Meaning
to wash; to bathe
Chinese: 清洗、洗涤。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “xi” becomes a different word in each tone. 洗 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 洗手间xǐ shǒu jiāntoilet; lavatory; washroom
- 洗澡xǐ zǎoto bathe; to take a shower
- 洗衣机xǐ yī jīwashing machine; washer
- 清洗qīng xǐto wash; to rinse; to clean; (fig.) to purge
- 洗衣粉xǐ yī fěnlaundry detergent; washing powder
Example Sentence
吃饭前要先洗手。Chī fàn qián yào xiān xǐ shǒu.Wash your hands before eating.
吃饭Chī fànto have a meal前qiánfront要yàoto want先xiānbeforehand洗手xǐ shǒuto wash one's hands。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The water radical 氵 (meaning) plus 先 (xiān, sound): to use water to clean — ‘to wash’.
A way to remember it
Water (氵) + the sound 先 — to wash.
Easy to confuse with
- 先‘First’: the sound part of 洗, without the water on the left.