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擦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
擦
cā
to wipe
HSK 4, v, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1790, Medium
擦
cā
to erase
HSK 4, v, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1790, Medium
擦
cā
rubbing (brush stroke in painting)
HSK 4, v, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1790, Medium
擦
cā
to clean
HSK 4, v, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1790, Medium
擦
cā
to polish
HSK 4, v, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1790, Medium
擦
cā
to clean, to erase, to polish; a brush
HSK 4, v, 17 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1790, Medium
cā(ca1)ca T1
1to wipe
2to erase
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March 24, 2026
擦cā(ca1)
The character 擦 (cā) primarily means 'to wipe' or 'to erase.' It is commonly used in contexts involving cleaning surfaces or removing marks, such as wiping a table or erasing a whiteboard. The nuance of this word can also extend to actions like polishing, indicating a careful and thorough cleaning process.
Strokes17Radical扌Frequency#1790DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and 擦 is often associated with rituals of cleanliness, such as preparing a space for guests. The act of wiping and cleaning is deeply integrated into hospitality practices.
Memory tip
Imagine a person vigorously wiping a table clean with a cloth. The character 擦 resembles a hand (the left side) moving back and forth while the right side suggests the action of cleaning or polishing. Visualize the sound 'cā' as the swishing sound made while wiping.
Meanings of 擦
cā(ca1)
1to wipe
2to erase
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 擦
擦Simplified
17Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1790Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 擦
Podcast: 擦
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AI study notes for 擦
Quick Contrast
擦 (cā) vs 拭 (shì) — use 擦 when referring to wiping or erasing, while 拭 is more formal and often implies a gentle wiping.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 擦 with other cleaning verbs like 洗 (xǐ, to wash) and 清 (qīng, to clear). While 擦 pertains specifically to wiping or erasing, 洗 involves washing and 清 relates to clearing or making something clean. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of using the correct tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 擦 connects to other verbs related to actions and movement. Students should focus on its application in practical sentences, especially in contexts involving cleaning or art, and practice its usage with similar verbs to distinguish nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 擦 in place of other cleaning verbs like 清. For example, saying '我擦我的衣服' (wǒ cā wǒ de yīfú - I wipe my clothes) is incorrect; the correct verb here would be 洗 (xǐ, to wash).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 擦
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 擦 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
擦 = 扌 + 察. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 擦
IDS Structure⿰扌察
擦Full character
=
扌shou3
left
察Cha2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 擦?
How to say to wipe in Chinese
“to wipe” in Chinese is擦cā
The character 擦 (cā) primarily means 'to wipe' or 'to erase.' It is commonly used in contexts involving cleaning surfaces or removing marks, such as wiping a table or erasing a whiteboard. The nuance of this word can also extend to actions like polishing, indicating a careful and thorough cleaning process.
When to use 擦
Learners often confuse 擦 with other cleaning verbs like 洗 (xǐ, to wash) and 清 (qīng, to clear). While 擦 pertains specifically to wiping or erasing, 洗 involves washing and 清 relates to clearing or making something clean. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of using the correct tone.
擦 or something close to it
擦 (cā) vs 拭 (shì) — use 擦 when referring to wiping or erasing, while 拭 is more formal and often implies a gentle wiping.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 擦 in place of other cleaning verbs like 清. For example, saying '我擦我的衣服' (wǒ cā wǒ de yīfú - I wipe my clothes) is incorrect; the correct verb here would be 洗 (xǐ, to wash).
Write 擦
擦
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Grammar patterns of 擦
擦 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. It carries 6 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.
Mom is wiping the table with a cloth in preparation for dinner.
12
她小心翼翼地用布擦掉了镜子上的灰尘。
Tā xiǎoxīn yìyì de yòng bù cā diàole jìngzi shàng de huīchén.
She carefully wiped off the dust on the mirror with a cloth.
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Word Family of 擦
Words containing this character20
擦cāto wipe
摩擦mócāfriction
擦伤cāshāngto abrade擦傷
擦肩而过cājiānérguòbrief encounter擦肩而過
擦掉cādiàoto wipe
擦屁股cāpìgu(lit.) to wipe one’s ass
擦拭cāshìto wipe clean
擦洗cāxǐto swab
擦干cāgānto wipe dry擦乾
擦亮cāliàngto polish
磨擦mócāfriction
摩拳擦掌móquáncāzhǎngto roll up one's sleeves for battle
擦边球cābiānqiúfig. to skirt the line legally or morally擦邊球
摩擦力mócālìfriction
擦身而过cāshēn’érguòto brush past擦身而過
橡皮擦xiàngpícāeraser
擦亮眼睛cāliàngyǎnjīngto be on one's guard
板擦bǎncāblackboard eraser
擦澡cāzǎoto take a sponge bath
塞擦音sècāyīnaffricate (phonetics)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 擦
What does 摩擦 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 擦
Some synonyms for 擦 include 清洁 (qīngjié) which means 'to clean' and 擦拭 (cāshì) meaning 'to wipe.' Each of these words can be used in different contexts related to cleaning or wiping.
Yes, 擦 can be used in various contexts, including cleaning surfaces, erasing marks, or even describing the technique in painting. It's versatile and applicable in both everyday and artistic situations.
擦 (cā) means to wipe or to erase. It can also refer to actions like cleaning or polishing something. In the context of art, it can denote the act of rubbing, such as with a brush stroke.
You can use 擦 (cā) in sentences like '我在擦桌子' which means 'I am wiping the table.' It is commonly used with objects that you clean or erase, so remember to pair it with the appropriate nouns.
Common phrases include 擦桌子 (cā zhuōzi - to wipe the table) and 擦掉 (cā diào - to erase/remove).
Yes, 擦 can refer to erasing marks on digital devices, similar to its physical usage.
While it can be used in formal writing, it is more common in everyday speech; consider context when using it formally.
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