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用不着 (yòng bu zháo) — there is no need to (do something); not need (something); have no use for

Definition

Means 'there's no need to' or 'not need' — the negative counterpart of 用得着 ('need / have use for'). One of the pair: 用得着 = it's needed, 用不着 = it's not.

verb
there is no need to (do something)not need (something)have no use for

Examples

  • 用不着。
    Zhè diǎn xiǎo shì yòng bu zháo nín qīn zì pǎo yí tàng.
    This small matter doesn't require you to come in person.
  • ，用不着。
    Tā jīng yàn fēng fù, yòng bu zháo wǒ men zhǐ dǎo.
    He's very experienced — there's no need for us to guide him.
  • 用不着，。
    Zhè xiē jiù jiā jù yǐ jīng yòng bu zháo le, rēng le ba.
    These old pieces of furniture are no longer needed; just throw them away.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

用yònguse
不着not get
不bùnot着zheget
偏正Modifier + head

用 says use, and 不着 says it does not get used, so there is no need.

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.

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

Open 用 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě著zháo
Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

Open 着 →
Appears in
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