How to Write 洗 (xǐ) — Meaning “To wash.”

Imagine you always wash your hands before (先) eating, and you need water (氵) to do it. So picture yourself at a sink: first (先) water (氵) comes out, then you wash.

Write the left radical first: dot, dot, lift (提). Then the right part 先: left-falling stroke (撇), horizontal, vertical, horizontal, left-falling, and finally a hook (竖弯钩). A common mistake is making the third stroke of 氵 a horizontal dash instead of a rising lift, or forgetting the hook at the end of 先.

洗 (xǐ) has the right side 先, meaning 'first,' and means 'to wash.' 汧 (qiān) has the right side 千 (qiān, 'thousand') and is a rare river name. 㳄 (xián) has the right side 欠 (qiàn, 'lack') and is an ancient character for saliva or flow. Visually, the bottom of 先 is a curved hook, while 千 ends with a straight vertical line, and 欠 has a large downward stroke with a hook.

洗 is used for basic cleaning actions like 洗手 (wash hands), 洗澡 (take a shower/bath), and 洗衣服 (do laundry). In Chinese culture, washing hands before meals is a common habit, and 洗澡 is often done in the evening to relax.

Common words containing 洗 include: 洗手 (xǐ shǒu) — To wash hands.; 洗澡 (xǐ zǎo) — To take a bath or shower.; 洗衣服 (xǐ yī fú) — Wash clothes / Do laundry.