Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 揉 | róu |
| 擦 | cā |
| 磨 | mó |
| 蹭 | cèng |
The term for 'rub' in Chinese varies significantly based on whether you are cleaning, grinding, massaging or grazing. While many words describe moving one object while maintaining contact with another over an area, the specific nuance of the action determines which word is appropriate. The noun form for the physical phenomenon of rubbing or friction is 摩擦.
Which one should you use?
Choose your verb based on the specific type of rubbing occurring:
– Use 揉 for circular, repetitive motions used for massage, kneading dough or rubbing body parts like the eyes or temples. – Use 擦 when the intent is to clean a surface or remove something, such as wiping a table or a tear. – Use 磨 when the action involves friction or grinding, such as grinding coffee beans or rubbing stones together. – Use 蹭 when an object or person lightly rubs or grazes against something, often in an unintentional or affectionate way, such as a cat rubbing against a leg.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
róu
Did you know?
- The verb 蹭 can describe a cat rubbing against a leg, but it is also used colloquially to describe 'mooching' or getting something for free by 'rubbing' along with others.
- The verb 蹭 for light grazing or rubbing is written with the radical for 'foot', suggesting the action involves a physical connection between the lower body and an object.
- The word 揉 is likely cognate with the word for 'soft' 柔, linking the action of kneading or massaging to the quality of softness.
Examples in context
- 手髒的時候千萬不要揉眼睛。Never rub your eyes with dirty hands.This sentence illustrates how to use 揉 when discussing the action of rubbing eyes.Tatoeba #397020 by nickyeow, translation #25715 by carlosalberto
- 她温柔地揉了揉他疼痛的肩膀。She gently rubbed his painful shoulder.
- 妈妈拿毛巾擦了擦桌子，让它保持干净。Mom wiped the table with a towel to keep it clean.
- 我喜欢用热水揉搓脚底，它能舒缓疲劳。I like to use hot water to rub the soles of my feet, it can relieve fatigue.
- 他的鞋子在地面上发出摩擦的声音。His shoes made a rubbing sound on the ground.
- 他用手揉了揉肚子。Tā yòng shǒu róu le róu dùzi.He rubbed his stomach with his hands.
- 别一直揉那个伤口。Bié yìzhí róu nàge shāngkǒu.Don't keep rubbing that wound.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yuting is helping Haoran with a muscle cramp.
- 雨婷 Yuting你的腿怎么了？Nǐ de tuǐ zěnme le?What happened to your leg?
- 浩然 Haoran这里有点抽筋。Zhèlǐ yǒudiǎn chōujīn.I have a cramp here.
- 雨婷 Yuting让我帮你揉揉吧。Ràng wǒ bāng nǐ róuróu ba.Let me rub it for you.
- 浩然 Haoran太谢谢你了，雨婷。Tài xièxiè nǐ le, Yǔtíng.Thank you so much, Yuting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rub” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 揉, 擦, 磨, 蹭, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
