When learning Japanese, many learners quickly learn the verb 使う (つかう), which means “to use.” However, Japanese often uses this same verb when talking about spending money and spending time.

At first, this may feel strange because English uses different verbs for these ideas. In Japanese, the concept is simpler: you are using a resource, whether it is money, time, effort, or energy.

Let’s look at how it works!

💸 Spending Money: お金かねを使つかう

The most common way to say “spend money” in Japanese is:

お金かねを使つかう

Literally, this means “to use money.”

Examples

お金かねを使つかいました。

I spent money.

たくさんお金かねを使つかいました。

I spent a lot of money.

昨日きのうお金かねを使つかいすぎました。

I spent too much money yesterday.

💡 Notice that Japanese does not have a separate everyday verb that directly means “to spend money.” Instead, it uses 使(つか)う.

⏳ Spending Time: 時間じかんを使つかう

Japanese can also use 使(つか)う when talking about time.

時間じかんを使つかう

Literally:

• 時間じかん = time ⏰
• 使つかう = to use 🛠️

Together:

• “to use time”
• “to spend time”

Examples

宿題しゅくだいに時間じかんを使つかいました。

I spent time on homework.

日本語にほんごの勉強べんきょうにたくさん時間じかんを使つかっています。

I spend a lot of time studying Japanese.

🎯 This expression focuses on how your time is being used.

😊 Another Common Expression: 時間じかんを過すごす

When English speakers say “spend time,” Japanese often prefers another expression:

時間じかんを過すごす

過(す)ごす means:

• to spend
• to pass
• to enjoy a period of time

Examples

家族かぞくと時間じかんを過すごしました。

I spent time with my family.

友達ともだちと楽たのしい時間じかんを過すごしました。

I spent a good time with my friends.

🔍 Compared to 時間(じかん)を使(つか)う, 時間(じかん)を過(す)ごす focuses more on the experience rather than the use of time.

⚡ Spending Effort and Energy

Japanese also uses 使(つか)う for things beyond money and time.

エネルギーを使つかう

エネルギー means energy.

エネルギーをたくさん使つかいました。

I used a lot of energy.

✨ The idea is the same: you are using a resource.

🧠 The Japanese Way of Thinking

English separates these ideas:

• 💰 spend money
• ⏰ spend time
• ⚡ use energy

Japanese often groups them together with 使(つか)う.

In other words, money, time, effort, and energy are all resources that can be “used.”

This is why expressions such as:

💰 お金かねを使つかう

⏰ 時間じかんを使つかう

⚡ エネルギーを使つかう

all sound completely natural in Japanese.

Summary

✅ お金かねを使つかう

= to spend money

✅ 時間じかんを使つかう

= to spend time (focus on usage)

✅ 時間じかんを過すごす

= to spend time (focus on the experience)

✅ エネルギーを使つかう

= to use/spend energy

🌟 If you’re translating directly from English, remember that Japanese often views spending as simply using something valuable. Once you understand this idea, many expressions with 使(つか)う become much easier to understand and use naturally.

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