搽 meaning and stroke order
To wipe, to smear, to rub, to anoint
How to write 搽, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 搽
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to apply (ointment, powder)
- to smear
- to paint on
How 搽 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 茶 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 搽
搽 combines the hand radical 扌 with 茶 (chá, tea), which gives the sound. Picture your hand dabbing cool tea onto your skin like a lotion, and you have 搽: to apply or smear something on.
搽 is used for putting creams, ointments, powder or oil onto the body, often in spoken and southern Chinese. It usually takes an object like 药 (yào), 粉 (fěn) or 油 (yóu). Example: 晚上睡觉前搽点药。(Wǎnshang shuìjiào qián chá diǎn yào.) Put on some ointment before bed tonight.
Common mistake: Learners often write 茶 (chá, tea) without the hand radical, or confuse 搽 with 擦 (cā, to wipe or rub). 擦 is fourth-tone-free first tone cā and means wiping something off, while 搽 chá means putting something on.
Questions about 搽
How many strokes are in 搽?
搽 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 搽 mean?
搽 (chá) means to wipe, to smear, to rub, to anoint.
How do you pronounce 搽?
搽 is pronounced chá, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 搽?
The radical of 搽 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 搽 under this radical.
What is the difference between 搽 and 抹 when applying cream?
Both can mean to apply something to the skin. 抹 (mǒ) is more common in northern Mandarin and also means to smear in general, while 搽 (chá) is more specific to applying creams, powder or medicine and is common in southern speech.
Can I use 擦 instead of 搽 for sunscreen?
Yes, in everyday Mandarin many people say 擦防晒霜 (cā fángshàishuāng), and 擦 is actually more common in the north. 搽防晒霜 (chá fángshàishuāng) is also correct and sounds natural in many regions.