yòng: 用 - To Use, To Need, With

• Keywords: 用, yong, how to use yong in Chinese, Chinese word for use, Chinese preposition with, yong meaning, yong grammar, Chinese to need, Chinese grammar for tools, 用法, 使用
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 用 (yòng), one of the most versatile and essential characters in Mandarin Chinese. This page provides a deep dive into how “用” functions not just as the verb “to use,” but also as a crucial preposition similar to “with” or “by means of.” Learn its core grammar structure, cultural nuances, and practical examples to understand how to talk about tools, methods, and necessity in authentic Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yòng
• Part of Speech: Verb, Preposition
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To use, to employ; by means of, with.
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, 用 (yòng) is about utility. It's the word you reach for when you want to say you're applying a tool or method to accomplish a task. While its primary meaning is “to use,” its most important function for learners is structuring sentences to explain how an action is done. Think of it as the key that unlocks the ability to say “I eat with chopsticks” or “I write with a pen” in a natural Chinese way.

• 用 (yòng): This character is a pictograph. Its ancient form resembled a wooden bucket or a bell, both objects defined by their function and utility. Over time it was simplified, but it has always carried the core meaning of an object that can be employed or put into service. As a single-character word, its form directly represents its fundamental concept: utility and application.

While 用 (yòng) is a functional word, its frequent usage highlights a pragmatic aspect of Chinese communication. The language often places emphasis on the means, method, or tool used to perform an action. In English, we might say, “I'll contact you.” The method is unstated. In Chinese, it's very common and natural to be more specific by using 用: “我用微信联系你 (Wǒ yòng Wēixìn liánxì nǐ)“—”I'll use WeChat to contact you.” This isn't just about being verbose; it reflects a mindset that often values clarity and practicality in process. This contrasts with the Western tendency to sometimes focus more on the abstract action itself. The structure that 用 creates (`用 + Tool + Action`) is a foundational pattern in Chinese thought, organizing an event by first establishing the instrument and then stating the resulting action. It’s a small but constant linguistic habit that reflects a practical, grounded approach to describing the world.

用 is an extremely high-frequency word with several key functions in daily conversation.

• As a Verb (“to use”): This is its most direct meaning. It's used just like the English verb.
  • e.g., 你可以用我的电脑。(Nǐ kěyǐ yòng wǒ de diànnǎo.) - You can use my computer.
• As a Preposition (“with” or “by means of”): This is arguably its most important grammatical function for learners. It introduces the tool or method used to perform a verb. The structure is always: Subject + 用 + Tool/Method + Verb + Object.
  • e.g., 我们用筷子吃饭。(Wǒmen yòng kuàizi chīfàn.) - We eat with chopsticks.
• To Express Necessity (usually negative): The phrase 不用 (búyòng) is incredibly common. It means “no need,” “not necessary,” or “don't bother.” It's also a standard way to reply to “thank you.”
  • e.g., 不用担心，我没事。(Búyòng dānxīn, wǒ méishì.) - No need to worry, I'm fine.
  • e.g., A: 谢谢你！(Xièxie nǐ!) B: 不用谢！(Búyòng xiè!) - A: Thank you! B: You're welcome! (Lit: “No need for thanks!”)
• In Compound Words (Related to cost or utility): 用 is a building block for many common words related to expenses and usefulness.
  • e.g., 费用 (fèiyong) - expenses, cost; 有用 (yǒuyòng) - useful; 作用 (zuòyòng) - effect, function.

