Definitions

(verb) to wipe; to clean
(verb) to rub; to polish

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

擦 (cā) is a phono-semantic compound where the left component 扌(shǒu), the hand radical, indicates a manual action. The right component 察 (chá), meaning to examine, provides the pronunciation. The character's core meaning refers to the physical motions of rubbing, wiping, or erasing, like cleaning a surface or striking a match. It can also describe two objects grazing past each other.

Example Sentences Hide

我在桌子。

Wǒ zài cā zhuōzi.

I am wiping the table.

掉了灰尘。

Tā cā diào le huīchén.

He wiped off the dust.

她每天地板。

Tā měitiān cā dìbǎn.

She mops the floor every day.

干净你的手。

Qǐng cā gānjìng nǐ de shǒu.

Please wipe your hands clean.

我用毛巾汗。

Wǒ yòng máojīn cā hàn.

I use a towel to wipe sweat.

他轻轻去她的眼泪。

Tā qīngqīng cā qù tā de yǎnlèi.

He gently wiped away her tears.

黑板是值日生的职责。

Cā hēibǎn shì zhírìshēng de zhízé.

Cleaning the blackboard is the duty of the student on duty.

会产生热量。

Mócā huì chǎnshēng rèliàng.

Friction generates heat.