Translation and Meaning of: 使う - tsukau
On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 使う (tsukau) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.
Romaji: tsukau
Kana: つかう
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n5
Translation / Meaning: to use; to handle; manipulate; employ; need; to want; to spend; consume; speak English); practice (surround); take (lunch); circular (bad money)
Meaning in English: to use;to handle;to manipulate;to employ;to need;to want;to spend;to consume;to speak (English);to practise (fencing);to take (one's lunch);to circulate (bad money)
Definition: Manipulate objects, tools, etc. according to their purpose.
Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases
Explanation and Etymology - (使う) tsukau
The Japanese word 「使う」 (tsukau) is a commonly used verb that means "to use" or "to utilize." In the Japanese language, this word plays a vital role in everyday vocabulary, being applied in various contexts, from the use of physical objects to more abstract applications, such as the use of skills or strategies. Additionally, it can also be employed in contexts related to the use of time and money.
The etymology of 「使う」 traces back to the Chinese characters (kanji) from which the word derives. The kanji 「使」 is composed of the left radical 「亻」 (ninben), which suggests an association with people, and the right part 「吏」, which means "official" or "clerk." This combination brings forth the idea of "making someone do something," that is, "to use" or "to employ." The kanji thus encapsulates the essence of the term, combining the human component and the action or task to be carried out.
In addition to its basic form, the verb 「使う」 can be conjugated in different forms, such as「使いました」 (tsukaimashita) for the formal past, and「使わない」 (tsukawanai) for the present negation. The flexibility of the verb allows it to shape a wide range of nuances in the act of using or employing something. This adaptability makes it an extremely useful term, both in formal and informal contexts, covering many situations in everyday Japanese.
Verbal conjugation of 使う
See below a small list of verb conjugations: 使う (tsukau)
- 使う - Forma do Presente: 使います
- 使う - Forma do Passado: 使いました
- 使う - Forma do Futuro: 使います
- 使う - Forma Negativa: 使わない
- 使う - Forma Imperativa: 使え
- 使う - Forma Condicional: 使えば
Synonyms and similar words
- 使用する (shiyou suru) - Use, employ something in a general way.
- 利用する (riyou suru) - Using something efficiently, often in the context of services or resources.
- 用いる (mochiiru) - Use, employ, generally in a more formal or literary context.
- 使いする (tsukai suru) - Use, to make use of something, similar to 使う.
- 使役する (shieki suru) - To make someone use something; to intend to employ something.
- 駆使する (kushi suru) - Utilize fully or skillfully, especially skills or tools.
- 運用する (unyou suru) - Manage or operate, often in the context of systems or processes.
- 施す (hodokosu) - Implement, apply, give, especially in a context of donations or services.
- 行使する (koushi suru) - Exercise, use a right or power formally.
- 操る (ayatsuru) - Manipulate, control, especially in a careful or subtle context.
- 手にする (te ni suru) - Obtain, have in hand; it's a more colloquial term.
- 取り扱う (toriatsukau) - Handle, deal with, especially in the context of products or services.
- 動員する (dōin suru) - Mobilize, especially in a context of resources or people.
- 活用する (katsuyou suru) - To apply or actively use something, especially in creative or productive contexts.
- 運ぶ (hakobu) - Transport, to take something from one place to another.
- 運び出す (hakobidasu) - Start transporting something outside.
- 運び込む (hakobikomu) - Transport something inside.
- 運び入れる (hakobiireru) - Take something inside; similar to 運び込む.
- 運び出し (hakobidashi) - The act of carrying something outside.
- 運び込み (hakobikomi) - The act of bringing something inside.
- 運び入り (hakobiri) - The act of bringing something inside, a concept similar to 運び入れる.
- 運び出せる (hakobidaseru) - Ability to carry something outside.
- 運び込める (hakobikomeru) - Capacity to transport something inside.
- 運び入れられる (hakobiirerareru) - Capacity to be taken in.
- 運び出しやすい (hakobidashi yasui) - Easy to transport outside.
- 運び込みやすい (hakobikomi yasui) - Easy to transport indoors.
