shǐ yòng
use
我使用电脑来工作。
wǒ shǐyòng diànnǎo lái gōngzuò.
I use a computer to work.
她使用手机来打电话。
tā shǐyòng shǒujī lái dǎ diànhuà.
She uses a mobile phone to make phone calls.
他们使用汽车来旅行。
tāmen shǐyòng qìchē lái lǚxíng.
They use a car to travel.
不用 (bùyòng)
not use
停用 (tíngyòng)
stop using
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The Chinese word 使用 (shǐyòng) means "to use" or "to employ". It is composed of two characters: 使 (shǐ), which means "to cause" or "to make", and 用 (yòng), which means "to use" or "to employ". The original meaning of 使用 was "to cause to use", but over time it has come to mean simply "to use".The character 使 (shǐ) is derived from the oracle bone script, which is the earliest known form of Chinese writing. In the oracle bone script, 使 is depicted as a hand holding a stick. This suggests that the original meaning of 使 was "to cause to do something" or "to command".The character 用 (yòng) is also derived from the oracle bone script. In the oracle bone script, 用 is depicted as a person holding a tool. This suggests that the original meaning of 用 was "to use a tool" or "to employ".The combination of 使 (shǐ) and 用 (yòng) creates the word 使用 (shǐyòng), which means "to use" or "to employ". This word is used in a wide variety of contexts, both formal and informal. For example, it can be used to talk about using a tool, using a computer, or using a language.
