Onyomi: シ · Kunyomi: -つか.い, -づか.い, つか.い, つか.う · Meanings: ambassador, cause, envoy, messenger, order, send on a mission, use
Kanji for ambassador, cause, envoy, messenger, order
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The kanji 使 combines the “person” radical (亻) with the character for “use” or “serve” (吏), symbolizing a person performing tasks or carrying out duties. In ancient times, it represented sending someone to perform work or a task. 使 came to mean use, make someone do, or employ, capturing action and service.
A person performing a task — 使 means to use, employ, or make someone do something.
Imagine a person carrying out a duty or using tools to get work done — that’s 使, the kanji for using and employing.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 使 | し | messenger | Noun |
| 使う | つかう | to use (a tool, method, etc.), to make use of, to put to use | common JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'u' ending, Transitive verb |
| 使用 | しよう | use, application, employment, utilization, utilisation | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 使い | つかい | errand, mission, going on an errand | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 使命 | しめい | mission, errand | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 使い道 | つかいみち | purpose, utility, objective | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 使用人 | しようにん | employee, servant | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 使い捨て | つかいすて | throwaway, disposable, single-use | common Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', Noun |
| 使徒 | しと | apostle, disciple | Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 使い方 | つかいかた | way of using (something), way to use, how to use, usage, use | common Noun |