Causative verbs are verbs that cause people to do things. In English, these are verbs like "make", "have" and "get", as in "get Billy to eat dinner." The "get" is the causative verb.
The most common causative verbs in Chinese are:
让 (ràng)
叫 (jiào)
使 (shǐ)
请 (qǐng)
Make sure to take note of the different meanings and levels of formality. For example, 使 (shǐ) and 让 (ràng) when used as causative verbs basically mean the same thing (to make) but 使 (shǐ) is used in more formal or written Chinese while 让 (ràng) is used more in spoken Chinese.
Structure
Subject + Causative verb + Noun/Pronoun + VO
Examples
Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen qù túshū guǎn jiè shū.
老师让 我们 去图书馆 借书。
老师让 我们 去图书馆 借书。
The teacher let us to go to the library and borrow books.
Zhè bù diànyǐng hěn ràng rén hěn gǎndòng.
这 部 电影 很 让 人 很 感动。
这 部 电影 很 让 人 很 感动。
This movie really moves people.
Tā tuìxué de shìqíng shǐ tā fùmǔ fēicháng shīwàng.
她 退学 的 事情 使 她 父母 非常 失望。
她 退学 的 事情 使 她 父母 非常 失望。
Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.
Zhè jiàn shìqíng de jiějué shǐtā zuìjìn qīngsōng le hěn duō.
这件事情的 解决 使他 最近 轻松了 很多。
这件事情的 解决 使他 最近 轻松了 很多。
The solution to this problem has made him feel more relaxed these days.