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March 24, 2026
洗xǐ(xi3)
The character 洗 (xǐ) means 'to wash' or 'to bathe.' It is commonly used in everyday contexts, such as washing hands, clothes, or oneself. Additionally, it can refer to developing photographs, emphasizing the act of cleansing or refreshing something.
Strokes9Radical氵Frequency#890DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and the act of washing is often associated with rituals of purification, especially before meals or religious activities. Public restrooms in China often emphasize the importance of hand washing.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large bowl of water (the radical 水) where you are washing (洗) your clothes. The character looks like a person bending over to wash something in water. Remember 'xǐ' sounds like 'she,' who is washing her clothes in the river.
Meanings of 洗
xǐ(xi3)
1to wash
2to bathe
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 洗
洗Simplified
9Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#890Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 洗
Podcast: 洗
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AI Study Notes for 洗
Quick Contrast
洗 (xǐ) vs 清 (qīng) — use 洗 for washing or bathing, while 清 refers to making something clean or clear without implying the act of washing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large bowl of water (the radical 水) where you are washing (洗) your clothes. The character looks like a person bending over to wash something in water. Remember 'xǐ' sounds like 'she,' who is washing her clothes in the river.
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 洗 in contexts involving water or cleansing, as it is not appropriate for cleaning things that do not involve washing. For example, you would say '洗手' (wash hands) but not '洗书' (wash books). It is informal and widely used in daily conversations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 洗 connects with other basic verbs like 吃 (chī - to eat) and 喝 (hē - to drink). Focus on practicing it with phrases and everyday actions to reinforce its meaning and usage.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and the act of washing is often associated with rituals of purification, especially before meals or religious activities. Public restrooms in China often emphasize the importance of hand washing.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to mix up 洗 with other cleaning verbs like 清 (qīng), which means 'to clean' in a broader sense. For example, saying '我清手' instead of '我洗手' is incorrect; the right phrase is '我洗手' (I wash my hands).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 洗
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Grammar Patterns of 洗
洗 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 4 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.
With soap and water, bubbles and boats, children love bathtime.
10
用舒缓沐浴油洗个热水澡吧。
yòng shū huǎn mù yù yóu xǐ gè rè shuǐ zǎo bā。
Try a hot bath with some relaxing bath oil.
Cultural Notes for 洗
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and the act of washing is often associated with rituals of purification, especially before meals or religious activities. Public restrooms in China often emphasize the importance of hand washing.
Word Family of 洗
Compounds1
鍌
Words Containing This Character20
洗xǐto wash
洗澡xǐzǎoto bathe
洗手间xǐshǒujiāntoilet洗手間
清洗qīngxǐto wash
洗衣laundry
洗净to wash clean洗淨
洗手to wash one's hands
冲洗chōngxǐto rinse沖洗
洗衣机xǐyījīwasher洗衣機
洗礼xǐlǐbaptism (lit. or fig.)洗禮
洗脸to wash your face洗臉
洗头to wash one's hair洗頭
洗钱money laundering洗錢
洗涤to rinse洗滌
干洗to dry clean乾洗
洗浴to bathe
洗耳恭听we are all ears洗耳恭聽
洗劫to loot
洗衣店laundry (commercial establishment)
擦洗to swab
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 洗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 洗
You can say '我洗手' (Wǒ xǐ shǒu) which means 'I wash my hands.'
Yes, 洗 is primarily used for actions involving water, such as washing clothes, dishes, or oneself.
No, 洗 specifically refers to washing or rinsing with water; for cleaning dry items, consider using 清洁 (qīngjié).
