Tsukau is the Japanese verb for ‘to use’, explained

What does “tsukau” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “tsukau” to mean ‘to use’ in Japanese. Very simple, I think. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb and its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “tsukau” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “tsukau”
  • Example #1: how to say “use” in Japanese
• Nai form of “tsukau”
  • Example #2: how to say “doesn’t use” in Japanese
• Volitional form of “tsukau”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s use” in Japanese
• Masu form of “tsukau”
  • Example #4: how to say “use” politely in Japanese
• Ta form of “tsukau”
  • Example #5: how to say “used” in Japanese
• Te form of “tsukau”
  • Example #6: how to use “tsukau” before an auxiliary verb
• Ba form of “tsukau”
  • Example #7: how to say “if use” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “tsukau”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “tsukau”.

• tsukau – 使う (つかう) : a verb meaning ‘to use’ in Japanese.

Japanese people use this verb to mean ‘to use’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the usage of this verb is very similar to that of “use” in English. In reality, however, it cannot follow the object word directly. So, we need to use a proper particle before it. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “use” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make the subject word in the sentence.
• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency, meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
• denwa – 電話 (でんわ) : a noun meaning ‘phone’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “denwa” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “tsukau”. In this example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object word. The verb itself is very important, but the particle working together with it is important as well. Japanese learners should know that “tsukau” needs to go with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “tsukau” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations which Japanese people often use. The first one is “tsukawanai”.

Nai form of “tsukau”

Below are the definition and meaning of “tsukawanai”.

• tsukawanai – 使わない (つかわない) : the nai form of “tsukau”, meaning ‘not to use’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tsukawanai” consists of the following two parts:

• tsukawa – 使わ (つかわ) : one conjugation of “tsukau”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tsukawanai” is literally the nai form of “tsukau” and means ‘not to use’ in Japanese. Next, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “doesn’t use” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• haha – 母 (はは) : a noun meaning ‘mother’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tsukawanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to use’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good choice.

Volitional form of “tsukau”

Next, let me explain the definition and meaning of “tsukaou”.

• tsukaou – 使おう (つかおう) : the volitional form of “tsukau”, expressing volition to use.

Grammatically, “tsukaou” consists of the following two parts:

• tsukao – 使お (つかお) : one conjugation of “tsukau”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tsukaou” is literally the volitional form of “tsukau” and expresses the will of using. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s use” in Japanese

This is a typical usage of “tsukaou”. In this example, it works to make a suggestion. When we want to say “let’s use” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Masu form of “tsukau”

Next, let me explain the definition and meaning of “tsukaimasu”.

• tsukaimasu – 使います (つかいます) : the masu form of “tsukau”, which means ‘to use’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tsukaimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• tsukai – 使い (つかい) : one conjugation of “tsukau”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tsukaimasu” is literally the masu form of “tsukau” and means ‘to use’ politely in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “use” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• yoku – よく : an adverb of frequency, meaning ‘often’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tsukaimasu”. When we want to say “use” politely in Japanese, this masu form is very useful.

Ta form of “tsukau”

Next, let me explain the ta form of “tsukau”.

• tsukatta – 使った (つかった) : the ta form of “tsukau”, meaning ‘used’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tsukatta” consists of the following two parts:

• tsukat – 使っ (つかっ) : one conjugation of “tsukau”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tsukatta” is literally the ta form of “tsukau”. In Japanese, ta forms of words can work as their past tense forms. So, we can use “tsukatta” to say “used” in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “used” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tsukatta”. When we want to say “used” in Japanese, this ta form is very useful.

Te form of “tsukau”

Next, let me explain the te form of “tsukau”.

• tsukatte – 使って (つかって) : the te form of “tsukau”, meaning ‘to use’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tsukatte” consists of the following two parts:

• tsukat – 使っ (つかっ) : one conjugation of “tsukau”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tsukatte” is literally the te form of “tsukau”. In Japanese, te forms of words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tsukatte” is very useful when we want to use “tsukau” before another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb with a smooth connection. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to use “tsukau” before an auxiliary verb

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this works before “denwa” to say “this phone” in Japanese.
• kudasai – ください : a command form of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ in Japanese. When this follows a te-formed verb, however, it can work as an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “tsukatte”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with the auxiliary verb, “kudasai”. When we want to use “tsukau” before another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb with a smooth connection, its te form is very useful.

Ba form of “tsukau”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “tsukaeba”.

• tsukaeba – 使えば (つかえば) : the ba form of “tsukau”, working to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘to use’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tsukaeba” consists of the following two parts:

• tsukae – 使え (つかえ) : one conjugation of “tsukau”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tsukaeba” is literally the ba form of “tsukau”. In Japanese, ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tsukaeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘to use’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if use” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, this works after “kare” to indicate the direction of the action described by the verb, “tsunagaru”.
• tsunagaru – 繋がる (つながる) : a verb meaning ‘to get hold’, ‘to get connected’, ‘to get linked’, or such.

This is a typical usage of “tsukaeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kono denwa wo tsukaeba”, which means ‘if you use this phone’. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘to use’, this ba forms is very useful.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “tsukau” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• tsukau – 使う (つかう) : a verb meaning ‘to use’ in Japanese. This verb needs to work together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object.
• tsukawanai – 使わない (つかわない) : the nai form of “tsukau”, meaning ‘not to use’ in Japanese.
• tsukaou – 使おう (つかおう) : the volitional form of “tsukau”, expressing volition to use. This is often translated into English as “let’s use”.
• tsukaimasu – 使います (つかいます) : the masu form of “tsukau”, which means ‘to use’ politely in Japanese.
• tsukatta – 使った (つかった) : the ta form of “tsukau”, meaning ‘used’ in Japanese. This is the past tense form.
• tsukatte – 使って (つかって) : the te form of “tsukau”, meaning ‘to use’ in Japanese. When we want to use “tsukau” before another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb with a smooth connection, this te form is useful.
• tsukaeba – 使えば (つかえば) : the ba form of “tsukau”, working to make a conditional clause in a sentence with the meaning of ‘to use’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.