常用 (cháng yòng) — commonly used; in common use | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

常用 describes things that are in regular, frequent use — like tools, words, or methods. Pairs with 常见 (commonly seen); 常用 focuses on being used often, 常见 on being encountered often.

phrase

commonly usedin common use

Examples

常用。
Zhè běn cháng yòng de shū shì zhōng wén kè de.
This commonly used book is for Chinese class.
常用。
Tā de shǒu jī lǐ yǒu hěn duō cháng yòng de ruǎn jiàn.
There are many commonly used apps on his phone.
常用。
Zhè xiē dōu shì měi tiān cháng yòng de jù zi.
These are all sentences that are commonly used every day.

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.

The first element 常 means often and the second 用 means use; together they mean in common 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

巾巾jīncloth

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng常cháng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

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

HSK 3.0 Level 3 Frequency & Duration

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