Both 使う and 用いる can mean “use”, but they differ in register and range.

The idea

使う is the ordinary everyday verb for using a tool, time or materials. 用いる often sounds more written or formal and can describe a method selected for a purpose. Both commonly mark the thing used with を; both can describe the same tool or method.

Patterns to compare
FormExample
使つかいます箸はしを使つかいます
用もちいます方法ほうほうを用もちいます
使つかいます頭あたまを使つかいます

Examples

  • 私わたしは箸はしを使つかいます。I use chopsticks.
  • 授業じゅぎょうで辞書じしょを使つかいます。I use a dictionary in class.
  • この説明せつめいでは簡単かんたんな言葉ことばを用もちいます。In this explanation, we use simple words.
  • 実験じっけんには水みずを用もちいます。We use water for the experiment.
  • 時間じかんを大切たいせつに使つかいます。I use my time carefully.
  • この料理りょうりに卵たまごを使つかいます。I use eggs in this dish.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The distinction is a tendency, not an absolute rule: 使う also appears in writing. Fixed expressions have their own patterns: 頭を使う means to think hard, and 頭を用いる is not the ordinary phrase.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the more everyday wording for using a pen. ペンを＿＿。（使つかいます／用もちいます）

    Show answer or example answer

    使います

    使います is the natural everyday choice for using a pen; 用います is possible but more formal.

  2. Choose the more written-sounding wording for using this method. この方法ほうほうを＿＿。（用もちいます／使つかいます）

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    用います

    用います suits the requested written register; 使います is also grammatical.

  3. Complete the usual expression meaning “think hard”. 頭あたまを＿＿。（使つかいます／用もちいます）

    Show answer or example answer

    使います

    頭を使います is the established expression for using one’s head.

Use it today

Describe a tool you use every day, then describe a method in a more formal explanation.