洗

🇹🇼🇭🇰🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷

wash

HSK 1 N3

Nature →Elements →Water

xǐ

セン

あら.う

세, 선

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 先 represents the sound.

Components

氵 water (drops)+ 先 ahead =

洗 wash

氵 Meaning component

shui water (drops)

water

氵 is a component form of 水.

先 Phonetic component

xiān ahead

first, former, previous

View phonetic series →

Notes

Historical Evolution

Seal

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

洗

Regular

Modern

Chinese

洗 [xǐ]

to wash; to bathe; to develop (photo)

Japanese

澄まし、清まし (rare) 、清し (rare) 、洗 (rare) すまし同音

noun

primness; putting on airs; prim person
abbrev. clear soup (also written as 清汁)
water for rinsing sake cups (at a banquet, etc.)

洗せん同音

noun abbrev. washing machine; (clothes) washer (on floor plans)

Example Sentences

Japanese Names

洗あらい

Arai surname

洗せんがい

Sengai given name

CHINESE WORDS (191)

洗澡 [xǐzǎo] #2,512

to bathe

洗手间 [xǐshǒujiān] #2,497

toilet

洗手间 [xǐshǒujiān] #2,497

181 more items

JAPANESE WORDS (164)

⭐ 洗濯物 [せんたくもの] #9,631

laundry

⭐ 洗面所 [せんめんじょ] #11,329

washroom

洗い流す [あらいながす] #12,340

to wash away

⭐ 洗い物 [あらいもの] #16,653

things to be washed

⭐ 洗濯機 [せんたくき] #16,670

washing machine

⭐ 洗礼 [せんれい] #16,864

baptism

154 more items

KOREAN WORDS (15)

brainwashing; indoctrination

5 more items