洗 meaning and stroke order
To wash; to bathe; to develop (photographs); to shuffle (cards etc)
How to write 洗, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 9
Meaning of 洗
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to wash; to bathe
- to develop (photographs)
- to shuffle (cards etc)
- to erase (a recording)
- used in 洗馬|洗马[xian3 ma3]
How 洗 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 先 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 洗
洗 combines water 氵 with 先 (xiān, first), which gives the sound. Think of it this way: before you eat, the first thing you do is wash with water.
洗 is the everyday verb for washing hands, clothes, dishes, and your body, and it often takes a direct object like 洗手 (xǐshǒu, wash hands) or 洗碗 (xǐwǎn, wash dishes). It also extends to developing photos and shuffling cards. Example: 我去洗手间。(Wǒ qù xǐshǒujiān.) I'm going to the restroom.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 洗 (xǐ) with 先 (xiān) because they share the same right side, so remember that only 洗 has the water radical. Also say 洗澡 (xǐzǎo) for taking a bath or shower, not 洗身体.
Common words with 洗
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory | HSK 1 |
| 洗澡 | xǐzǎo | to bathe; to take a shower | HSK 2 |
| 洗衣机 | xǐyījī | washing machine; washer | HSK 2 |
| 清洗 | qīngxǐ | to wash; to rinse; to clean; (fig.) to purge; to get rid of (corrupt individuals etc) | HSK 6 |
| 洗衣粉 | xǐyīfěn | laundry detergent; washing powder | HSK 6 |
| 洗礼 | xǐlǐ | (lit. and fig.) baptism | HSK 7-9 |
| 冲洗 | chōngxǐ | to rinse; to wash; (photography) to develop (film) | HSK 7-9 |
| 洗涤剂 | xǐdíjì | cleaning agent; detergent | HSK 7-9 |
| 洗手 | xǐshǒu | to wash one's hands; to go to the toilet | |
| 洗脑 | xǐnǎo | to brainwash | |
| 洗衣 | xǐyī | laundry | |
| 洗碗 | xǐwǎn | to wash the dishes | |
| 洗钱 | xǐqián | to launder money | |
| 洗车 | xǐchē | to wash a car; to get a car wash |
洗 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 洗
How many strokes are in 洗?
洗 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 洗 mean?
洗 (xǐ) means to wash; to bathe; to develop (photographs); to shuffle (cards etc). A common word with it is 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān), meaning "toilet; lavatory".
How do you pronounce 洗?
洗 is pronounced xǐ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 洗?
The radical of 洗 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 洗 under this radical.
Is 洗 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 洗 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
How do you say take a shower in Chinese?
The most common way is 洗澡 (xǐzǎo), which covers both showering and bathing. If you want to be specific about a shower, you can say 冲澡 (chōngzǎo) or 淋浴 (línyù).
Is 洗 ever pronounced xiǎn?
Yes, but only in the old official title 洗马 (xiǎnmǎ). In everyday Chinese it is always xǐ.