What does 洗 mean in Chinese?

洗 (xǐ) means "to wash; to bathe; to develop (photo)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 2.

How do you pronounce 洗?

洗 is pronounced "xǐ" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 3.

What HSK level is 洗?

洗 is an HSK 2 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 洗?

Common words with 洗 include 干洗 (to dry clean), 劫洗 (to loot), 受洗 (to receive baptism), 拆洗 (to unpick and wash (e.g. padded garment)), 搓洗 (to rub clean (garments)).

How do you write 洗?

洗 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 氵. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

洗 (xǐ), to wash

洗

xǐ

to wash; to bathe; to develop (photo)

HSK 2verb9 strokes

Character Breakdown

洗 = 氵 + 先

Water comes first — to wash

Radical: 氵 (no. 85)Strokes: 9

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to wash
to bathe
to develop (photo)

Example Sentences

我每天洗手。

Wǒ měi tiān xǐ shǒu

I wash my hands every day

Words Containing 洗

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
干洗	gān xǐ	to dry clean
劫洗	jié xǐ	to loot
受洗	shòu xǐ	to receive baptism
拆洗	chāi xǐ	to unpick and wash (e.g. padded garment)
搓洗	cuō xǐ	to rub clean (garments)

Related Words

冲洗(chōng xǐ)· to rinse

→

显像(xiǎn xiàng)· to form a picture

→

上空洗车(shàng kōng xǐ chē)· topless car wash

→

丢手(diū shǒu)· to wash one's hands of sth

→

Grammar Notes

First...Then (先...再/然后)HSK 3

先 + Verb₁，再/然后 + Verb₂

Appears in these articles

Chinese Home Vocabulary: 80+ Words for Your House & Apartment

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

洗: HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 洗 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.