刷子

• Pinyin: shuā zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 刷 = 尸 + 巾 + 刂, meaning to brush; 子 = noun suffix, making it a concrete object

Meaning

Brush; a tool with bristles used for cleaning, painting, or scrubbing.

A general term for any brush-type tool, including scrubbing brushes, paint brushes, shoe brushes, and cleaning brushes. Does not include toothbrushes (牙刷) or hairbrushes (梳子) in typical usage.

Examples

1. 你用这把刷子把鞋上的泥刷干净。 Use this brush to clean the mud off your shoes.
2. 油漆工拿着刷子在墙上刷白色的漆。 The painter held a brush and painted white paint on the wall.
3. 厨房的刷子该换一把新的了。 The kitchen brush should be replaced with a new one.

Usage Guide

Context: cleaning, tools

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 这把刷子的毛太硬了，换一把软的吧。(The bristles on this brush are too stiff; let's switch to a softer one.)
• 用刷子刷比用手洗干净多了。(Using a brush to scrub is much cleaner than washing by hand.)

Don't Say

• 我用刷子梳头发。(Don't use 刷子 for a hairbrush — use 梳子. 刷子 is for scrubbing or painting.)

Origin & History

Compound of 刷 (to brush) and 子 (noun suffix), forming a noun meaning 'a brush tool.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal