皂

zào
七 + 白

Definitions

zào (noun) soap
zào (adjective) black

Etymology

About

皂, originally written as the variant 皁, was an ideogram for the color black or a dark crimson shade. In ancient texts it described the dark clothing of minor officials and servants, and also denoted an acorn or the oak tree that bears them. The modern character combines 白 (white) above 匕. Over time, it became associated with the Chinese soapberry, whose pods were boiled to make a lathering cleanser, shifting the primary meaning from black to soap and modern chemical cleaning products.

Example Sentences Hide

这块肥皂很香。

Zhè kuài féizào hěn xiāng.

This bar of soap smells very nice.

我用香皂洗了脸。

Wǒ yòng xiāngzào xǐ le liǎn.

I washed my face with scented soap.

皂盒里有一块新肥皂。

Zào hé lǐ yǒu yī kuài xīn féizào.

There is a new bar of soap in the soap dish.

古代的皂角可以用来清洁。

Gǔdài de zàojiǎo kěyǐ yòng lái qīngjié.

In ancient times, honey locust pods could be used for cleaning.

请把皂液倒入洗衣机。

Qǐng bǎ zàoyè dào rù xǐyījī.

Please pour the laundry detergent into the washing machine.

这块手工皂的成分很天然。

Zhè kuài shǒugōng zào de chéngfèn hěn tiānrán.

The ingredients of this handmade soap are very natural.

他的脸色变得皂白分明。

Tā de liǎnsè biàn de zào bái fēnmíng.

His complexion turned pale, making a clear contrast.

这种皂化反应是制作肥皂的关键步骤。

Zhè zhǒng zàohuà fǎnyìng shì zhìzuò féizào de guānjiàn bùzhòu.

This saponification reaction is a key step in making soap.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

唣 梍

Component: 七

切 乇 虍

Component: 白

的 原 白 百 怕 皇 伯 迫 拍 皆 帕 柏 泉 泊

Example Words

香皂 肥皂 肥皂剧 洗发皂 皂石 皂角 肥皂水 肥皂泡 青红皂白