How to Write 遣 (qiǎn) — Meaning “To dispatch; to send.”

Picture the radical 辶 as a moving road or cart, and the right side 曹 as a stack of boxes or goods. So you are "dispatching" the boxes on a cart, sending them away. This visual helps connect the parts to the meaning of sending.

Pay attention to the order: first write the top part of 曹 (一, then 口, then 曰), then add the 辶 at the bottom left. The 辶 must finish with a smooth, long horizontal stroke that supports the right part. A common mistake is making the 辶 too short or the right side too tall.

遣 (qiǎn) has the right part 曹 (a stack of boxes), 逭 (huàn) has 萑 (grass radical with 隹), and 逮 (dài) has 隶 (slave or capture). The meanings differ: 遣 is to send, 逭 is to escape or avoid, and 逮 is to arrest. Visually, look at the top-right component to tell them apart.

遣 appears in words like 派遣 (to dispatch or assign people) and 消遣 (pastime, literally 'send away time'). It is more formal and not common in daily conversation. The term 消遣 reflects the Chinese idea of 'killing time' as a gentle, pleasant activity, often used when talking about hobbies.

Common words containing 遣 include: 派遣 (pài qiǎn) — dispatch / send / assign; 消遣 (xiāo qiǎn) — pastime; leisure; to kill time; 遣散 (qiǎn sàn) — To dismiss; to disband..