Meaning
使用 means to use or make use of something. It's a formal and versatile verb that applies to tools, methods, language, facilities, and abstract concepts. It's more formal than 用 (yòng) alone and is commonly seen in instructions, manuals, and official contexts.
Usage
使用 is the standard formal term for 'to use' in written Chinese and formal speech. While 用 is more casual and common in daily conversation, 使用 appears frequently in instructions, signs, official documents, and when discussing proper or authorized use of something. It often combines with 权 (right) to mean 'right to use.'
Examples
- 01请正确使用这些工具。.Please use these tools correctly.
- 02我们可以免费使用图书馆的电脑。.We can use the library's computers for free.
Characters
Common collocations
- 使用方法method of use, instructions
- 使用权right to use, usage rights
- 使用说明user instructions, directions for use
- 正在使用currently in use
Antonyms
Origin
使 originally meant 'to send' or 'to employ someone,' while 用 means 'to use.' Together they form a compound meaning 'to employ for use,' creating a more formal register than 用 alone.