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盥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
guànto washb, 16 strokes, radical 皿, Very Hard
guànto wash (especially hands)unknown, 16 strokes, radical 皿, Very Hard
guàn(guan4) T4
  1. 1to wash
  2. 2to wash (especially hands)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
guàn(guan4)

The character 盥 (guàn) means 'to wash', particularly referring to the act of washing hands. It is commonly used in contexts related to hygiene and cleanliness, especially in medical or formal settings where handwashing is emphasized.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, handwashing is heavily emphasized, especially in healthcare settings. The practice has been reinforced during public health campaigns, particularly during flu seasons or health crises.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person holding a bowl (the character 皿, which is part of 盥) filled with water, preparing to wash their hands. The pronunciation 'guàn' sounds like 'gone', as in 'gone are the germs after a good wash'.

Meanings of 盥

guàn(guan4)
1to wash
2to wash (especially hands)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 盥

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
区别词distinguishing word (dist.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 盥

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 盥

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person holding a bowl (the character 皿, which is part of 盥) filled with water, preparing to wash their hands. The pronunciation 'guàn' sounds like 'gone', as in 'gone are the germs after a good wash'.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 盥 with similar characters like 浸 (jìn) which means 'to soak'. This character is more formal and might be used in medical instructions or hygiene posters. It's less common in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While 盥 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of texts that discuss health or hygiene. Focus on related words like 洗手 (xǐshǒu) which means 'to wash hands'.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, handwashing is heavily emphasized, especially in healthcare settings. The practice has been reinforced during public health campaigns, particularly during flu seasons or health crises.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 盥 with 洗 (xǐ), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 盥 is used in more formal contexts, while 洗 is more commonly used in daily speech.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 盥

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Etymology of 盥

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Washing 水 one's hands 彐 in a basin 皿

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 盥?

Decomposition of 盥

IDS Structure⿱⿲?水彐皿
Full Character
=
Shui3
left
ji4
middle
min3
right
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 盥?

Write 盥

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 盥

盥 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

他跪在溪边, 马马虎虎地____洗了一下.

Kneeling beside the stream, he made a rough toilet.

Example Sentences for 盥 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他跪在溪边, 马马虎虎地盥洗了一下.

tā guì zài xī biān, , mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ dì guàn xǐ le yī.

Kneeling beside the stream, he made a rough toilet.

Cultural Notes for 盥

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, handwashing is heavily emphasized, especially in healthcare settings. The practice has been reinforced during public health campaigns, particularly during flu seasons or health crises.

Word Family of 盥

Words Containing This Character3
盥洗室toilet
盥洗to wash up
guànto wash (especially hands)
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 盥洗室 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 盥

No, 盥 is more formal and often appears in specific contexts related to hygiene.