Chinese word

揉

Pronunciation

Pinyinróu

Meaning

  • verbrub

Example

我帮你揉肩膀。wǒ bāng nǐ róu jiān bǎng

I'll rub your shoulders for you.

Illustration for 揉 (rub)

More examples

他困得一直用手揉眼睛。tā kùn de yì zhí yòng shǒu róu yǎn jīng

He was so sleepy that he kept rubbing his eyes with his hand.

Core concept

Hands work something back and forth until it feels less tight, less hard, or more workable.

Common phrases

  • 揉眼睛róu yǎn jīng

    rub one's eyes

  • 揉肩膀róu jiān bǎng

    massage shoulders

  • 揉面团róu miàn tuán

    knead dough

Similar words

按àn: Presses firmly on a person or thing with the hand or fingers.
按摩àn mó: Gives a person a massage by pressing or rubbing the body with the hands or a tool.
搓cuō: Rubs a surface back and forth between the hands or with the palms.

Definition in Chinese

用手按、搓、捏等动作，使身体部位放松或使物体变软、成形。yòng shǒu àn cuō niē děng dòng zuò shǐ shēn tǐ bù wèi fàng sōng huò shǐ wù tǐ biàn ruǎn chéng xíng

Word origin

揉 (róu, "rub") is formed from 扌 (shǒu, "hand") + 柔 (róu, "soft"), linking hand action with softening.

Usage tips

  • English often chooses different verbs for body care and material work, while Chinese can keep one verb and let the object supply the context.

Other meanings

  • massageverb
  • kneadverb

Related words

  • 揉搓róu cuōrubverb
  • 揉捏róu niēpinch and kneadverb

Word lists with this word