Japanese Conversation · Level 53
90 words
Japanese word
手洗い
Pronunciation
Romajitearai
Meaning
- nounhandwashing
Example
手洗いは大切です。te ara i wa tai setsu de su
Handwashing is important.
More examples
外から帰ったら、手洗いをしてから食事をします。soto ka ra kae tta ra te ara i o shi te ka ra shoku ji o shi ma su
When I come home, I wash my hands before eating.
Core concept
It describes the deliberate act of making the hands clean by washing them with water or another cleansing substance.
Common phrases
手洗いをするte ara i o su ru
wash one's hands
石けんで手洗いをするsek ke n de te ara i o su ru
wash one's hands with soap
手洗いの習慣te ara i no shū kan
handwashing habit
Definition in Japanese
手の汚れを水やせっけんなどで洗い清める行為。te no yogo re o mizu ya se kke n na do de ara i kiyo me ru kō i
Word origin
The compound combines 手 (te, "hand") with 洗い (arai, "washing"), the noun form related to 洗う (arau, "to wash").
Usage tips
- The single word handwashing often appears in public-health advice and labels for hygiene facilities, which makes it a standard term for this practice in English.
Other meanings
- washbasinnoun