利用

• Pinyin: lì yòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 利 = 禾 (grain) + 刂 (knife), meaning sharp or profitable — cutting grain efficiently; 用 = a pictograph of a fence or container, meaning to use

Meaning

To use; to utilise; to take advantage of. Implies making practical use of something available.

More purposeful than 用 (use). 利用 implies making strategic or efficient use of resources, time, opportunities, or conditions. Can also carry a negative nuance meaning to exploit someone — 利用别人 means to use someone for one's own benefit. Context determines whether the nuance is positive (resourceful) or negative (exploitative).

Examples

1. 我们应该利用好每一分钟。 We should make good use of every single minute.
2. 他利用周末的时间学了做菜。 He used his weekends to learn cooking.
3. 这个方法可以利用太阳能发电。 This method can utilise solar energy to generate electricity.

Usage Guide

Context: efficiency, strategy, resources

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 要好好利用这次机会。(Make good use of this opportunity.)
• 她善于利用自己的优势。(She's good at leveraging her strengths.)

Don't Say

• 我利用了筷子吃饭。(Don't use 利用 for routine tool usage — that's just 用. Say 我用筷子吃饭. 利用 implies strategic or special use.)

Origin & History

利 means benefit or sharp; 用 means to use. Together: to use something for benefit — to make beneficial use of something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal