Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
使用 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
使用
shǐyòng
to use
HSK 4, v, 13 strokes, rank #1000, Medium
使用
shǐyòng
to employ
HSK 4, v, 13 strokes, rank #1000, Medium
使用
shǐyòng
to apply
HSK 4, v, 13 strokes, rank #1000, Medium
使用
shǐyòng
to make use of
HSK 4, v, 13 strokes, rank #1000, Medium
shǐyòng(shi3yong4)shi yong T3
1to use
2to employ
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
使用shǐyòng(shi3yong4)
使用 (shǐyòng) means 'to use' or 'to employ' something effectively. It is commonly used in contexts where tools, resources, or skills are applied to achieve a specific outcome, such as using technology, applying knowledge, or employing methods in practice.
Strokes13Frequency#1000DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
'使用' is commonly found in Chinese business and educational contexts, emphasizing efficiency and practicality in utilizing resources. For instance, in the workplace, employees are often encouraged to '使用' various software tools to enhance productivity.
Memory tip
Think of '使用' as a combination of '使' (to make) and '用' (to use). Imagine a chef making a delicious meal by skillfully using various ingredients and tools. The '使' can remind you of the action of making things happen, while '用' emphasizes the act of using those things.
Meanings of 使用
shǐyòng(shi3yong4)
1to use
2to employ
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 使用 means.
About 使用
使用Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1000Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 使用
Podcast: 使用
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 使用
Quick Contrast
使用 (shǐyòng) vs 应用 (yìngyòng) — choose 使用 when referring to the act of using something in a practical sense, while 应用 emphasizes the application of theory or knowledge.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse '使用' with similar words like '用' (yòng), which can also mean 'to use' but is less formal. '使用' is often used in formal contexts or written language. Common collocations include '使用电脑' (to use a computer) and '使用资源' (to use resources).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, '使用' connects to other verbs related to actions and functions, like '做' (to do) and '学习' (to learn). Students should focus on sentence structures that incorporate '使用' to describe how they apply various tools or knowledge in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '使用' with '用', leading to incorrect usage in informal settings. For example, saying '我使用去商店' instead of '我去商店' (I go to the store) is incorrect. Use '使用' for formal contexts only.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 使用
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 使用, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 使用 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 使用?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 使用 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
使用 (shǐyòng) means 'to use' or 'to employ' something effectively. It is commonly used in contexts where tools, resources, or skills are applied to achieve a specific outcome, such as using technology, applying knowledge, or employing methods in practice.
When to use 使用
Be careful not to confuse '使用' with similar words like '用' (yòng), which can also mean 'to use' but is less formal. '使用' is often used in formal contexts or written language. Common collocations include '使用电脑' (to use a computer) and '使用资源' (to use resources).
使用 or something close to it
使用 (shǐyòng) vs 应用 (yìngyòng) — choose 使用 when referring to the act of using something in a practical sense, while 应用 emphasizes the application of theory or knowledge.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '使用' with '用', leading to incorrect usage in informal settings. For example, saying '我使用去商店' instead of '我去商店' (I go to the store) is incorrect. Use '使用' for formal contexts only.
Write 使用
使
用
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 使用 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 使用
使用 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
