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澡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
澡
zǎo
bath
n, 16 strokes, radical 氵, rank #3300, Hard
澡
zǎo
to wash, to bathe
n, 16 strokes, radical 氵, rank #3300, Hard
zǎo(zao3)zao T3
1bath
2to wash, to bathe
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March 24, 2026
澡zǎo(zao3)
The character 澡 (zǎo) refers to the act of bathing or washing oneself, typically in a bath or shower. It is commonly used in contexts related to personal hygiene and relaxation, highlighting the importance of cleanliness in daily life.
Strokes16Radical氵Frequency#3300DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, bathing is often considered a ritualistic practice, associated not just with cleanliness but also with relaxation and self-care, reflecting a holistic approach to well-being.
Memory tip
Imagine a serene bath with water (氵) flowing around, and visualize yourself soaking in the tranquility of a 澡 (zǎo) session. The water radical (氵) suggests washing, while the sound 'zǎo' can remind you of the soothing sounds of splashing water.
Meanings of 澡
zǎo(zao3)
1bath
2to wash, to bathe
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 澡
澡Simplified
16Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3300Frequency Rank
Podcast: 澡
Podcast: 澡
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AI study notes for 澡
Usage Notes
澡 is often used in informal contexts, particularly in conversations about personal care. A common mistake is confusing it with 洗 (xǐ), which means 'to wash' but is more general; 澡 specifically refers to bathing. Be mindful of tone, as mispronouncing 'zǎo' can lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Although 澡 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it relates to other HSK vocabulary focused on cleanliness and daily routines, such as 洗 (xǐ). Students should pay attention to verbs and nouns associated with personal hygiene to expand their vocabulary in this area.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 澡 with 洗 (xǐ), resulting in sentences like '我澡衣服' (I bathe clothes), which is incorrect; the correct expression is '我洗衣服' (I wash clothes). Additionally, mispronouncing 'zǎo' can lead to misunderstanding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 澡
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澡 = 氵 + 喿. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 澡
IDS Structure⿰氵喿
澡Full character
=
氵shui3
left
喿zao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 澡?
How to say bath in Chinese
“bath” in Chinese is澡zǎo
The character 澡 (zǎo) refers to the act of bathing or washing oneself, typically in a bath or shower. It is commonly used in contexts related to personal hygiene and relaxation, highlighting the importance of cleanliness in daily life.
When to use 澡
澡 is often used in informal contexts, particularly in conversations about personal care. A common mistake is confusing it with 洗 (xǐ), which means 'to wash' but is more general; 澡 specifically refers to bathing. Be mindful of tone, as mispronouncing 'zǎo' can lead to confusion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 澡 with 洗 (xǐ), resulting in sentences like '我澡衣服' (I bathe clothes), which is incorrect; the correct expression is '我洗衣服' (I wash clothes). Additionally, mispronouncing 'zǎo' can lead to misunderstanding.
Write 澡
澡
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Grammar patterns of 澡
澡 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
wǒ xūyào zài rè téng téng de zǎo pén lǐ hǎohǎo dì pào yī pào。
What I need is to soak in a hot tub.
10
她给孩子脱下衣服，然后把她放进锡铁澡盆里。
tā gěi háizi tuō xià yīfu， ránhòu bǎ tā fàng jìn xī tiě zǎo pén lǐ。
She undressed the child before putting her in the tin bath.
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Cultural Notes for 澡
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, taking a bath is not just about hygiene; it is also seen as a way to relax and rejuvenate. Many people enjoy soaking in hot water to relieve stress and improve their well-being.
Word Family of 澡
Compounds1
藻zǎosplendid, magnificent; algae
Words containing this character8
洗澡xǐzǎoto bathe
澡zǎobath
澡堂zǎotángpublic baths
冲澡chōngzǎoto take a shower沖澡
澡盆zǎopénbath tub
擦澡cāzǎoto take a sponge bath
澡塘zǎotángcommunal bath
澡身浴德zǎoshēnyùdécleanliness is next to godliness
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 澡
What does 藻 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 澡
Yes, 澡 can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal writing, it may appear in discussions about health, hygiene, or cultural practices related to bathing. However, in everyday conversation, simpler terms like 洗 (xǐ) may be more common.
Common phrases with 澡 include '洗澡' (xǐzǎo), which means 'to take a bath or shower,' and '澡堂' (zǎotáng), meaning 'bathhouse.' These phrases are often used in everyday conversation regarding personal care.
澡 (zǎo) means 'bath' or 'to wash/bathe' in Chinese. It is commonly used in the context of taking a bath or shower. The character is often part of phrases related to personal hygiene and cleanliness.
You can use 澡 (zǎo) in a sentence like '我每天都洗澡' (Wǒ měitiān dōu xǐzǎo), which means 'I take a bath every day.' It can also be used in phrases such as '洗澡' (xǐzǎo) which means 'to take a shower/bath.'
No, 澡 is more commonly used in informal conversations rather than in formal writing.
No, 澡 specifically refers to bathing oneself; for washing clothes, you would use 洗 (xǐ).
澡 refers specifically to bathing, while 洗 is a broader term for washing anything.
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