Chinese word

用得着

Pronunciation

Pinyinyòng de zháo

Meaning

  • verbneed

Example

现在还用得着担心吗？xiàn zài hái yòng de zháo dān xīn ma

Do we still need to worry?

Illustration for 用得着 (need)

More examples

这些旧东西真的用得着吗？zhè xiē jiù dōng xī zhēn de yòng de zháo ma

Are these old things really needed?

Core concept

A judgment that something still has a practical job to do in the situation at hand.

Common phrases

  • 用得着吗yòng de zháo ma

    be needed

  • 还用得着hái yòng de zháo

    still need

  • 用得着担心yòng de zháo dān xīn

    need to worry

Similar words

需要xū yào: Need something or require it to achieve a purpose.
有必要yǒu bì yào: Show that an action or condition is necessary.

Definition in Chinese

表示在当前情况下仍有用处或有必要，常用于口语的询问或肯否判断。biǎo shì zài dāng qián qíng kuàng xià réng yǒu yòng chù huò yǒu bì yào cháng yòng yú kóu yǔ de xún wèn huò kěn fǒu pàn duàn

Word origin

用得着 (yòngdézhe, "be needed or useful") combines the idea of use with a colloquial result element that presents usefulness as something available to be reached or called on.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, this verb often frames a quick judgment about whether a need remains, so it fits short yes-or-no exchanges better than a long explanation.

Other meanings

  • be usefulverb
  • can be usedverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word