用
With (Instrument)
Use 用 (jung6) before a main verb to show 'how' or 'with what tool' an action is performed: Subject + 用 + Instrument + Main Verb.
How It Works
The coverb 用 (jung6) expresses the instrument, tool, material, language, body part, or abstract resource used to perform a main action.
1. Basic Sentence Structure:
In Cantonese, coverbal phrases marking instruments precede the main action:
[Subject] + 用 (jung6) + [Tool/Resource] + [Main Verb Phrase]
2. Broad Applicability:
用 is not limited to physical objects. It can be used with:
- Physical tools: 筆 (bat1, pen), 筷子 (faai3 zi2, chopsticks)
- Languages: 廣東話 (gwong2 dung1 waa2, Cantonese), 英文 (jing1 man4, English)
- Body parts: 手 (sau2, hand), 眼 (ngaan5, eye)
- Abstract resources: 錢 (cin2, money), 力 (lik6, strength)
3. Purpose Construction with 用...嚟...:
When paired with 嚟 (lei4), the structure shifts focus explicitly to purpose ('use X to do Y'):
我用呢把剪刀嚟剪紙 (ngo5 jung6 ni1 baa2 zin2 dou1 lei4 zin2 zi2 - 'I use these scissors to cut paper').
4. Common Pitfall — Pre-verbal Placement:
English speakers often place instrumental phrases at the end of the sentence (e.g., 'I write with a pen'). In Cantonese, placing 用 after the verb sounds wrong. Place 用 + [Instrument] directly before the main action verb.
Examples (4)
- 佢用筷子食飯。
He eats rice with chopsticks.
Word by Word: He use chopsticks eat rice.
Shows the standard pre-verbal structure for a concrete physical utensil.
- 你可唔可以用廣東話講多一次？
Can you say that once more in Cantonese?
Word by Word: You can not can use Cantonese speak more one time?
Demonstrates using 用 with a language.
- 你唔可以成日用錢解決問題。
You can't always solve problems with money.
Word by Word: You not can all day use money solve problem.
Demonstrates using 用 with an abstract resource like money.
- 我用呢把剪刀嚟剪紙。
I use these scissors to cut paper.
Word by Word: I use this classifier scissors come cut paper.
Demonstrates the purposive pattern 用...嚟... ('use X to do Y').
Common Mistakes
Placing the instrumental phrase after the main verb (English word-order transfer).
我寫呢封信用筆。我用筆寫呢封信。English places 'with a pen' at the end of the sentence, but Cantonese strictly requires the instrumental coverb phrase (用筆) to precede the main verb (寫).
Using 同 (tung4) instead of 用 (jung6) for tools.
佢同匙羹食湯。佢用匙羹食湯。In English, 'with' covers both accompaniment ('with a friend') and tools ('with a spoon'). In Cantonese, use 同 (tung4) for people and 用 (jung6) for instruments.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The pattern '用' functions as a coverb to indicate the instrument or tool used to perform an action. To use it correctly, learners need to understand basic Cantonese word order, as the '用 + [instrument]' phrase precedes the main verb, and they should be familiar with how to identify and count objects using classifiers.
- Word Order Basics
Understanding the basic Subject-Verb-Object structure is essential because '用' (with/using) is placed before the main verb in a serial verb construction.
Foundations - Classifier Basics
Using '用' to mark an instrument often involves specifying a noun (the tool), which requires knowledge of how to use classifiers with objects.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- 用...嚟...Use X to Do Y
Extends 用 to explicitly highlight purpose ('use X in order to do Y').
Level 3 - 同With (Accompaniment)
Used for accompaniment ('with someone') or beneficiaries, whereas 用 is strictly for tools and instruments.
Level 1 - 攞...嚟...Take X and Use It
Emphasizes the physical action of picking up or fetching an item before using it.
Level 3 - 靠Rely On/by Means of
Means 'to rely on' or 'by means of', often used for broader abstract methods or support.
Level 3 - Stringing verbs together
The underlying grammatical structure where multiple verb phrases appear in sequence.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice 用 in Bubblegum
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