音読み: ヨウ
訓読み: もちいる
画数: 5
部首: もちいる（用）
Meaning
Use / Usage / Purpose
- Basic forms
- 用いる — to use; to employ / base form
- 用います — (I) use; employ / masu form
- 用いた — used; employed / ta form
- 用いて — use and …; by using … / te-form
- 用いない — do not use / negative form
- 用いれば — if (you) use / conditional
- 用いろ・用いなさい — use it! / imperative
- Other common forms
- 用いたい — want to use; wish to employ / 〜たい form
- 用いられる — can be used; be employed / potential / passive
- 用いられた — was used; was employed / past passive
- 用いられない — cannot be used; is not used / negative potential/passive
- More
- 用いよう — let’s use; let’s employ / 〜よう form
- 用いなかった — did not use / past negative
- 用いている — is using; is employing / progressive
用いる（もちいる） is an ichidan (る-verb). Drop る and add endings like ます, た, て, ない. Often used in slightly formal or written contexts, similar in meaning to 使う.
- 使用 — usage
- 用事 — errand, business
- 用語 — terminology
- 用意 — preparation
- 利用 — utilization
- 作用 — action, effect
More Examples - tap to expand
- 効用 — utility, benefit
- 所用 — engagement, business
- 用件 — business, matter
- 愛用 — habitual use, favorite
- 悪用 — misuse, abuse
- 引用 — quotation, citation
- 運用 — operation, management
- 応用 — application, practical use
- 活用 — utilization, conjugation
用 represents something arranged for practical use — a tool-like “frame” or “container.” From that idea, it came to mean “to use,” and also “purpose” or “function,” which is why it appears in many compounds like 使用, 利用, 応用, and 活用.