擦洗 (cā xǐ) — to scrub and wash, to clean (by scrubbing and r… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

擦洗 emphasizes physical scrubbing with effort, stronger than plain 洗 (general washing). Often used for surfaces like floors, windows, or kitchens where rubbing is needed.

verb

to scrub and washto clean (by scrubbing and rinsing)

Examples

擦洗。
Tā huā le yí gè xiǎo shí cā xǐ chú fáng.
He spent an hour scrubbing the kitchen.
擦洗。
Zhè kuài wū zì yào yòng lì cā xǐ cái néng qù diào.
This stain needs to be scrubbed hard to be removed.
擦洗。
Wǒ men měi gè yuè cā xǐ yí cì chuāng hu.
We wash the windows once a month.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

擦 wipes and 洗 washes, combining two cleaning actions.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌察擦

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

察

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 is the hand, showing that 擦 is an action done with the hand, such as wiping or scrubbing; the right part 察 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

先

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洗 is built from 水 (water) and 先, which gives the character its sound.

Appears in

Cleaning & Chores

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