利用 (lìyòng)

利用 means to make use of or utilize something, taking advantage of available resources, opportunities, or situations to achieve a goal.

Meanings

[verb] to use, make use of, or utilize something for a specific purpose

Example Sentences

我们应该充分利用有限的资源。 Wǒmen yīnggāi chōngfèn lìyòng yǒuxiàn de zīyuán. We should make full use of limited resources.

他利用空闲时间学习外语。 Tā lìyòng kòngxián shíjiān xuéxí wàiyǔ. He uses his free time to study foreign languages.

公司利用新技术提高了生产效率。 Gōngsī lìyòng xīn jìshù tígāo le shēngchǎn xiàolǜ. The company used new technology to improve production efficiency.

我们要善于利用互联网获取信息。 Wǒmen yào shànyú lìyòng hùliánwǎng huòqǔ xìnxī. We should be good at using the internet to obtain information.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
充分利用	make full use of
利用机会	take advantage of an opportunity
合理利用	make reasonable use of
有效利用	effectively utilize

Usage Notes

利用 can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation when a person "uses" another person for personal gain (e.g., 他利用了她 "he used her"). In neutral contexts with non-personal objects like time, resources, or technology, it simply means to make use of. Pay attention to context to determine if the meaning is neutral or negative.

Memory Hook

利 means "benefit or profit" and 用 means "to use," so 利用 is to use something to gain benefit.