用来 yònglái to be used for
How to remember 用来: 用 to use (Kangxi radical 101) + 来 come = to be used for.
Characters
How it is used
- Verb pattern 'used to [do X]', followed by a verb phrase, not a bare noun.
- 这把刀是用来切菜的 (zhè bǎ dāo shì yònglái qiē cài de) - This knife is used for cutting vegetables.
- Contrast with 用于, which takes a noun and reads more formally - 用来 is the everyday, spoken-friendly choice.
- Very common in explaining the purpose of an object or action.
Example sentences
- 那种鞋子用来登山是不行的。 Nàzhǒng xiézi yònglái dēngshān shì bùxíng de.Those shoes won't do for climbing.
- 那就是那台他用来写文章的电脑。 Nà jiùshì nàtái tā yònglái xiěwénzhāng de diànnǎo.That's the computer he used to write the article.
- 这些工具是用来造房子的。 Zhèxiē gōngjù shì yònglái zào fángzi de.These tools are used for building a house.