洗 xǐ wash
wash; rinse
How to remember 洗: 氵 water + 先 first = wash. Mum turns on the water and sends the muddiest kid first into the bathroom for a good wash.
Component breakdown
洗 = 氵 water + 先 first
- 氵 water
- 先 first
- 𠂒 calf
- 儿 son
Mum turns on the water and sends the muddiest kid first into the bathroom for a good wash.
How it is used
- To wash/rinse: 洗手 (xǐ shǒu) wash hands, 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu) do laundry, 洗澡 (xǐzǎo) take a bath.
- 洗澡 already contains 'bath', so you don't add 水 - say 洗澡, not 洗澡水澡.
- Extends figuratively: 洗礼 (xǐlǐ) baptism, 冲洗 (chōngxǐ) to develop/rinse film.
Words with 洗
Example sentences
- 吃饭前要洗手。 Chīfàn qián yào xǐshǒu.We have to wash our hands before eating.
- 儿子会自己洗衣服。 Érzi huì zìjǐ xǐ yīfu.My son can do the laundry by himself.
- 先洗手，然后吃饭。 Xiān xǐshǒu, ránhòu chīfàn.Wash your hands before you eat.
- 我去一下洗手间。 Wǒ qù yíxià xǐshǒujiān.I'm going to the washroom.