以 yǐ — to use; according to; so as to; in order to; by; with
我们可以用中文交流。Wǒ men kě yǐ yòng Zhōng wén jiāo liú.We can communicate in Chinese.
Common words: 可以 (kě yǐ)、所以 (suǒ yǐ)、以后 (yǐ hòu)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to use"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to use", including 以 (yǐ), 用 (yòng), 动 (dòng), 使 (shǐ), 展 (zhǎn), 运 (yùn). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to use" covers 7 different Chinese characters — 以 (yǐ), 用 (yòng), 动 (dòng), 使 (shǐ), 展 (zhǎn), 运 (yùn), 庸 (yōng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 7 characters do not share a sound — their readings span yǐ, yòng, dòng, shǐ, zhǎn, yùn, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 以 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 以 yǐto use; according to; so as to; in order to; by; withUseful words: 可以, 所以
- 用 yòngto useUseful words: 不用, 有用
- 动 dòngto use; to act; to move; to changeUseful words: 动作, 活动
- 使 shǐto make; to cause; to enable; to use; to employ; messengerUseful words: 使用, 大使馆
- 展 zhǎnto use; to spread out; to postpone; to unfoldUseful words: 发展, 进展
Common words for these 7 "to use" characters
Anchor each of these 7 characters in a word you can picture — start with 以 (yǐ) — so "to use" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able to所以suǒ yǐtherefore; as a result; so; the reason why以后yǐ hòuafter; later; afterwards; following不用bù yòngneed not有用yǒu yònguseful使用shǐ yòngto use; to employ; to apply; to make use of动作dòng zuòmovement; motion; action; to act活动huó dòngto exercise; to move about; to work out; shaky行动xíng dòngoperation; action; to move about; mobile使用shǐ yòngto use; to employ; to apply; to make use of
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 7 ways to say "to use".
用 yòng — to use
我用筷子吃饭。Wǒ yòng kuài zi chī fàn.I eat with chopsticks.
Common words: 不用 (bù yòng)、有用 (yǒu yòng)、使用 (shǐ yòng)
动 dòng — to use; to act; to move; to change
风一吹，树叶就动了。Fēng yì chuī, shù yè jiù dòng le.When the wind blew, the leaves moved.
Common words: 动作 (dòng zuò)、活动 (huó dòng)、行动 (xíng dòng)
使 shǐ — to make; to cause; to enable; to use; to employ; messenger
音乐使人放松。Yīn yuè shǐ rén fàng sōng.Music makes people relax.
Common words: 使用 (shǐ yòng)、大使馆 (dà shǐ guǎn)、即使 (jí shǐ)
展 zhǎn — to use; to spread out; to postpone; to unfold
美术馆正在举办画展。Měi shù guǎn zhèng zài jǔ bàn huà zhǎn.The art museum is holding a painting exhibition.
Common words: 发展 (fā zhǎn)、进展 (jìn zhǎn)、展开 (zhǎn kāi)
运 yùn — to move; to transport; to use; to apply; fortune; luck
这批货物明天运到。Zhè pī huò wù míng tiān yùn dào.This shipment of goods will arrive tomorrow.
Common words: 运动 (yùn dòng)、幸运 (xìng yùn)、命运 (mìng yùn)
庸 yōng — ordinary; to use
这部电影内容庸俗，没什么意思。Zhè bù diàn yǐng nèi róng yōng sú, méi shén me yì si.This movie is vulgar in content and not very interesting.
Common words: 中庸 (zhōng yōng)、庸人 (yōng rén)、平庸 (píng yōng)
All 7 characters
Open 以、用、动 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.