洗刷 (xǐ shuā) — to scrub, to wash and brush (literally); to cle… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Two senses: literally 'scrub/wash' (a floor, clothes), and figuratively 'clear one's name or reputation' of a stain. The figurative sense pairs with 污点, 罪名, or 名声.

verb

to scrubto wash and brush (literally)to clear (one's name/reputation)to redeem oneself

Examples

洗刷。
Tā bǎ chú fáng de dì bǎn zǐ xì xǐ shuā le yí biàn.
She carefully scrubbed the kitchen floor.
洗刷。
Tā xī wàng tōng guò nǔ lì gōng zuò lái xǐ shuā yǐ qián de wū diǎn.
He hopes to clear his past stain through hard work.
，洗刷。
Jīng guò duō nián nǔ lì, tā zhōng yú xǐ shuā le jiā zú de míng shēng.
After years of effort, he finally cleared his family's reputation.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

洗 washing and 刷 brushing combine to mean scrubbing or clearing away a stain or blame.

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.

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.

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

刀刀dāoknife

Sound part声符shēngfú

㕞

㕞㕞刷shuā

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

刷 uses 刀, a knife, and pairs it with 㕞 as a sound component.

Appears in

Cleaning & Chores

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.