noun
Refers to a person who uses something, such as a tool, service, or product. Can also mean an employer in the context of hiring someone.
このアプリの使い手は世界中にいる。
Users of this app are all over the world.
彼は良い使い手として知られている。
He is known as a good employer.
noun
master; expert handler
Only when written 遣い手
Indicates a skilled practitioner, especially in traditional arts or martial disciplines like swordsmanship. Often written as 遣い手 in this sense.
彼は剣の遣い手として名高い。
He is renowned as a master swordsman.
noun
spendthrift; prodigal
Describes a person who spends money freely or wastefully. This usage is relatively rare and may be considered dated.
あの人は金の使い手で、すぐに給料を使い切ってしまう。
That person is a spendthrift and quickly uses up their salary.
使用者 is a more formal and technical term for 'user' or 'employer', often used in legal or official contexts, while 使い手 is more colloquial and emphasizes the skill or role of the user.
名人 means 'master' or 'expert' in a general sense, often implying high acclaim, whereas 使い手 (in the master sense) specifically refers to a skilled handler of something, like a weapon or tool.
Compound of 使い (tsukai, 'use') + 手 (te, 'person'). The 遣い手 variant uses a kanji associated with 'dispatch' or 'use' in a more specialized sense.