攃 (cā) - To rub & to wipe

攃Tone 1

cā ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

不偲

攃 · cā

To rub;

to wipe;

to polish;

also used in some dialects for 'to apply' or 'to smear'.

To rubto wipeto polish

Usage highlights

Rub handsWipe cleanPolish shoesApply medicineSmear oilScrub surface

Synonyms

  • 擦— to wipe; to rub (more common variant)
  • 摩— to rub; to stroke
  • 抹— to wipe; to smear

Antonyms

  • 刮— to scrape (opposite of gentle rubbing)
  • 撕— to tear (opposite of smooth rubbing motion)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He rubbed his hands together (他攃了攃手).
  • She wiped the table clean (她攃干净桌子).
  • Polish the surface until smooth (把表面攃光滑).
  • Apply some ointment (攃点药膏).

Collocations

  • Rub hands(攃手)
  • Wipe clean(攃干净)
  • Polish shoes(攃鞋)
  • Apply medicine(攃药)
  • Smear oil(攃油)
  • Scrub surface(攃表面)

Idioms

  • Rub and wipe repeatedly(摩攃再三)
  • Polish until shiny(攃得锃亮)
  • Apply powder and paint(涂脂攃粉)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in various Chinese dialects with slightly different meanings related to rubbing or applying substances.
  • Often appears in informal or regional contexts rather than formal written language.
  • The character shares semantic components with other characters related to hand actions.

FAQ