Definitions

yòng (verb) to use; to employ
yòng (verb) to need; to have to
yòng (noun) expense; cost

Etymology

Depicts a bucket with a handle on the right side. Based on the original meaning "bucket". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "use".

About

The character "用" originated from an early pictographic representation of a vessel or tool, establishing its fundamental association with use and function. In its modern structure, it is an indivisible unit without constituent components. While its core meaning has consistently been "to use" or "utility", it has broadened to encompass ideas such as expenditure, necessity, and application, and it serves grammatical purposes in marking instrumental or purposive relationships in language.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

筷子吃饭。

Wǒ yòng kuàizi chīfàn.

I use chopsticks to eat.

他常电子邮件。

Tā cháng yòng diànzǐ yóujiàn.

He often uses email.

学习需要心。

Xuéxí xūyào yòngxīn.

Studying requires diligence.

中文回答。

Qǐng yòng Zhōngwén huídá.

Please answer in Chinese.

这种方法很实

Zhè zhǒng fāngfǎ hěn shíyòng.

This method is very practical.

我们必须合理水。

Wǒmen bìxū hélǐ yòng shuǐ.

We must use water rationally.

幽默感化解了尴尬。

Tā yòng yōumò gǎn huàjiě le gāngà.

She used humor to resolve the awkwardness.

工程师们正在新技术改进产品。

Gōngchéngshīmen zhèngzài yòng xīn jìshù gǎijìn chǎnpǐn.

The engineers are using new technology to improve the product.