Definitions

zǎo (verb,noun) bath; bathe

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

澡 is a phono-semantic compound where the water radical 氵 on the left indicates its meaning related to liquids and cleansing, while the component 喿 on the right provides the phonetic element. Its core meaning is washing the body to remove dirt. Historically, it could refer to washing specific body parts, especially the hands, before rituals or ceremonies requiring purity. Today, it primarily refers to bathing or showering in daily life, most commonly seen in the compound 洗澡 (xǐzǎo), shifting from a specialized ritual term to an everyday word for personal hygiene.

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.