Chinese word

洗手

Pronunciation

Pinyinxǐ shǒu

Meaning

  • verbwash one's hands

Example

吃饭前记得洗手。chī fàn qián jì de xí shǒu

Remember to wash your hands before eating.

Illustration for 洗手 (wash one's hands)

More examples

回家后先洗手再吃东西。huí jiā hòu xiān xí shǒu zài chī dōng xī

After you get home, wash your hands before eating.

Core concept

Water and soap move over the hands, lifting away dirt.

Common phrases

  • 吃饭前洗手chī fàn qián xí shǒu

    wash one's hands before eating

  • 上厕所后洗手shàng cè suǒ hòu xí shǒu

    wash one's hands after using the toilet

  • 做饭前洗手zuò fàn qián xí shǒu

    wash one's hands before cooking

Similar words

洗xǐ: Washing an object or part of the body with water to remove dirt.
洗澡xí zǎo: Washing the whole body with water or warm water to get clean.

Definition in Chinese

用水和肥皂清洗手部以去除污垢。yòng shuǐ hé féi zào qīng xǐ shǒu bù yǐ qù chú wū gòu

Word origin

洗 (xǐ, "wash") + 手 (shǒu, "hand") forms a verb-object phrase that names the action by its target.

Usage tips

  • Chinese often omits possessive words for body parts when the owner is clear, so the hands belong to the relevant person in context.

Other meanings

  • handwashingnoun

Opposites

  • 弄脏nòng zāngmake dirtyverb

Related words

Word lists with this word