遣 qiǎn to send
to send; to dispatch
How it came to be
A road with another shape beside it, in the oldest forms two hands passing a package over. Something given with the road drawn under it: sent away, not just handed across.
How it is used
- 'To dispatch/send (a person on a mission)' - 派遣 (pàiqiǎn) to send/assign, 遣返 (qiǎnfǎn) to repatriate, 调兵遣将 (diàobīng-qiǎnjiàng) to deploy troops.
- 消遣 (xiāoqiǎn) is a distinct sense: to pass the time / divert oneself - 看电视消遣 (kàn diànshì xiāoqiǎn) to watch TV to kill time.