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HSK 3

用

to use; with; by means of

verbneutral
用
yòng4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
yòng
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
5
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 用

用 is written with 5 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 用 mean?

用 (yòng) is the basic Chinese verb 'to use' and also a coverb meaning 'with / by means of.'

As a verb: 我用电脑工作 ('I use a computer to work'). As a coverb introducing the instrument: 用筷子吃饭 ('eat with chopsticks'), 用中文写 ('write in Chinese'). Word order is fixed — 用 + tool + main verb — and is the standard way Chinese expresses 'with / using,' since there is no preposition equivalent to English 'with.'

Other key uses: the negative 不用 means 'no need to / don't have to' (不用谢 — 'no need to thank me / you're welcome'); 有用 means 'useful' and 没用 means 'useless'; 用功 means 'hardworking / diligent.' 用 also appears in many compounds related to function and purpose (作用, 使用, 用法).

Memory hook: The shape resembles a container with handles — something you pick up and use.

Example sentences

我用手机看新闻。

Wǒ yòng shǒujī kàn xīnwén.

I use my phone to read the news.

spoken

你会用筷子吗？

Nǐ huì yòng kuàizi ma?

Do you know how to use chopsticks?

spoken

谢谢！——不用谢。

Xièxie! — Búyòng xiè.

Thanks! — You're welcome.

spoken

请用中文回答。

Qǐng yòng Zhōngwén huídá.

Please answer in Chinese.

neutral

这本词典很有用。

Zhè běn cídiǎn hěn yǒuyòng.

This dictionary is very useful.

neutral

Common phrases with 用

不用谢búyòng xièyou're welcome (no need to thank)
用筷子yòng kuàiziuse chopsticks
有用yǒuyònguseful
没用méiyònguseless
用中文yòng Zhōngwénin Chinese; using Chinese

Synonyms

使用shǐyòng

使用 is the formal two-character version of 'to use' — for written instructions, manuals, and formal speech. 使用方法 ('how to use'). In daily speech, 用 is the default.

拿ná

拿 means 'to take / hold (in hand).' Sometimes overlaps with 用 — 用筷子 ≈ 拿筷子 in casual speech — but 拿 emphasizes physical grasping, 用 emphasizes function.

Don't confuse 用 with

有yǒu

有 means 'to have / there is.' Sounds nothing alike to native ears but the characters look similar to beginners. 我有钱 ('I have money') vs 我用钱 ('I use money').

拥yōng

拥 (in 拥有 yōngyǒu 'to possess') sounds close to 用 but is a different character. Don't substitute one for the other.

需要xūyào

需要 is 'to need.' Don't confuse 不需要 ('don't need') with 不用 ('no need to / don't have to') — the latter is more colloquial and softer, often used to wave off thanks or offers.

Frequently asked questions

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