功用 (gōng yòng) — function; use | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

functionuse

Easily confused

公用gōng yòngsound-alikefor public use, communal, shared

Examples

功用。
Zhè zhǒng yào wù de zhǔ yào gōng yòng shì zhǐ tòng.
The main function of this medicine is to relieve pain.
功用。
Zhì néng shǒu jī de gōng yòng yuè lái yuè duō le.
Smartphones have more and more uses.
功用？
Nǐ néng gào sù wǒ zhè ge gōng jù de gōng yòng ma?
Can you tell me the use of this tool?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

功gōngfunction

功 'function' and 用 'use' combine for practical function.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

工力功

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng功gōng

Same sound today

功 puts 力 (strength) beside 工, which gives the sound gōng and means labour or work.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

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