，各国政府都有责任和使命推进绿色能源转型。 Miàn duì quánqiú qìhòu wēijī, gèguó zhèngfǔ dōu yǒu zérèn hé shǐmìng tuījìn lǜsè néngyuán zhuǎnxíng. Faced with the global climate crisis, governments of all countries have a responsibility and mission to advance the green energy transition.

使命感是驱动杰出人才在艰苦条件下坚持不懈的最深层动力。 Shǐmìng gǎn shì qūdòng jiéchū réncái zài jiānkǔ tiáojiàn xià jiānchí bùxiè de zuì shēncéng dònglì. A sense of mission is the deepest motivating force that drives outstanding talents to persevere under difficult conditions.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
历史使命	historical mission
使命感	sense of mission
肩负使命	to shoulder a mission
完成使命	to fulfill / complete a mission

Usage Notes

使命 carries a more solemn and elevated tone than 任务 (rènwù, task/mission in a practical sense) or 职责 (zhízé, duty/responsibility). It implies a calling larger than oneself, often with historical, moral, or spiritual dimensions. The derived phrase 使命感 (sense of mission) is very common in motivational, educational, and institutional language.

Compare 使命 with 职责: 职责 is the duty that comes with a role or position; 使命 is a higher calling that transcends formal obligation.

Memory Hook

使 (to dispatch/send on a mission) + 命 (destiny/life) — 使命 is the calling you are sent to fulfill, as if destiny itself dispatched you.