Definitions

zǎo (verb,noun) bath; bathe

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "澡" is a semantic-phonetic compound consisting of the water radical (氵) to denote its connection to liquid and the component "喿" which primarily serves as a phonetic indicator. Its earliest recorded meaning was specifically the washing of hands, but over time the scope of its application widened to include bathing the entire body. This generalized sense eventually supplanted the original narrow definition, leading to the character's contemporary role where it appears almost exclusively in compounds such as "洗澡" to convey the concept of bathing.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我每天都要洗

Wǒ měitiān dōu yào xǐzǎo.

I need to take a shower every day.

他晚上洗

Tā wǎnshàng xǐzǎo.

He takes a shower in the evening.

她在浴室洗

Tā zài yùshì xǐzǎo.

She is taking a shower in the bathroom.

运动后洗很舒服。

Yùndòng hòu xǐzǎo hěn shūfu.

Taking a shower after exercise is very comfortable.

孩子们喜欢一起泡

Háizimen xǐhuan yīqǐ pàozǎo.

The children like to take a bath together.

我们决定去公共堂。

Wǒmen juédìng qù gōnggòng zǎotáng.

We decided to go to the public bathhouse.

他习惯用冷水洗来锻炼身体。

Tā xíguàn yòng lěngshuǐ xǐzǎo lái duànliàn shēntǐ.

He is accustomed to taking cold showers to build his body.

前请确保热水器的温度是合适的。

Xǐzǎo qián qǐng quèbào rèshuǐqì de wēndù shì héshì de.

Please make sure the water heater's temperature is appropriate before taking a shower.