致使
zhìshǐ · HSK 7
to cause; to result in
致 (bring about) + 使 (make/cause) = to cause, to bring about a result
Two near-synonyms stacked: 致 means to bring about and 使 means to make happen. Together they mark causing an outcome, often a bad one, as in 致使事故 cause an accident.
致 — arrive 至 + strike/go 攵
Originally a compound of 至 (to arrive, showing an arrow reaching the ground) and 攵 (a hand with a stick, indicating action). Together they suggested 'to cause to arrive' or 'to send/deliver,' which broadened into modern senses like 'to send, devote, or bring about.'
使 — person radical 亻 + official 吏
Originally a phono-semantic compound: 亻 (person) gives the meaning and 吏 (official, also a phonetic clue) suggests the sound. The early sense was 'to send a person on a mission,' from which came 'envoy/messenger' and the broader meanings 'to use' and 'to cause/make.'