使う To Use

Meaning

Primary

To Use

Alternative

To Spend

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means use so the verb version is to use. If you're talking about money, this can also mean to spend.

Reading

つかう

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

You find it quite handy to use two cars (つか) in your daily life. The big minivan? You use that for grocery shopping and taking the kids to soccer practice. The little convertible two-seater? You use that one for scoring dates and racing for pink slips. Different cars for different uses, you know? That's why it's best to use two cars.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜を使う

  お金を使う

  to spend money

  パソコンを使う

  to use a computer

  気を使う

  to attend to, to try to not give others trouble

• 〜に使う

  代わりに使う

  to use instead of something else

  大切に使う

  to use with great care

  自由に使う

  to use freely

Context Sentences

私たちは、毎日電気を使います。

We use electricity every day.

知っている活用形を全て使って文を作って下さい。

Use all of the conjugation forms you know to create a sentence.

今日は青森県のリンゴを使ってパイを作りたいと思います。

Today, I want to make a pie using apples from Aomori Prefecture.

このカギを使うとどんなドアも開く。ただし、たまに開けてはいけないものも開く。

If you use this key, any kind of door will open. However, occasionally doors that you shouldn't open will open too.

Kanji Composition

1. 使

   し Use