揩 (kāi) - To wipe & to rub
揩 · kāi
To wipe;
to rub;
to clean or polish by rubbing.
To wipeto rubto clean or polish by rubbing.
Usage highlights
Wipe the tableWipe away sweatWipe tearsPolish shoesWipe oilWipe clean
Usage & contexts
Examples
- Wipe the table (揩桌子).
- Wipe away sweat (揩汗).
- Wipe one's tears (揩眼泪).
- Polish shoes (揩皮鞋).
Collocations
- Wipe the table(揩桌子)
- Wipe away sweat(揩汗)
- Wipe tears(揩眼泪)
- Polish shoes(揩皮鞋)
- Wipe oil(揩油)
- Wipe clean(揩干净)
Idioms
- To take advantage at others' expense(揩油)
- To wipe away tears and blood(揩泪抹血)
- To wipe one's eyes and wait(揩拭以待)
Cultural background
FAQ- The character 揩 is often associated with the idiom '揩油' (kāi yóu), which metaphorically means to take small advantages or get petty benefits at someone else's expense.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the action of wiping or cleaning is seen as a meticulous and careful process, reflecting values of cleanliness and order.