洗洁 (xǐ jié) — (noun) detergent; cleaning agent (inferred from…

Definition

洗洁 (xǐjié) is shorthand for dishwashing detergent, almost always heard as part of the compound 洗洁精 (dish soap).

noun

detergentcleaning agent (inferred from compounds like 洗洁精)

Easily confused

洗洁，。
Wǒ mǎi le yì píng xǐ jié jīng, yòng lái xǐ wǎn.
I bought a bottle of dishwashing liquid to wash dishes.
洗洁。
Zhè zhǒng xǐ jié de qù wū néng lì hěn qiáng.
This detergent has strong stain-removing ability.
洗洁。
Chāo shì lǐ yǒu hěn duō pái zi de xǐ jié chǎn pǐn.
There are many brands of cleaning products in the supermarket.

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

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 潔; 洁 is its simplified writing.

氵絜潔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

絜

絜jié潔jié

Same sound today

The traditional form 潔 pairs 氵, a water part, with 絜, which gives the sound; the simplified 洁 is a later abbreviation.