他用 (tā yòng) — (noun) other use, another purpose | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

他用 (tā yòng) is a formal/written noun meaning 'other use / another purpose', typically paired with 另作他用 or 移作他用 (diverted to other uses). The 他 here is not 'he/him' — it is a classical pronoun meaning 'other'.

noun

other useanother purpose

Examples

他用。
Zhè ge shè bèi mù qián méi yǒu qí tā tā yòng.
This equipment currently has no other uses.
他用。
Nà jiān fáng zi kě yǐ lìng zuò tā yòng.
That room can be put to other uses.
他用。
Zhè bǐ jīng fèi bù dé yí wèi tā yòng.
This funding must not be diverted to other uses.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

他 gives other and 用 gives use, giving another use.

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.

亻也他

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénman

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě他tā

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

他 combines 亻 (a person) with 也, which was chosen for its sound.

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.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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