How to Write 揩 (kāi) — Meaning “to wipe”

Visualize your hand (扌) wiping 'all' (皆) surfaces clean. The component 皆 can be mentally linked to the idea of 'everything' — so you are using your hand to wipe everything.

The left radical 扌 is 3 strokes: horizontal, vertical hook, and a short upward stroke. The right part 皆 has 9 strokes: first write the top 比 (two 匕 side by side, 4 strokes) then the bottom 白 (5 strokes). A common mistake is to write 比 too wide or to merge strokes; keep the two halves of 比 narrow so the whole character balances.

揩 (kāi) means to wipe, while 挨 (āi) means to lean on or suffer, and 挫 (cuò) means to defeat or frustrate. Visually, 挨 has 矣 on the right, 挫 has 坐 on the right, and 揩 has 皆 on the right. Remember that 揩's 皆 includes a 'white' (白) element, which can remind you of wiping something clean.

揩 is commonly used in daily actions like 揩汗 (wipe sweat) and 揩干净 (wipe clean). The expression 揩油 (literally 'wipe oil') is an idiom meaning to take advantage of someone or to sponge off others, often in a playful or critical context. It is not a high-frequency word in exams but appears in casual conversation and literature.

Common words containing 揩 include: 揩汗 (kāi hàn) — to wipe off sweat; 揩干净 (kāi gān jìng) — to wipe clean; 揩油 (kāi yóu) — to take advantage of someone; to sponge off.