Usage note
洗表示用水清洁。
xǐ biǎo shì yòng shuǐ qīng jié。
洗 means to clean with water.
Context note
洗常出现在洗手、洗脸、洗衣服里。
xǐ cháng chū xiàn zài xǐ shǒu 、 xǐ liǎn 、 xǐ yī fu lǐ。
洗 often appears in expressions like wash hands, wash face, and wash clothes.
5 examples
我洗手。
wǒ xǐ shǒu。
I wash my hands.
妈妈在洗衣服。
mā ma zài xǐ yī fu。
Mom is washing clothes.
请洗脸。
qǐng xǐ liǎn。
Please wash your face.
我们洗水果。
wǒ men xǐ shuǐ guǒ。
We wash fruit.
他每天洗澡。
tā měi tiān xǐ zǎo。
He takes a bath every day.
5 mini stories
吃饭前要洗手。这样更干净。
chī fàn qián yào xǐ shǒu。 zhè yàng gèng gān jìng。
You should wash your hands before eating. That is cleaner.
妈妈在厨房洗水果。她说这样更放心。
mā ma zài chú fáng xǐ shuǐ guǒ。 tā shuō zhè yàng gèng fàng xīn。
Mom is washing fruit in the kitchen. She said that is more reassuring.
小猫喜欢看我洗脸。它总是好奇。
xiǎo māo xǐ huan kàn wǒ xǐ liǎn。 tā zǒng shì hào qí。
The kitten likes watching me wash my face. It is always curious.
晚上回家以后，我先洗澡再写作业。
wǎn shàng huí jiā yǐ hòu， wǒ xiān xǐ zǎo zài xiě zuò yè。
After I get home at night, I take a bath first and then do homework.
今天是洗衣服的日子。爸爸把衣服晾起来。
jīn tiān shì xǐ yī fu de rì zi。 bà ba bǎ yī fu liàng qǐ lái。
Today is laundry day. Dad hangs the clothes to dry.
Mini dialogue
洗手
A
吃饭前要做什么？
Chīfàn qián yào zuò shénme?
What should we do before eating?
B
要洗手。
Yào xǐshǒu.
Wash hands.
洗水果
A
妈妈在洗什么？
Māma zài xǐ shénme?
What is mom washing?
B
她在洗苹果。
Tā zài xǐ píngguǒ.
She is washing apples.
Related words and contrasts
related
擦
cā
to wipe
擦 means to wipe, often used when cleaning surfaces.
related
刷
shuā
to brush / scrub
刷 is used for brushing teeth or scrubbing objects.
opposite
干
gān
dry
洗 means to wash with water; 干 means dry.