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Kotomora

洗

wash, inquire into, probe

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • セン

Kun'yomi

  • あら.う

Nanori

  • あらい
  • らい

Meaning

洗 centers on cleansing with water: washing something clean. The extended senses of inquiring into or probing something come from the idea of washing away dirt to reveal the truth underneath.

Most common words using 洗

22 of 167
  • 洗うあらう
    N5

    to wash; to cleanse; to rinse

  • 洗濯せんたく
    N5

    washing; laundry

  • 洗脳せんのう

    brainwashing

  • 洗浄せんじょう

    washing; cleansing; cleaning; laundering

  • 洗練せんれん
    N2

    refinement; polish

  • 洗剤せんざい
    N3

    detergent; cleanser; cleaning agent; washing material

  • 洗礼せんれい

    baptism; christening

  • 洗面せんめん
    N1

    washing one's face

  • 手洗いてあらい
    N3

    washing one's hands; water (or basin, etc.) for washing one's hands

  • 洗い物あらいもの
    N2

    things to be washed; (dirty) dishes; laundry; washing

  • 皿洗いさらあらい

    washing-up; dish-washing

  • 水洗すいせん
    N1

    washing with water; rinsing; flushing

  • 洗髪せんぱつ

    washing one's hair; having a shampoo

  • 洗濯機せんたくき
    N5

    washing machine; (clothes) washer

  • 洗い上げるあらいあげる

    to finish washing; to wash well; to investigate thoroughly

  • 合成洗剤ごうせいせんざい

    synthetic detergent

  • 洗面所せんめんじょ
    N2

    washroom; bathroom

  • 洗面器せんめんき
    N2

    wash basin; wash bowl (incl. portable bowl in a public bath)

  • お手洗いおてあらい
    N5

    toilet; restroom; lavatory; bathroom

  • 洗濯物せんたくもの
    N4

    laundry; the washing

  • 洗浄剤せんじょうざい

    detergent; cleanser; cleaning agent; washing material

  • 無洗米むせんまい

    pre-washed rice; wash-free rice; musenmai

Explore all words using 洗 →

Study

Etymology

洗 combines 氵 (water) with 先, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of going forward or ahead, suggesting water moving over something to clean it.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 flows ahead 先, washing everything clean. Picture a stream of water moving forward and scrubbing away dirt.

Reading mnemonic

For セン, imagine sending water ahead to wash: send -> セン, and the water cleans as it goes.