ChiramiN4 kanji · 8 strokes
使 means use, send
使
亻 person · 吏 an official
使Memory trick
A person sent as an official (吏): to use, to send.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- use, send on a mission, order, messenger
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 8
- School grade
- Grade 3 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) つかう tsukau
つかう (tsukau) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: つかい tsukai
From Chinese (onyomi) シ shi
シ (shi) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
使う つかう · tsukau
to use, to make use of
Built from
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Quick check
What does 使 mean?
Right: 使 means use, send.Not quite: 使 means use, send.In 使う, which reading does 使 use?
Right. 使う is read つかう (tsukau): 使 takes つか, its Japanese reading, with う after it.Not quite. 使う is read つかう (tsukau): 使 takes つか, its Japanese reading, with う after it.