Definition
中用 means 'useful' or 'up to standard', but it is most commonly used in the negative form 不中用 (bú zhōngyòng), meaning 'useless' or 'incompetent'. In affirmative sentences it sounds somewhat old-fashioned or dialectal; modern Mandarin speakers usually prefer 有用. The 中 here is pronounced zhōng (first tone), not zhòng.
v.p.
usefulof use (often used in the negative)
Examples
- 中用，。Zhège gōngjù hěn zhōng, xiū chē hěn fāngbiàn.This tool is very useful; it's convenient for repairing cars.
- ，中用。Tā niánjì dà le, yuèláiyuè bú zhōng le.He's getting old and more and more useless.
- ，中用。Bié mǎi zhège, yìdiǎnr yě bú zhōng.Don't buy this; it's not useful at all.
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