To use, apply, spend, or need; by means of; also a polite word for eating or drinking (用餐). A 月-shaped frame with a vertical handle piercing through it—a tool put to work.
用钱 is not wrong, but in everyday Mandarin when you mean 'spend money', 花钱 is the natural choice. 用钱 sounds like 'use money as a tool'.
用电话 literally means 'use a phone', but the natural phrase for 'make a phone call' is 打电话. Learners often overuse 用 here.
用 is the everyday 'use'. 使 is mostly 'make/cause' and is formal; do not use it as a drop-in replacement for 用.
| Dimension | 用 | 使 |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | to use (general) | to make; to cause (formal) |
| Register | Neutral, spoken and written | Formal, mostly written or fixed phrases |
| Natural example | 我用手机看新闻。 | 这件事使人很高兴。 |
| Learner trap | Safe default for 'use' | Do not substitute for 用 in speech |
不用 means 'no need / don't have to'. 没用 means 'useless'. Same characters, opposite jobs.
| Dimension | 不用 | 没用 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | no need; don't have to | useless; not useful |
| Position | Before a verb | After a noun |
| Example | 不用来。 | 这个没用。 |
| Learner trap | Not an adjective | Not a modal phrase |
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
这个成语人人都会 用 ，但是“东山”是什么意思，好多人不知道。
现在，我们 用 “东山再起”来形容一个人失败或退出后，通过努力又重新获得成功。
这句俗语通常是 用来 笑话人的。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
但是事实上：无论是 使用 热风干燥还是通过油炸干燥，方便面中的水分含量都很低，一般都低于2%。
并且，炸方便面都是 用 植物油，特别是棕榈油。
而当人们 用 开水泡面的时候，如果不另外加盐，还会觉得淡。
Before you start learning Chinese, master the most important phrases: greetings. This short dialogue shows you how to say hello and goodbye, and how to respond politely.
不用谢 ！
不用客气 ！
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
骨碟干净得像 没用 过。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
他们 常用 北京话说：新鲜啊！
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