清洗 meaning in English
to wash; to rinse; to clean; (fig.) to purge; to get rid of (corrupt individuals etc)
Meaning of 清洗
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to wash; to rinse; to clean
- (fig.) to purge; to get rid of (corrupt individuals etc)
How to use 清洗
清洗 is a slightly more formal word than 洗 and is common for washing objects, equipment, wounds, or food thoroughly. It also has a figurative sense of purging people from an organization, often in news or political writing. Example: 使用前请先清洗水果。(Shǐyòng qián qǐng xiān qīngxǐ shuǐguǒ.) Please wash the fruit before using it.
Both 清 (qīng, clear) and 洗 (xǐ, to wash) have the water radical 氵 on the left, so picture water making something clear by washing it. Wash it until it is clear: 清洗.
Common mistake: Learners often use 清洗 for everyday personal washing, but people say 洗手 (xǐshǒu) or 洗澡 (xǐzǎo), not 清洗手. Also, 洗 is third tone (xǐ), so do not confuse 清洗 (qīngxǐ) with 清醒 (qīngxǐng, clear-headed), which sounds very similar.
清洗 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
清 qīng · clear · 11 strokes
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- 9
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- 11
洗 xǐ · to wash · 9 strokes
- 1
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- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 清洗.
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory |
| 清楚 | qīngchu | clear; distinct |
| 洗澡 | xǐzǎo | to bathe; to take a shower |
| 洗衣机 | xǐyījī | washing machine; washer |
| 清醒 | qīngxǐng | clear-headed; sober |
| 清理 | qīnglǐ | to clear up; to tidy up |
| 清晨 | qīngchén | early morning |
| 清洁 | qīngjié | clean; to clean |
| 清洁工 | qīngjiégōng | cleaner; janitor |
| 清明节 | Qīngmíng Jié | Qingming or Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day, celebration for the dead (in ea |
| 洗衣粉 | xǐyīfěn | laundry detergent; washing powder |
| 清除 | qīngchú | to clear away; to eliminate |
Questions about 清洗
What does 清洗 mean?
清洗 (qīngxǐ) means "to wash; to rinse; to clean; (fig.) to purge; to get rid of (corrupt individuals etc)" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 清洗?
清洗 is made of 2 characters: 清 (11 strokes), 洗 (9 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.
Is 清洗 an HSK word?
Yes. 清洗 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 清洗 and 清理?
清洗 (qīngxǐ) means cleaning with water or liquid, like rinsing dishes or a machine. 清理 (qīnglǐ) means tidying up or clearing out, like sorting a room or deleting old files, and does not need water.
Can 清洗 be used for clothes?
Yes, it appears on care labels and instructions, such as 手工清洗 (shǒugōng qīngxǐ, hand wash). In casual speech, people usually just say 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu).