About
The character 洗 (xǐ) is a phono-semantic compound. The water radical 氵 (shuǐ) places it in the domain of liquids, while the component 先 (xiān) provides the pronunciation and independently means "first". Its core meaning is the physical act of using water to remove dirt from objects, clothing, or the body. From this concrete concept, the character extends metaphorically to describe cleansing a person's reputation, purging undesirable elements from an organization, or the chemical process of developing photographic film.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我在洗衣服。
他经常洗手。
妹妹在洗澡。
爸爸用洗衣机洗衣服。
我不洗冷水澡。
你洗过这些盘子吗？
洗完衣服后，她要去超市。
这家洗衣店洗得很干净。