Helping Verbs (Prepositions in English) Yòng - Cchatty

Helping Verbs (Prepositions in English)

Yòng 用 by itself is a verb meaning “to use.” But as a helping verb, yòng 用 has the idea of “using. . . . ” It can be translated as “with” in the sense of “using something.”

Chinese people eat with chopsticks.
Zhōngguó rén yòng kuàizi chīfàn.
中国人用筷子吃饭。

The teacher wrote the characters with a brush.
Lǎoshī yòng máobǐ xiě le nàxie zì.
老师用毛笔写了那些字。

BUT, yòng 用 can also be used to mean “in” when it has to do with speaking “in” (using) a certain language or paying “in” a certain currency:

She told him in Chinese.
Tā yòng Hànyǔ gàosu tā.
她用汉语告诉他。

He paid in RMB.
Tā yòng rénmínbì fù le qián.
他用人民币付了钱。