About
The character "揩" is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the hand radical (扌) to signify actions related to the hand with the phonetic component "皆" which historically guided its pronunciation. Its core meaning has consistently been "to wipe" or "to rub", as seen in classical and medieval usage. Over time, this meaning extended into metaphorical contexts, such as in the term "揩油", where it acquired the additional sense of secretly taking small advantages or skimming off. The graphical form of the character, including its traditional counterpart, has maintained this composition without major alteration, reflecting its stable etymological basis.
Example Sentences Hide
妈妈揩了揩桌子。
他用纸巾揩手。
我揩干净了窗户。
服务员揩拭着餐具。
他总想揩别人的油。
揩油这种行为不好。
她轻轻揩去眼角的泪水。
在合作中，他试图揩公司的油。