There are also differences in the method of use depending on the school or type of service; however, its main role is as a utensil that is kept in mizuya (the washing place in a tea-ceremony room) from which it is removed at the end of a service in order to add water to the mizusashi (a water jug) for holding water that is used in the tea ceremony.
これまた流派や手前によって異同があるが、お手前の最後のほうで水屋から持ち出し、水指に水をつぎ足すのが主な役割である。