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洗澡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
洗澡xǐzǎoto batheHSK 3, v, rank #2512, Medium
洗澡xǐzǎoto take a showerHSK 3, v, rank #2512, Medium
xǐzǎo(xi3zao3) T3
  1. 1to bathe
  2. 2to take a shower
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March 24, 2026
洗澡xǐzǎo(xi3zao3)

洗澡 (xǐ zǎo) means 'to bathe' or 'to take a shower'. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often referring to personal hygiene routines. The term can also imply relaxation, as bathing can be a soothing activity.

Frequency#2512DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, taking a bath is not just about cleanliness but often a time for relaxation, sometimes involving traditional practices like using herbal baths. Bathhouses are also common in some regions, especially in colder climates.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big tub filled with water (水, shuǐ) where you 'wash' (洗, xǐ) away the day's stress. The 'zǎo' sounds like 'zoo', where animals might enjoy a splash as they too need to clean up, making the imagery of a joyful bath vivid and memorable.

Meanings of 洗澡

xǐzǎo(xi3zao3)
1to bathe
2to take a shower
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 洗澡

洗澡Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2512Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 洗澡

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Podcast: 洗澡

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AI Study Notes for 洗澡

Quick Contrast

洗澡 (xǐzǎo) vs 洗手 (xǐshǒu) — choose 洗澡 when referring to bathing the whole body, while 洗手 specifically means to wash hands.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a big tub filled with water (水, shuǐ) where you 'wash' (洗, xǐ) away the day's stress. The 'zǎo' sounds like 'zoo', where animals might enjoy a splash as they too need to clean up, making the imagery of a joyful bath vivid and memorable.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 洗澡; the rising tone on '洗' and the falling tone on '澡' are crucial for clarity. Common collocations include '洗澡水' (bathwater) and '洗澡时间' (bath time). It's generally informal, so in formal situations, you might use '沐浴' (mùyù) instead.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 3 word, 洗澡 connects well with other vocabulary related to daily routines such as 吃饭 (chī fàn, to eat) and 睡觉 (shuì jiào, to sleep). Focus on practicing its use in sentences describing daily activities.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, taking a bath is not just about cleanliness but often a time for relaxation, sometimes involving traditional practices like using herbal baths. Bathhouses are also common in some regions, especially in colder climates.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 洗澡 with just 洗 (xǐ, to wash), forgetting that '澡' specifies bathing. For example, saying '我洗' (wǒ xǐ) without '澡' would be incomplete; the correct form is '我洗澡' (wǒ xǐ zǎo).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 洗澡

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Component Characters

洗xǐto wash
HSK 29 strokes氵
View full entry
澡zǎobath
16 strokes氵
View full entry

Write 洗澡

洗
澡

Practice writing 洗澡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 洗澡

洗澡 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

有了肥皂、水、泡泡和小船，孩子们都喜欢____。

With soap and water, bubbles and boats, children love bathtime.

Example Sentences for 洗澡 (10)

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1
有了肥皂、水、泡泡和小船，孩子们都喜欢洗澡。

yǒu le féi zào、 、、 shuǐ 、 pào pào hé， xiǎo chuán ， hái zǐ mén dū xǐ。

With soap and water, bubbles and boats, children love bathtime.
2
这三个小孩用同一盆水洗澡。

zhè sān gè xiǎo hái yòng tóng yī pén shuǐ xǐ zǎo。

The three children all bath in the same bath water.
3
在不干净的水中洗澡，他们可能会受到感染。

zài bù gān jìng de shuǐ zhōng xǐ zǎo， ， tā mén kě néng huì shòu dào gǎn。

By bathing in unclean water, they expose themselves to contamination.
4
他们看起来好像已经有好些天没洗澡了。

tā mén kàn qǐ lái hǎo xiàng yǐ jīng yǒu hǎo xiē tiān méi xǐ zǎo le。

They looked as if they hadn't washed in days.
5
这水比小孩的洗澡水稍微凉一些。

zhè shuǐ bǐ xiǎo hái de xǐ zǎo shuǐ shāo wēi liáng yī xiē。

The water was slightly cooler than a child's bath.
6
猫必须定期洗澡.

māo bì xū dìng qī xǐ zǎo.

Cats must be bathed regularly.
7
她给她洗澡并穿上干净的衣服。

tā gěi tā xǐ zǎo bìng chuān shàng gān jìng de yī fú。

She bathed her and dressed her in clean clothes.
8
我很快脱了衣服，放上洗澡的热水。

wǒ hěn kuài tuō le yī fú， ， fàng shàng xǐ zǎo de rè。

I threw off my clothing quickly and ran a warm bath.
9
迈克尔下楼洗澡去了.

mài kè ěr xià lóu xǐ zǎo qù le.

Michael went down the hall to wash.
10
我们用水来洗碗 、 杯子 、 衣服和洗澡.

wǒ mén yòng shuǐ lái xǐ wǎn、 、 bēi、 zǐ 、 yī fú hé.

We use water to wash the bowls, cups, clothes and ourselves.

Cultural Notes for 洗澡

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, taking a bath is not just about cleanliness but often a time for relaxation, sometimes involving traditional practices like using herbal baths. Bathhouses are also common in some regions, especially in colder climates.

Frequently Asked Questions about 洗澡

You can say '我想洗澡' (wǒ xiǎng xǐ zǎo).