Meanings of 揩
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About 揩
Podcast: 揩
Podcast: 揩
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AI Study Notes for 揩
擦 (cā) - use 揩 (kāi) for gentle wiping actions, while 擦 (cā) implies a more vigorous rubbing or scrubbing.
Learners often confuse 揩 with characters like 清 (qīng), which means 'to clean' more generally. This word is more informal and is often used in everyday situations. Be careful with the tone; it's pronounced kāi, not kǎi.
Although 揩 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to HSK level 3 words about cleaning and household activities. Students should focus on pronunciation and context, linking it to other verbs like 擦 (cā) which also means 'to wipe' but carries different nuances.
Learners often incorrectly use 揩 in contexts that require more thorough cleaning, such as washing. For example, saying 揩衣服 (kāi yīfú) instead of 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfú) which means 'to wash clothes' is a common mistake.
Pronunciation of 揩
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Etymology of 揩
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 皆 represents the sound.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 揩
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 皆 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half皆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayhand
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 揩? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 揩
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How to say to wipe, to rub, to dust, to clean in Chinese
“to wipe, to rub, to dust, to clean” in Chinese is揩
The character 揩 (kāi) means 'to wipe' or 'to rub.' It is commonly used in contexts involving cleaning or removing dirt, such as wiping a surface or dusting furniture. The nuance implies a gentle action rather than vigorous scrubbing.
When to use 揩
Learners often confuse 揩 with characters like 清 (qīng), which means 'to clean' more generally. This word is more informal and is often used in everyday situations. Be careful with the tone; it's pronounced kāi, not kǎi.
揩 or something close to it
擦 (cā) - use 揩 (kāi) for gentle wiping actions, while 擦 (cā) implies a more vigorous rubbing or scrubbing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often incorrectly use 揩 in contexts that require more thorough cleaning, such as washing. For example, saying 揩衣服 (kāi yīfú) instead of 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfú) which means 'to wash clothes' is a common mistake.
Write 揩
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Practice writing 揩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 揩
揩 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
迈克尔迅速用餐巾将其____干。
Michael mopped up quickly with his napkin.
Example Sentences for 揩 (2)
Word Family of 揩
Compound Meaning
What does 揩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 揩
It is pronounced kāi, with a high and level tone.
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