HSK 4 · Verbs

使用 shǐyòng “to use” in Chinese

Same in Traditional

What 使用 means

  1. to use
  2. to employ
  3. to apply
  4. to make use of

How to say 使用

  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale使shǐ3rd tone, dipping
  • Pitch chart of the fourth tone: falls from high to low, 5 to 1 on the five-level scale用yòng4th tone, falling

使用 in a sentence

  1. 你知道怎么使用吗？

    Nǐ zhīdao zěnme shǐyòng ma?

    Do you know how to use it?

    Sentence #5715132 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  2. 你可以使用旅馆的游泳池。

    Nǐ kěyǐ shǐyòng lǚguǎn de yóuyǒngchí.

    You can use the hotel’s swimming pool.

    Sentence #1735516 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  3. 宝宝还不会使用勺子。

    Bǎobao hái bú huì shǐyòng sháozi.

    The baby can’t use a spoon yet.

    Sentence #336888 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

How 使用 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 使 (shǐ) with each of its parts in a different colour
使shǐto make
  • 亻person form of 人 · rén
  • 吏government official · lì
The character 用 (yòng) drawn as one shape
用yòngto use; to make use of; to employ

用 is a single shape of 5 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.

How to write 使用

使 8 strokes · 用 5 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

使用 (shǐyòng) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 使用 (shǐyòng). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 使用

Words with 使

使shǐ · to make即使jíshǐ · even if大使馆dàshǐguǎn · embassy促使cùshǐ · to induce使劲儿shǐjìnr · to exert all one’s strength使命shǐmìng · mission致使zhìshǐ · to cause

Words with 用

用yòng · to use不用búyòng · no need to有用yǒuyòng · useful常用chángyòng · commonly used信用卡xìnyòngkǎ · credit card作用zuòyòng · effect利用lìyòng · to make use of应用yìngyòng · to put to use运用yùnyòng · to use实用shíyòng · practical

More words: Common Verbs

生活shēnghuó · to live省shěng · to save剩shèng · to remain使shǐ · to make适合shìhé · to fit适应shìyìng · to adapt收shōu · to receive收拾shōushi · to put in order

FAQs

使用 (shǐyòng) means “to use” or “to employ”. It is an HSK 4 word.
Say it shǐyòng: shǐ with a 3rd tone, then yòng with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 使用 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type shiyong with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 使用 from the suggestions. Typing shiyong into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
使用 is an HSK 4 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

Turn words into conversations

A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.

Book a free intro call

Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.