Correct
用途 vs 用处
/ yòngtú vs yòngchu /
Strokes
Definition
用途 and 用处 both Nouns, which means “use; application; purpose”.
用途 and 用处 both mean "the scope of use", but 用途 is mostly used in literary language and applied to things only, whereas 用处 is mostly used in colloquial speech and applied to both things and human beings.
Example
When applied to things, the 用途 and 用处 are interchangeable but with different styles.
1
Mùcái
木材
de
的
yòngtú
用途
(
yòngchu
用处
)
hěn
很
guǎng
广
。
Wood is widely used.
2
Sùliào
塑料
de
的
yòngtú
用途
(
yòngchu
用处
)
shì
是
duōzhǒngduōyàng
多种多样
de
的
。
Plastic is widely used.
3
Zhèzhǒng
这种
zhíwù
植物
yǒu
有
liǎng
两
zhǒng
种
yòngtú
用途
(
yòngchu
用处
)
,
jì
既
kěyǐ
可以
zuō
作
shūcài
蔬菜
,
yòu
又
kěyǐ
可以
zuō
作
yàocái
药材
。
The plant can be used as vegetables as well as herbs.
When applied to human beings, only 用处 can be used, and it is usually simplified into 用.
有用的人 (able man) is used to praise a person who is capable and can do things useful to other people or society.
4
Tā
他
cóngxiǎo
从小
jiù
就
xiàjuéxīn
下决心
yào
要
zuò
做
yī
一
gè
个
duì
对
guójiā
国家
、
duì
对
shèhuì
社会
yǒuyòng
有用
(
yòngchu
用处
)
de
的
rén
人
。
As a child he made up his mind to be a useful man to his country.
5
Zhège
这个
rén
人
zhēn
真
méiyòng
没用
(
yòngchu
用处
)
!
Yùdào
遇到
kùnnan
困难
zǒngshì
总是
shùshǒuwúcè
束手无策
。
The man is really a good-for-nothing! He does not know what to do when in troubles.