揉 (róu) means to rub, knead, or massage with the hands, using a circular or pressing motion on a surface (e.g., dough, temples, back). It differs from 搓 (cuō), which is the back-and-forth rolling motion between two palms (e.g., rubbing hands together), and from 擦 (cā), which means to wipe or apply with a cloth or tool rather than directly with the hands.