澡 (zǎo) - to bathe & to wash

澡Tone 3

zǎo ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

澡 · zǎo

to bathe;

to wash;

to cleanse oneself

to batheto washto cleanse oneself

Usage highlights

take a bathbathhousebathtubbath towelbath waterbathing suit

Synonyms

  • 洗— to wash; to clean
  • 浴— to bathe; to immerse
  • 沐— to wash the hair; to bathe

Antonyms

  • 污— dirty; filthy
  • 脏— dirty; soiled

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I take a bath every morning (我每天早上洗澡).
  • She washes her hands before eating (她饭前洗手).
  • The public bathhouse is crowded (公共澡堂很拥挤).
  • He enjoys soaking in the bathtub (他喜欢泡澡).

Collocations

  • take a bath(洗澡)
  • bathhouse(澡堂)
  • bathtub(澡盆)
  • bath towel(澡巾)
  • bath water(澡水)
  • bathing suit(澡衣)

Idioms

  • Clean hands and bathed body(澡手浴身)
  • Wash the heart and scrub the lungs(澡心浴肺)
  • Bathe in virtue and soak in benevolence(澡身浴德)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, bathing was not just physical cleansing but also spiritual purification.
  • Public bathhouses (澡堂) have been important social spaces in Chinese communities for centuries.
  • The character appears in classical texts describing ritual purification before important ceremonies.

FAQ