- 運び入りやすい (hakobiri yasui) - Easy to take inside.
Words related
How to Write in Japanese - (使う) tsukau
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese (使う) tsukau:
Example Sentences - (使う) tsukau
Below are some example sentences:
Kompasu wo tsukatte en wo egakimashita
I drew a circle using a measure.
I drew a circle using a compass.
- コンパス - compass (in Japanese)
- を - direct object particle
- 使って - using (verb form of 使う - tsukau)
- 円 - circle
- を - direct object particle
- 描きました - I drew (verb form of 描く - to draw) egaku)
Sutorō o tsukatte nomimono o nomimasu
I drink my drink using a straw.
Drink a drink using a straw.
- ストロー (sutoroo) - "canudo" means "straw" in Japanese.
- を (wo) - direct object particle in Japanese
- 使って (tsukatte) - verbal form of the verb "usar" in Japanese, which indicates the action of using something
- 飲み物 (nomimono) - means "drink" in Japanese
- を (wo) - direct object particle in Japanese
- 飲みます (nomimasu) - verb form of the verb "beber" in Japanese, which indicates the action of drinking something
Sutorobo wo tsukatte shashin wo torimashita
I took a photo using the flash.
I took a photo using a stroboscope.
- ストロボ (sutorobo) - flash
- を (wo) - partícula que indica o objeto do verbo
- 使って (tsukatte) - using
- 写真 (shashin) - photography
- を (wo) - partícula que indica o objeto do verbo
- 撮りました (torimashita) - tirou (uma fotografia)
Paipu wo tsukatte mizu wo nagashimashou
Let's use a pipe to drain the water.
Let's use a pipe to wash the water.
- パイプ - pipe
- を - direct object particle
- 使って - using
- 水 - Water
- を - direct object particle
- 流しましょう - let's drain / let the water run
Firumu wo tsukatte eiga wo torimashita
I shot a movie using film.
I shot a movie using a film.
- フィルム (firumu) - movie
- を (wo) - direct object particle
- 使って (tsukatte) - using
- 映画 (eiga) - movie
- を (wo) - direct object particle
- 撮りました (torimashita) - He filmed
Furii de tsukaeru sofutowea ga aru
- フリー (furii) - means "free" or "free" in Japanese
- で (de) - a particle that indicates the medium or place where something happens
- 使える (tsukaeru) - a verb meaning "to use" or "to be usable"
- ソフトウェア (sofutowea) - the Japanese word for "software"
- が (ga) - a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
- ある (aru) - a verb meaning "to exist" or "to have"
Chiritori wo tsukatte heya wo souji shimashita
I cleaned the room using a vacuum cleaner.
I cleaned the room using dust removal.
- 塵取り - tool for cleaning dust
- を - direct object particle
- 使って - using
- 部屋 - quarto, living room, room
- を - direct object particle
- 掃除 - cleaning
- しました - verb "to do" conjugated in the past
Kare wa ranbou na kotoba o tsukatta
He used rude words.
He used violent words.
- 彼 - He
- は - (topic particle)
- 乱暴 - rude, violent
- な - (adjectival particle)
- 言葉 - words
- を - (direct object particle)
- 使った - used (past tense of the verb 使う)
Kare wa watashi o kudasu yōna kotoba o tsukatta
He used words that belittled me.
He used words that degraded me.
- 彼 - Japanese pronoun meaning "he"
- は - Japanese particle that marks the topic of the sentence
- 私 - Japanese pronoun that means "I"
- を - Japanese particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
- 貶す - Japanese verb that means "to downgrade", "to denigrate"
- ような - Japanese particle that indicates similarity or comparison
- 言葉 - Japanese noun that means "word"
- を - Japanese particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
- 使った - Japanese past tense verb meaning "used"
techikai ni aru mono wo tsukatte kudasai
Use the hand-held one.
- 手近にある - next, close at hand
- もの - thing, object
- を - particle that indicates the object of the action
- 使ってください - please, use
Other words of the same type: verb
See other words from our dictionary that are also: verb
