使い・遣い|つかいtsukai[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounerrand; mission; going on an errand
   使つかいの途中とちゅう道草みちくさをくうな。↗

   Don't delay on this errand.
2. nounmessenger; bearer; errand boy; errand girl
3. nounfamiliar spirit
4. noun (suffix), noun (prefix)use; usage; user; trainer; tamer; handler; charmeroft. read づかい when used as a suffix
   ひとことで言いえば、彼かれはおべっか使つかいだ。↗

   In a word, he is a flatterer.

• Synonym使い走りつかいばしりCasualColloquial; running errands for others, or the gofer sent to do so, often dismissive. 「使い」 also covers a messenger or the errand itself.
• Synonymお使いおつかいNeutralPolite form with the honorific 「お」; typically a child's errand to buy things, as in 「お使いに行く」.

Default to 「使い」 for errands, messengers and running errands; it also works as a suffix, as in 「魔法使い」. Use 「お使い」 for a child's shopping errand, and 「使い走り」 for a person sent around on errands, often dismissively.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 依頼いらいを受うけ、用事ようじをたすこと。また、その人ひと。使者ししゃ。
2. 神仏しんぶつの使つかわしめとなる鳥獣ちょうじゅう。
3. そばめ。