Definitions

róu (verb) to knead; to massage; to rub

Etymology

A gentle  hand  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "揉" originates from the semantic-phonetic construction combining the hand radical with the component "柔", which provides both pronunciation and the associative meaning of softness, thus encapsulating the action of using the hands to rub or knead something into a supple state. Its early attested uses in classical texts consistently refer to physical manipulations such as working pliant materials or applying friction, a core meaning that has persisted with little variation over time. The character's structure has remained stable, with the hand element clearly denoting manual activity and "柔" reinforcing the outcome of making something flexible, ensuring its continued application in contexts describing tactile processes from crafting to massage.

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈在面团。

Māmā zài róu miàntuán.

Mom is kneading dough.

眼睛醒了。

Tā róu yǎnjīng xǐng le.

He rubbed his eyes and woke up.

妹妹红了她的脸。

Mèimei róu hóng le tā de liǎn.

Little sister rubbed her face red.

面需要耐心。

Róu miàn xūyào nàixīn.

Kneading dough requires patience.

爷爷慢慢着疼痛的膝盖。

Yéye mànman róu zhe téngtòng de xīgài.

Grandpa slowly rubs his painful knee.

搓双手让它们暖和。

Tā róucuō shuāngshǒu ràng tāmen nuǎnhuo.

She rubs her hands together to warm them up.

合不同意见才能达成共识。

Róuhé bùtóng yìjiàn cáinéng dáchéng gòngshí.

Only by blending different opinions can consensus be reached.

厨师仔细捏面团直到它变得光滑。

Chúshī zǐxì róuniē miàntuán zhídào tā biàn de guānghuá.

The chef carefully kneads the dough until it becomes smooth.