ChiramiN4 kanji · 9 strokes
洗 means wash
洗
氵 water · 先 first
洗Memory trick
Water first (先): to wash.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- wash, inquire into, probe
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 9
- School grade
- Grade 6 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) あらう arau
あらう (arau) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) セン sen
セン (sen) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
洗う あらう · arau
to wash, to cleanse
Built from
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Quick check
What does 洗 mean?
Right: 洗 means wash.Not quite: 洗 means wash.In 洗う, which reading does 洗 use?
Right. 洗う is read あらう (arau): 洗 takes あら, its Japanese reading, with う after it.Not quite. 洗う is read あらう (arau): 洗 takes あら, its Japanese reading, with う after it.