<p>施用 = use; apply; implement (usually to a target)</p>

<p>使用 = use; operate (with or without target)</p>

<ul>
<li>When someone "施用武力" or "施用毒氣"，  there are always specific targets the action is applied to </li>
</ul>

<p>Example: 對示威者施用武力; 對村民施用毒氣 use force against demonstrators; use gas on the villagers (<em>you can replace 施用 with 使用 in these two examples</em>) </p>

<ul>
<li>When someone "使用工具" or "使用武器" there may or may not be a specific target the action is apply to.</li>
</ul>

<p>Example: 祇有小數動物會使用工具/武器 Only a few kinds of animal know how to use tools/weapons ( <em>you cannot replace 使用 with 施用 in this example because there is no specific target the action is apply to</em>)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-18T04:49:19.977Z
2018-04-18T04:59:31.517Z
2018-04-18T04:59:31.517Z
Tang Ho
<p>In my on-going quest to understand the difference between initially indentical-looking words, I hereby bring you: 使用 vs. 施用! Both seem to mean 'to apply something' and it appears to be acceptable to both 使用化肥 and 施用化肥. 
Maybe I have hit a genuine synonym this time?! If history is anything to go by, probably not, but it's a fun game, eh? :-)
Hashamyim</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-17T16:46:27.757Z
If you found that 施用化肥 example from Pleco, you can see that 施用 also means 'execution (of an action); 施行', so they're interchangeable but not *fully* interchangeable.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-17T20:51:08.030Z
bkrs **使用**  [use] 使人或物为某种目的服务
使用打字机很熟练  make use of; use; employ; apply; wear:
禁止使用 forbid the use of
使用不当 unwise use of
介词的正确使用 the correct use of prepositions
使用火力 employ fire
使用极便 utmost in convenience
留待将来使用 for future use  **#560**  同义: 应用, 利用, 采用, 施用
**施用** [use] 使用; 采用
施用一种新的操作法 use; employ; apply:
施用化肥 apply fertilizer
这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。 This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. **#30622**
user6065
<word-choice>
Are 使用 and 施用 interchangable?
# Are 使用 and 施用 interchangable?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-17)

In my on-going quest to understand the difference between initially indentical-looking words, I hereby bring you: 使用 vs. 施用! Both seem to mean 'to apply something' and it appears to be acceptable to both 使用化肥 and 施用化肥.
Maybe I have hit a genuine synonym this time?! If history is anything to go by, probably not, but it's a fun game, eh? :-)
username_0

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you found that 施用化肥 example from Pleco, you can see that 施用 also means 'execution (of an action); 施行', so they're interchangeable but not *fully* interchangeable.  
> **username_2**: bkrs **使用**  [use] 使人或物为某种目的服务 使用打字机很熟练  make use of; use; employ; apply; wear: 禁止使用 forbid the use of 使用不当 unwise use of 介词的正确使用 the correct use of prepositions 使用火力 employ fire 使用极便 utmost in convenience 留待将来使用 for future use  **#560**  同义: 应用, 利用, 采用, 施用 **施用** [use] 使用; 采用 施用一种新的操作法 use; employ; apply: 施用化肥 apply fertilizer 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。 This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. **#30622**  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-04-18. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

施用 = use; apply; implement (usually to a target)

使用 = use; operate (with or without target)

* When someone "施用武力" or "施用毒氣"， there are always specific targets the action is applied to

Example: 對示威者施用武力; 對村民施用毒氣 use force against demonstrators; use gas on the villagers (*you can replace 施用 with 使用 in these two examples*)

* When someone "使用工具" or "使用武器" there may or may not be a specific target the action is apply to.

Example: 祇有小數動物會使用工具/武器 Only a few kinds of animal know how to use tools/weapons ( *you cannot replace 使用 with 施用 in this example because there is no specific target the action is apply to*)


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