Meaning of 用来
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to be used for
How to use 用来
用来 usually follows the thing being used and comes before the purpose, as in "A 用来 do B". It is common when explaining what an object or tool is for. Example: 这把刀用来切菜。(Zhè bǎ dāo yònglái qiē cài.) This knife is used for cutting vegetables.
用 (yòng) means to use, and 来 (lái) here works like "in order to". Put them together and you get "use something to do something": 用来 is what a thing is used for.
Common mistake: Learners often read 来 in 用来 as "come" and try to use it like 回来 (huílái) or 进来 (jìnlái), which are direction words. In 用来, 来 has no sense of movement. It only links the tool to its purpose.
用来 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
用 yòng · to use · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
来 lái · to come · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 用来.
| 回来 | huílái | to return; to come back |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to stand up; to get up; also pr. [qi3lai2] |
| 出来 | chūlái | to come out; to appear |
| 不用 | bùyòng | need not |
| 进来 | jìnlái | to come in |
| 来到 | láidào | to arrive; to come |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over; to manage |
| 带来 | dàilái | to bring; (fig.) to bring about; to produce |
| 来自 | láizì | to come from (a place); From: (in email header) |
| 使用 | shǐyòng | to use; to employ |
| 原来 | yuánlái | original; former; originally; formerly; at first |
Questions about 用来
What does 用来 mean?
用来 (yònglái) means "to be used for".
How do you write 用来?
用来 is made of 2 characters: 用 (5 strokes), 来 (7 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 用来 an HSK word?
Yes. 用来 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 用来 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 用来 is written 用來.
What is the difference between 用 and 用来?
用 alone means "to use" and takes an object, as in 用筷子 (yòng kuàizi), to use chopsticks. 用来 points to a purpose and is followed by a verb phrase, as in 筷子用来吃饭 (kuàizi yònglái chī fàn), chopsticks are used for eating.
Can I say 用来做什么 to ask what something is for?
Yes. 这个用来做什么？(Zhège yònglái zuò shénme?) means "What is this used for?" It is a natural everyday question.