How to Write 拭 (shì) — Meaning “to wipe”

Imagine wiping a formula (式) off a whiteboard with your hand (扌). That action of cleaning the formula helps you remember both the meaning "to wipe" and the shape of the character.

Write the left radical 扌 first, keeping it narrow; then write 式 on the right. A common mistake is making the slanted hook (\") inside 式 too short or too flat, which breaks the balance of the character.

拭 (to wipe) uses 式 on the right, while 扭 (to twist) uses 丑 (ugly). Visually, 拭 has a slanted hook inside 式, whereas 扭 has a horizontal stroke through 丑. Their meanings are also completely different: wiping versus twisting.

拭 appears in formal or literary phrases like 擦拭 (to wipe clean) and 拭目以待 (to wipe your eyes and wait, meaning to wait and see). It is not used in everyday conversation as much as 擦, but 拭目以待 is a common idiom expressing eager anticipation.

Common words containing 拭 include: 擦拭 (cā shì) — To wipe clean; 拭去 (shì qù) — to wipe away; 拭目以待 (shì mù yǐ dài) — to wait and see.