搵 (wèn) - To wipe & to rub

搵Tone 4

wèn ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

搵 · wèn

To wipe;

to rub;

to press;

to dip;

to immerse;

to hide;

to conceal;

(Cantonese) to look for;

to find.

To wipeto rubto press

Usage highlights

Wipe tearsDip in inkLook for workPress acupuncture pointsHide one's feelingsRub the eyes

Synonyms

  • 擦— to wipe; to rub
  • 抹— to wipe; to erase
  • 找— to look for; to find (Mandarin equivalent of Cantonese 搵)

Antonyms

  • 露— to reveal; to expose (antonym to the 'hide' sense)
  • 显— to show; to display (antonym to the 'conceal' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Wipe away tears (搵泪).
  • Dip a brush in ink (搵墨).
  • Look for a job (搵工 - Cantonese).
  • Press with fingers (搵按).

Collocations

  • Wipe tears(搵泪)
  • Dip in ink(搵墨)
  • Look for work(搵工 - Cantonese)
  • Press acupuncture points(搵穴)
  • Hide one's feelings(搵情)
  • Rub the eyes(搵眼)

Idioms

  • Seeking a living everywhere(四处搵食)
  • Wiping away blood and tears(搵血泪)
  • Hiding one's talents(搵才不露)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Classical Chinese, primarily means 'to wipe', 'to press', or 'to dip'.
  • In Cantonese, widely used to mean 'to look for', 'to find', or 'to seek'.
  • The character appears in some regional expressions and idioms, particularly in southern China.

FAQ