洗

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 洗 (xǐ) for "to wash" is composed of two parts: the radical 氵(shuǐ), which represents water, and the phonetic component 西 (xī). The radical 氵indicates that the character is related to water, while the phonetic component 西 provides a clue to its pronunciation.The original form of 洗 was 澣, which was a pictograph of a person washing their hands in a basin of water. Over time, the character evolved into its current form, 洗.The character 洗 has several meanings, including "to wash", "to cleanse", and "to rinse". It can also be used figuratively to mean "to purify" or "to cleanse oneself of guilt".In addition to its literal meaning, 洗 can also be used in a number of idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 洗心革面 (xǐxīn gémiàn) means "to change one's ways completely", while the proverb 洗耳恭听 (xǐ'ěr gōngtīng) means "to listen attentively".The character 洗 is a common character in Chinese, and it is used in a wide variety of contexts. By understanding its etymology, you can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and usage.