• Example 1:
  • 中国人用筷子吃饭。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó rén yòng kuàizi chīfàn.
  • English: Chinese people eat with chopsticks.
  • Analysis: This is the classic example of the `用 + Tool + Verb` structure. It demonstrates how to describe the instrument used for an action.
• Example 2:
  • 你会用这个软件吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ huì yòng zhège ruǎnjiàn ma?
  • English: Do you know how to use this software?
  • Analysis: Here, 用 functions as a simple verb, “to use,” in a question about ability.
• Example 3:
  • A: 太谢谢你了！ B: 不用谢！
  • Pinyin: A: Tài xièxie nǐ le! B: Búyòng xiè!
  • English: A: Thank you so much! B: You're welcome!
  • Analysis: 不用 (búyòng) is one of the most common and friendly ways to respond to “thank you.” It literally means “no need to thank.”
• Example 4:
  • 请用中文说，不要用英文。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng yòng Zhōngwén shuō, búyào yòng Yīngwén.
  • English: Please speak in Chinese, don't use English.
  • Analysis: This shows that the “tool” or “method” can be abstract, like a language.
• Example 5:
  • 这个词应该怎么用？
  • Pinyin: Zhège cí yīnggāi zěnme yòng?
  • English: How should this word be used?
  • Analysis: A very practical question for any language learner. 用 here refers to the application or usage of a word.
• Example 6:
  • 我可以用一下你的洗手间吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ yòng yíxià nǐ de xǐshǒujiān ma?
  • English: May I use your restroom for a moment?
  • Analysis: A polite, everyday request. “用一下 (yòng yíxià)” softens the verb, making the request sound more casual and brief.
• Example 7:
  • 这支笔很好用。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī bǐ hěn hǎoyòng.
  • English: This pen is very good to use (i.e., it writes well).
  • Analysis: 好用 (hǎoyòng) is a common adjective meaning “easy to use” or “effective.” It's a great example of 用 as a suffix.
• Example 8:
  • 你不用给我买礼物，你来就好。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ búyòng gěi wǒ mǎi lǐwù, nǐ lái jiù hǎo.
  • English: You don't need to buy me a gift, just your presence is enough.
  • Analysis: 不用 (búyòng) clearly expresses “there is no need to do something.” It's softer than a direct command like “don't.”
• Example 9:
  • 他用一个小时做完了作业。
  • Pinyin: Tā yòng le yí ge xiǎoshí zuò wán le zuòyè.
  • English: He used one hour to finish his homework.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates that 用 can also be used with time to mean “to spend” or “to take” a certain amount of time to do something.
• Example 10:
  • 这东西一点用都没有。
  • Pinyin: Zhè dōngxi yìdiǎn yòng dōu méiyǒu.
  • English: This thing is completely useless.
  • Analysis: Here, 用 acts as a noun meaning “use” or “utility.” “没有用 (méiyǒu yòng)” or “没用 (méiyòng)” means “useless.”

• “With” is not always 用 (yòng): English speakers often incorrectly use 用 for all instances of “with.” 用 is for the tool/instrument. To express “together with” a person, you must use 跟 (gēn) or 和 (hé).
  • Incorrect: 我用我朋友去公园。(Wǒ yòng wǒ péngyou qù gōngyuán.)
  • Correct: 我跟我朋友去公园。(Wǒ gēn wǒ péngyou qù gōngyuán.) - I go to the park with my friend.
• Word Order is Fixed: The `用 + Tool` phrase MUST come before the verb it modifies. Placing it after the verb is a common error.
  • Incorrect: 我吃饭用筷子。(Wǒ chīfàn yòng kuàizi.)
  • Correct: 我用筷子吃饭。(Wǒ yòng kuàizi chīfàn.)
• 不用 (búyòng) vs. 不会 (búhuì): 不用 means “no need to,” while 不会 (búhuì) means “will not” or “is unable to.” Don't confuse them.
  • 不用去。(Búyòng qù.) - No need to go.
  • 不会去。(Búhuì qù.) - Will not go.

• 使用 (shǐyòng) - A more formal, often written, synonym for 用. It means “to use” or “to employ.”
• 利用 (lìyòng) - To make use of, utilize, or take advantage of. It can sometimes carry a neutral-to-negative connotation of “exploiting.”
• 应用 (yìngyòng) - To apply (as in a theory or technology). Also used as a noun for “application” (like a phone app, 应用程序).
• 有用 (yǒuyòng) - An adjective meaning “useful.” The opposite of 没用 (méiyòng).
• 没用 (méiyòng) - An adjective meaning “useless.”
• 不用 (búyòng) - “No need,” a crucial phrase for polite refusal or responding to thanks.
• 作用 (zuòyòng) - A noun meaning “effect,” “function,” or “role.” (e.g., 这个药有什么作用？ - What is the effect of this medicine?)
• 工具 (gōngjù) - A noun meaning “tool” or “instrument”—the object that you 用.
• 费用 (fèiyong) - A noun meaning “expense” or “cost,” literally the “money used.”