• to use, to employ;

It signifies the act of using or applying something.

Etymology

According to the Shuowen Jiezi (説文解字 shuōwén jiězì), the character 用 (yòng, "to use") is composed of 卜 (divination/fortune-telling) and 中 (to hit or be correct). It originally represented the idea that when a divination result was correct (a hit), one could proceed with a task or action.

Besides this, there are various other theories about its origin, such as it symbolizing a wooden fence surrounding a prison or house, or the image of arrows placed in a container.

sseul
yong
Kangxi radical:101
Strokes:5
Unicode:U+7528
Cangjie input:
  • 月手 (BQ)
Composition:
  • ⿵ ⺆ 𰀁
  • ⿻ 丨 月
Writing order
用 Writing order

Neighboring radicals in the dictionary

References