洗浴 (xǐ yù) — (formal) to bathe, to take a bath

Definition

Formal or commercial term for 'bathe / bathing', common in service contexts (酒店洗浴, 洗浴中心). Everyday speech prefers 洗澡.

verb
(formal) to batheto take a bath

Examples

  • 洗浴。
    Tā měi tiān dōu huì xǐ yù yí cì.
    He bathes once every day.
  • 洗浴。
    Zhè jiā jiǔ diàn tí gōng xǐ yù fú wù.
    This hotel provides bathing services.
  • 洗浴。
    Gǔ dài zhōng guó rén yòng mù tǒng xǐ yù.
    Ancient Chinese people bathed in wooden tubs.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

洗xǐwash
浴yùbathe

洗 and 浴 are parallel actions of washing and bathing.

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
先xiān洗xǐ
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.

Open 洗 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
谷
谷gǔ浴yù
Same sound today

浴 shows 氵 (water) beside 谷, which gives the sound, for bathing in water.

Open 浴 →
Appears in
Hygiene & Grooming

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