用作

yòngzuò
  1. to use for the purpose of
  2. to serve as

CEDICT

to use for the purpose of; to serve as; to use as

Wiktionary

Examples

墨汁用作染料时会产生有趣的图桉。

India ink produces an interesting pattern when used as a dye.

Source: Tatoeba

Entry Composition

1 用 yòng
  1. to use; to make use of; to employ
  2. (coverb) with; using
  3. to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions)
  4. usefulness; utility
  5. (bound form) expense; outlay
  6. (courteous) to eat; to drink
  7. (literary) hence; therefore
2 作 zuò
  1. to do; to engage in
  2. to write; to compose
  3. to pretend; to feign
  4. to regard as; to consider to be
  5. to be; to act the part of
  6. to feel (itchy, nauseous etc)
  7. writings; works

Related entries

充作 chōngzuò
  1. to serve as
  2. to be a substitute for
充当 chōngdāng
  1. to serve as
  2. to act as
  3. to play the role of
我为你充当导游。

I'll act as a guide for you.

Source: Tatoeba

以资 yǐzī
  1. by way of
  2. to serve as
担任 dānrèn
  1. to hold a governmental office or post
  2. to assume office of
  3. to take charge of
  4. to serve as
他擔任我的嚮導。

He acted as my guide.

Source: Tatoeba

为 wéi
  1. as (in the capacity of)
  2. to take sth as
  3. to act as
  4. to serve as
  5. to behave as
  6. to become
  7. to be
  8. to do
  9. by (in the passive voice)
眼見為憑。

To see is to believe.

Source: Tatoeba