洗手 () — to wash one's hands; (euphemism) to go to the toilet; (figurative) to reform, to quit a bad habit (originally of criminals)

Definition

A separable verb: 洗手 means 'to wash one's hands', and is also a polite euphemism for going to the bathroom. Figuratively, 洗手 (often 洗手不干) means a criminal has reformed and quit their old trade.

verb
to wash one's hands(euphemism) to go to the toilet(figurative) to reformto quit a bad habit (originally of criminals)

Examples

  • Chī fàn qián yí dìng yào xǐ yí biàn shǒu.
    Be sure to wash your hands once before eating.
  • 洗手
    Tā yào qù xǐ yí xià.
    He needs to go wash his hands (go to the bathroom).
  • 洗手
    Nà ge xiǎo tōu yǐ jīng xǐ bú gàn le.
    That thief has already reformed and quit.

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