This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

使

Readings

Kana: シ、つか.う、つか.い、-つか.い、-づか.い
Romaji: shi, tsuka.u, tsuka.i, -tsuka.i, -zuka.i
Kana
Romaji

Meanings

use, send on a mission, order, messenger, envoy, ambassador, cause

Stroke Diagram

12345678

Kanji Info

Stroke Count:  8
Radical Number:  9
Frequency:  219
Grade:  3
Skip Pattern:  1-2-6
Korean Reading:  sa
Chinese Reading:  shi4
Unicode:  4f7f
JIS:  3B48

Indexes

Halpern Index: 90
Nelson Index: 432
New Nelson Index: 196
Spahn Hadamitzky Index: 2a6.2
Four Corner Index: 2520.6
Guide to Remembering Index: 287
Gakken Index: 226
Japanese Names Index: 556
Daikanwanjiten Index: 573
Daikanwanjiten Index and Page: 1.0736
Remembering the kanji Index: 990
Busy People Index: 2.3
Kanji Way Index: 239
Kanji Flashcards Index: 117
Kodansha Compact Index: 89
Read Writing Kanji Third Index: 303
Kanji in Context Index: 199
1999 Kanji Learners Index: 68
2013 Kanji Learners Index: 72
French Remembering the Kanji Index: 999
Remembering the Kanji 6th Index: 1065
Essential Kanji Index: 210
Kodansha Kanji Index: 100
Roo 2001 Kanji Index: 2166
Read Writing the Kanji Index: 224
Tuttle Kanji Cards Index: 298

Words

使 ()
messenger; police and judicial chief (Heian and Kamakura periods); klesha (polluting thoughts such as greed, hatred and delusion, which result in suffering)
使う (つかう)
to use (a thing, method, etc.); to make use of; to put to use; to use (a person, animal, puppet, etc.); to employ; to handle; to manage; to manipulate; to use (time, money, etc.); to spend; to consume; to use (language); to speak
大使 (たいし)
ambassador
使い (つかい)
errand; mission; going as envoy; messenger; bearer; errand boy; errand girl; familiar spirit; use; usage; user; trainer; tamer; charmer
行使 (こうし)
use; exercise (of one's right, authority, power, etc.)
使用 (しよう)
use; application; employment; utilization; utilisation
天使 (てんし)
angel
使える (つかえる)
to be usable; to be serviceable; to be useful
大使館 (たいしかん)
embassy
魔法使い (まほうつかい)
magician; wizard; sorcerer; witch
Find More