How to Write 搌 (zhǎn) — Meaning “to wipe off; to dab”

Imagine you spread (展) a cleaning cloth with your hand (扌) to dab a spill. Picture the cloth slowly unfolding as you wipe the surface. The action of spreading and dabbing matches the shape of 展 and the hand radical.

Pay attention to the right side 展: it has a 尸 on top, then a horizontal stroke, and finally a 衣 (clothing) shape at the bottom. The left hand radical should be narrow and tall, while the right side is wider. A common mistake is making the 衣 part too compact or forgetting the middle horizontal stroke.

搌 (wipe/dab) uses the hand to remove liquid, while 捧 (hold in both hands) involves lifting or supporting something. 挲 (stroke/rub) is a gentle back-and-forth motion, not a dab. Visually, 搌 has 展 on the right, 捧 has 奉, and 挲 has 沙 — each has a different right component.

搌 is used in daily cleaning contexts, such as 搌布 (rag) and 搌干 (wipe dry). You might say 搌一下桌子 (give the table a wipe) or 用布搌干碗 (dab the bowl dry with a cloth). It is not in HSK but is practical for household vocabulary, especially in kitchens or when describing quick cleaning actions.

Common words containing 搌 include: 搌布 (zhǎn bù) — cleaning cloth; rag; 搌干 (zhǎn gàn) — to wipe dry; to dab dry; 搌一下 (zhǎn yī xià) — to give it a wipe; to dab it.