利用する vs. 使う
 

Hi, could someone kindly explain to me the difference between 利用する and 使う?

I'm sorry to hijack the thread but I don't feel qualified enough to answer this, but I have a related question I want to ask. I've been wondering a bit recently what the difference between 使用 and 利用 is. I haven't looked it up yet, so I apologize if the difference is obvious. My main dictionary shows them both as 'use' and I just haven't looked up example sentences yet.

Is all good duo797, no need to be sorry, we are all here to learn. :)

Anyway, I had also looked into the dictionary and both verbs stand for "use", but my guess is that "使う" is more use for something like using a chopstick (to eat), pen (to write), towel (to wipe), etc. While "利用する" is for something like "make good use of the money", "use someone for personal interest", "use a cellphone to call someone". But I could be wrong, just my guess.

Are you, like, serious? I have personally explained this to you a couple of times with other word pairs. The better pair to ask this question with, however, would have been 使用する and 使う because 利用する has an extra meaning added to 使用する/使う.

When you have two words for which your dictionary gives you just about the same definitions, here is what you need to remember.

1. Read them aloud and decide which one is originally Japanese. The other one was borrowed from Chinese. Hint: Kun vs. On

2. The kun-reading word is originally Japanese and vice versa.

3. The on-reading Chinese word will be "just higher", more formal, more technical, more academic, etc. In our Japanese mind, there is a huge neon sign that keeps reminding us that "Great China > Little Japan".

Voila. Just think of "use" and "utilize" in English and where they originate from, and then how those two verbs are used by English-speakers. Same thing in Japanese.

The thing is, I haven't came across 使用する yet. So naturally I will ask regarding 使う vs. 利用する. And like you said, 利用する comes with more meanings and that is why I ask what is the difference between 使う vs. 利用する since the textbook only stated that it means "use".

I believe the added meaning masaegu-san is referring to is similar to the one you already mentioned.

利用する　"make use of" or in some sense "take advantage of"
While it still has the plain old "use" meaning, 利用する can also be used in the sense of making use of what is available, taking advantage of a chance/opportunity/resource/etc, or using people for gain.

Thanks halfthishalfthat. :)