洗う

• 読み: あらう
• ローマ字: arau
• 漢字の分解: 洗 (sen/ara) — to wash, to cleanse
• 発音: /a.ɾa.ɯ/

意味

To wash; to cleanse; to rinse. Used for washing hands, dishes, clothes, and more.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the う ending (洗って, 洗った, 洗います). One of the first verbs children learn in Japan, especially 手を洗う (wash your hands). Also used figuratively in expressions like 足を洗う (to quit a shady business, literally 'wash one's feet').

例文

1. ご飯の前に手を洗いましょう。
2. 毎日お皿を洗っています。
3. 車を洗いたいです。

使い方ガイド

場面: hygiene, housework, daily life

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

The kanji 洗 combines 氵 (water radical) with 先 (before/ahead), suggesting water flowing forward to cleanse. The meaning of washing with water has been central since the character's creation.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal