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. Perhaps, many Japanese learners know this verb as it is quite often used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb with 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
• Tsukawanai : the nai form of “tsukau”
  • Example #2: how to say “doesn’t use” in Japanese
• Tsukaou: the volitional form of “tsukau”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s use” in Japanese
• Tsukaimasu: the masu form of “tsukau”
  • Example #4: how to say “use” politely in Japanese
• Tsukatta: the ta form of “tsukau”
  • Example #5: how to say “used” in Japanese
• Tsukatte: the te form of “tsukau”
  • Example #6: how to say “please use” in Japanese
• Tsukaeba: the 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.

The definition and meaning are very simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject 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. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• 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. The verb itself is very important, but the particle working together is also very important. 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”.

Tsukawanai : the 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”, which means ‘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. Then, 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.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• 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.
• musume – 娘 (むすめ) : a noun meaning ‘daughter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

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

Tsukaou: the 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”, which expresses 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 volition to use. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘our’ in Japanese.
• okane – お金 (おかね) : a noun meaning ‘money’ in Japanese.

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

Tsukaimasu: the 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.

• kareshi – 彼氏 (かれし) : a noun meaning ‘boyfriend’ in Japanese.
• tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tsukaimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “use” politely in Japanese, this masu form is very useful.

Tsukatta: the ta form of “tsukau”

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

• tsukatta – 使った (つかった) : the ta form of “tsukau”, which means ‘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 past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

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

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

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kinou – 昨日 (きのう) : a noun meaning ‘yesterday’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works at the beginning of the sentence to say “yesterday” in Japanese.
• 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.

Tsukatte: the te form of “tsukau”

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

• tsukatte – 使って (つかって) : the te form of “tsukau”, which means ‘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-formed 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” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please use” in Japanese

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 is used before “denwa” to say “this phone” in Japanese.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work as an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works as an auxiliary verb 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” in front of an auxiliary verb, its te form is very useful.

Tsukaeba: the 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”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding 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-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tsukaeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding 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.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say to whom an action is directed. In the example, this is used after “kare” to say to whom the action described by the verb, “tsunagaru”, is directed.
• 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 adding 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”, which means ‘not to use’ in Japanese.
• tsukaou – 使おう (つかおう) : the volitional form of “tsukau”, which expresses volition to use. This is useful when we want to make a suggestion.
• 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”, which means ‘used’ in Japanese. This is the past tense form.
• tsukatte – 使って (つかって) : the te form of “tsukau”, which means ‘to use’ in Japanese. When we want to use “tsukau” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb, this te form is useful.
• tsukaeba – 使えば (つかえば) : the ba form of “tsukau”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to use’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.