施用 (shī yòng) — to use, to apply, to employ

Definition

施用 means to apply or put something to use (a fertilizer, pesticide, method). It is more formal than the everyday verb 用, and focuses on deploying a substance or technique in a specific context.

verb
to useto applyto employ

Examples

  • 施用。
    Zhè zhǒng féi liào shī yòng hòu zuò wù cháng dé hěn hǎo.
    After applying this fertilizer, the crops grow very well.
  • 施用。
    Yī shēng jué dìng shī yòng yì zhǒng xīn de zhì liáo fāng fǎ.
    The doctor decided to use a new treatment method.
  • 施用。
    Hé lǐ shī yòng nóng yào kě yǐ jiǎn shǎo duì huán jìng de wū rǎn.
    Rational application of pesticides can reduce environmental pollution.

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.

施shīapply
用yònguse

施 means to apply, and 用 means to use, so the two actions combine to express putting something into service.

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
㫃㫃㫃
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě施shī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

施 pairs 㫃, the part connected to its meaning, with 也, the part giving its sound.

Open 施 →

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.

Open 用 →

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