wash, bathe

is composed of the radical (water) and (first, ahead). is a pictograph of a river, while depicts a person extending their foot. Thus, portrays a person cleaning dirt from their feet in a river, carrying the meaning of washing or cleansing.

Vocabulary of 洗

  • 洗劫 (ransack)
  • 洗澡 (bathing)
  • 洗手間 (toilet)

Related Characters: