洗洗 (xǐ xǐ) — to wash (a bit, casually; verb reduplication) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Verb reduplication of 洗 meaning 'to wash (a bit, casually)' — softens the verb into a light, brief action. Pinyin stays xǐxi; the second syllable is unstressed.

verb

to wash (a bit, casually; verb reduplication)

Examples

，洗洗。
Nǐ shǒu zāng le, kuài qù xǐ xǐ.
Your hands are dirty, go wash them quickly.
洗洗。
Zhè jiàn yī fu xū yào xǐ xǐ zài chuān.
This piece of clothing needs a wash before wearing it again.
洗洗。
Tā měi tiān dōu yào bǎ chē xǐ xǐ yí biàn.
He washes his car over once every day.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

洗 is repeated to suggest a brief or casual wash.

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

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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