[Learn basic Chinese with grammar] How to use 用 for tools and methods

What does 用 mean?

In Chinese, 用 ♬ means “to use.” It can show the tool, method, language, or way used to do something.

Word	Basic meaning
用 ♬	to use; with; by means of

When English uses “with” to mean “using a tool,” Chinese often uses 用, not 跟.

Use 用 ♬ before a tool when you want to say what someone uses to do an action.

Pattern	Meaning
Subject + 用 + Tool + Verb	Subject uses a tool to do something

Chinese	English
她用剪刀剪紙。 ♬	She cuts paper with scissors.
技師用儀器測量溫度。 ♬	The technician measures the temperature with an instrument.

In these sentences, 剪刀 and 儀器 are the tools used for the action.

用 ♬ can also show the method or way someone uses to do something.

Pattern	Meaning
Subject + 用 + Method + Verb	Subject uses a method to do something

Chinese	English
我們用簡單的方法解決問題。 ♬	We solve the problem with a simple method.
他用新的流程處理訂單。 ♬	He processes orders using a new procedure.

Here, 用 shows how the action is done.

You can use 用 ♬ with a language to say what language someone uses.

Pattern	Meaning
Subject + 用 + Language + Verb	Subject uses a language to do something

Chinese	English
客服用英文回覆訊息。 ♬	Customer service replies to messages in English.
講師用中文介紹產品。 ♬	The instructor introduces the product in Chinese.

In English, you may say “in English” or “in Chinese.” In Chinese, 用英文 and 用中文 are very common.

用來 ♬ means “used for.” It explains the purpose of something.

Pattern	Meaning
Thing + 用來 + Verb	Something is used for doing something

Chinese	English
這個盒子用來保存樣品。 ♬	This box is used for storing samples.
這個按鈕用來啟動機器。 ♬	This button is used to start the machine.

用來 is useful when explaining what something is for.

If “with” means “using a tool,” use 用 ♬. 跟 ♬ usually means “with” together with a person, or “and.”

Not natural	Natural Chinese
她跟剪刀剪紙。	她用剪刀剪紙。 ♬
客服跟英文回覆訊息。	客服用英文回覆訊息。 ♬

The not-natural examples are only for comparison, so they do not need audio.