盥 meaning and stroke order
To wash
How to write 盥, stroke by stroke
16 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 盥
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to wash (especially hands)
How 盥 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Washing 水 one's hands 彐 in a basin 皿.
Radical: 皿 (dish), shared by 28 characters on this site.
How to remember 盥
Picture water 水 in the middle, a hand 彐 beside it, and a basin 皿 underneath. Together they show someone washing their hands over a basin, which is exactly what 盥 (guàn) means.
盥 is a formal, literary character and is rarely used alone in modern speech. You mostly see it in set words like 盥洗室 (guànxǐshì), a washroom, often on signs in trains, hotels, or public buildings. Example: 盥洗室在车厢尽头。(Guànxǐshì zài chēxiāng jìntóu.) The washroom is at the end of the carriage.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes read 盥 as guān (first tone) because 关 and 观 sound similar, but it is fourth tone, guàn. Also, the parts above 皿 can look crowded, so take care to show the water 水 between the two hand shapes rather than writing a single block.
Common words with 盥
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 盥洗室 | guànxǐshì | toilet; washroom |
Questions about 盥
How many strokes are in 盥?
盥 is written with 16 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 盥 mean?
盥 (guàn) means to wash. A common word with it is 盥洗室 (guànxǐshì), meaning "toilet; washroom".
How do you pronounce 盥?
盥 is pronounced guàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 盥?
The radical of 盥 is 皿, which carries the idea of "dish". Dictionaries list 盥 under this radical.
Is 盥洗室 the same as 厕所 or 洗手间?
Not exactly. 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān) and 厕所 (cèsuǒ) are the everyday words for a toilet. 盥洗室 sounds more formal and often refers to a washing area with sinks, as seen on trains or in dormitories.
Can I use 盥 by itself to say "wash" in conversation?
No, that would sound very old-fashioned. In daily speech use 洗 (xǐ), as in 洗手 (xǐ shǒu), to wash hands. Keep 盥 for reading signs and formal or classical texts.