误用 (wù yòng) — to misuse, to use incorrectly

Definition

误用 (wù yòng) is a formal verb meaning to use something the wrong way — a tool, word, power, or medicine. Often passive ('被误用') when the misuse happens to you rather than by you. Stronger and more written than simply '用错'.

verb
to misuseto use incorrectly

Examples

  • 误用。
    Zhè ge chéng yǔ jīng cháng bèi wù yòng.
    This idiom is often misused.
  • 误用。
    Bú yào wù yòng nǐ de quán lì.
    Don't misuse your power.
  • 误用。
    wù yòng Yào wù kě néng huì zào chéng yán zhòng hòu guǒ.
    Misusing medication can have serious consequences.

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.

误wùwrongly
用yònguse

误 (wrongly) and 用 (use) combine to mean use incorrectly.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 誤; 误 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
吳
吳wú誤wù
Same sound today

The traditional form 誤 uses 言 (speech) for meaning and 吳 for sound, giving the idea of speaking an error; the simplified 误 is a later shorthand.

Open 误 →

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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