使う

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. このコンピューターを使ってもいいですか。▶ —
   May I use this computer?
2. 日本語を使って話してください。▶ —
   Please speak using Japanese.

Collocations

Mnemonic

つかう — 使う, Yamato. A godan -u verb. Its reach is very wide ── to use a tool, to use a language, to spend time, to spend money, to use one's head. It maps exactly onto Korean 'sseuda / sayonghada' ── the breadth of one verb covering tools through to the mind is shared by both languages. The noun form 使い方 tsukaikata (the way of using = instructions) is a staple of manuals and recipes. In the onyomi し shi ── 使用 shiyou (use), 大使 taishi (ambassador = 'one sent on a great mission'). The kanji 使 pictures a person (人) entrusted with a task and put to work ── 'to use' and 'envoy / errand' grow from one root. The Korean reading sa is sister to the onyomi し.

Quick check

1. "May I use it?" — natural permission pattern?

   • 使ってもいいですか (correct, te-form + もいい)
   • 使うても (wrong, no te-form)
   • 使いますも (wrong)
   • 使ってください (= "please use", not permission)