Readings: セン (Onyomi), あら.う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Wash
The kanji 洗 is composed of the radical 氵 (water) and 先 (to go before, to precede, also providing the phonetic element). It signifies the act of cleansing or purifying with water.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 洗 begins with the three strokes of the water radical (氵) on the left. Then, proceed with the strokes for 先 on the right, starting with the horizontal stroke, followed by the two vertical strokes, then the short horizontal, and finally the bottom vertical stroke and the diagonal hook.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 氵 (水) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- セン (sen)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- あらう (arau)
Common Words Using 洗
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 洗濯 | せんたく | laundry, washing |
| 洗面所 | せんめんじょ | washroom, lavatory |
| 洗剤 | せんざい | detergent |
| 洗眼 | せんがん | eye wash |
| 洗浄 | せんじょう | washing, cleaning (industrial) |
| 水洗 | すいせん | flushing (with water) |
| 洗車 | せんしゃ | car wash |
| 洗米 | せんまい | washing rice |
| 洗礼 | せんれい | baptism |
| 手洗い | てあらい | hand washing, restroom (colloquial) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 洗う | あらう | to wash |
| 洗い物 | あらいもの | things to be washed (dishes, laundry) |
| 洗い出し | あらいだし | washing out, revealing |
| 洗い場 | あらいば | washing place, wash area |
| 洗い流す | あらいながす | to wash away, rinse away |
| 洗い落とす | あらいおとす | to wash off, scrub off |
| 洗い立て | あらいたて | freshly washed |
| 洗いざらい | あらいざらい | everything (thoroughly) |
| 洗い越し | あらいこし | overflow (of water in washing) |
| 洗い熊 | あらいぐま | raccoon (literally “washing bear”) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 毎日、服を洗います。
Kana: まいにち、ふくをあらいます。
Romaji: Mainichi, fuku o araimasu.
English: I wash clothes every day.
Japanese: 手洗いはとても大切です。
Kana: てあらいはとてもたいせつです。
Romaji: Te-arai wa totemo taisetsu desu.
English: Hand washing is very important.
Japanese: この洗剤はよく汚れが落ちる。
Kana: このせんざいはよくよごれがおちる。
Romaji: Kono senzai wa yoku yogore ga ochiru.
English: This detergent removes dirt well.
Japanese: 洗面所で顔を洗った。
Kana: せんめんじょでかおをあらった。
Romaji: Senmenjo de kao o aratta.
English: I washed my face in the washroom.
Japanese: 車を洗う時間がない。
Kana: くるまをあらうじかんがない。
Romaji: Kuruma o arau jikan ga nai.
English: I don’t have time to wash the car.
Japanese: お米を洗ってから炊きます。
Kana: おこめをあらってからたきます。
Romaji: Okome o aratte kara takimasu.
English: I wash the rice before cooking it.
Japanese: これは洗濯機で洗えます。
Kana: これはせんたくきであらえます。
Romaji: Kore wa sentakuki de araemasu.
English: This can be washed in a washing machine.
Japanese: 果物をよく洗ってから食べてください。
Kana: くだものをよくあらってからたべてください。
Romaji: Kudamono o yoku aratte kara tabete kudasai.
English: Please wash the fruit well before eating.
Japanese: シャンプーで髪を洗う。
Kana: シャンプーでかみをあらう。
Romaji: Shanpū de kami o arau.
English: I wash my hair with shampoo.
Japanese: 台所で洗い物をしています。
Kana: だいどころであらいものをしています。
Romaji: Daidokoro de araimono o shite imasu.
English: I am doing the dishes in the kitchen.
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