yòng
use
Original meaning:
bucket
Depicts a bucket with a handle on the right side. Based on the original meaning "bucket". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "use".
Evolution
![用 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC) 用 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%94%A8_0.png)
Oracle script
(~1250-1000 BC)![用 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC) 用 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%94%A8_3.png)
Bronze script
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)![用 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD) 用 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%94%A8_10.png)
Seal script
Shuowen (~100 AD)![用 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD) 用 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)](https://data.dong-chinese.com/img/sinica/%E7%94%A8_17.png)
Clerical script
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)Regular script
ModernDefinitions
yòng
use, employ, apply, operate; use; to use; to employ; to have to; to eat or drink; expense or outlay; usefulness; hence; therefore
Component uses
Historical pronunciation
Old Chinese | Middle Chinese | Pinyin | Gloss |
*loŋ-s | yowngH | yòng | use (v.) |
Statistics
HSK level 1
Appears in 99.6636% of movies
99th most common character in movies
51st most common character in books
Miscellaneous
Strokes | 5 |
Unicode | U+7528 |
Shuowen | “用,可施行也。从卜,从中。衛宏說。,古文用。” |
Sources
季旭昇《說文新證》p.253-254
林志強《《文源》評注》p.367
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