Meaning
用光 means to completely use something until nothing remains. It's a resultative compound verb where 用 (to use) combines with 光 (empty/bare) to indicate the action of using has reached completion—everything is gone. This is commonly applied to consumable resources like money, supplies, energy, or time.
Usage
Native speakers use 用光 in everyday conversation when describing depleting resources. It's neutral in register and works for both serious contexts (running out of savings) and casual ones (using up all the hot water). Often appears with perfective aspect marker 了 to emphasize completion: 用光了.
Examples
- 01我把这个月的生活费都用光了。.I've used up all of this month's living expenses.
- 02手机电池快用光了，我得充电。, .My phone battery is almost dead, I need to charge it.
Characters
Common collocations
- 用光钱to run out of money
- 把...用光...to use up all of...
- 快用光了almost used up
- 用光力气to use up all one's strength
Antonyms
Origin
The character 光 originally meant 'light' but developed an extended meaning of 'bare' or 'empty' (as in completely exposed to light). In resultative compounds, 光 indicates thorough completion, as in 吃光 (eat up completely) or 花光 (spend completely).