洗澡
xǐzǎo
The English phrase "take a shower" is translated into Chinese as 洗澡 (xǐzǎo).
洗澡 is the standard way to say you are washing your body with water. It is a general term that does not specify if you are using a bathtub or a shower head.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the verb 洗 (xǐ), meaning 'to wash' and the noun 澡 (zǎo), meaning 'bath'.
Which one should you use?
While 洗澡 is the general term for bathing, the phrase 冲澡 is an informal way to say "take a shower".
How does it change in a sentence?
洗澡 is a separable verb, which means you can insert other words between the two characters, such as words describing duration or frequency. For example, adding the measure word 个 between the characters to create 洗个澡 makes the action sound more casual or implies a quick, brief shower.
How do you pronounce it?
xǐzǎo
Did you know?
- The character 洗 is also used in the word for 'brainwashing', 洗脑 (xǐnǎo). It literally means to 'wash' the brain to remove old ideas.
- Public bathhouses were historically centers of social networking in China. In these settings, the act of 洗澡 was as much about chatting and gossip as it was about cleanliness.
- In Chinese medicine and folk belief, taking a 洗澡 late at night or while very tired is sometimes cautioned against as it might let 'cold wind' enter the body.
Examples in context
- 我通常在晚上洗澡。I usually take a shower in the evening.This sentence is useful for expressing a routine of taking a shower in the evening using 洗澡.Tatoeba #332837 by fucongcong, translation #2190 by CK
- 我可不可以早上洗澡？May I take a shower in the morning?This sentence is useful for asking permission to take a shower in the morning using 洗澡.Tatoeba #676548 by sysko, translation #277747 by CK
- 下线去洗澡Signing off, gonna take a shower.This sentence is useful for announcing that you are going to take a shower using 洗澡.Tatoeba #347523 by zhouj1955, translation #778536 by FeuDRenais2
- 我需要洗澡。I need to take a shower.
- 请等一下，我要洗澡。Please wait a moment, I am going to take a shower.
- 我冲澡去了，一会儿再见！I'm going to take a shower now, see you later!
- 快点冲澡，我们要赶时间。Hurry up and take a shower, we are running out of time.
Example conversation
A young man tells his girlfriend he is tired after work.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你累了吗？Nǐ lèi le ma?Are you tired?
- 浩然 Haoran很累，我想去洗澡。Hěn lèi, wǒ xiǎng qù xǐzǎo.Very tired, I want to take a shower.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那快去吧，浩然。Nà kuài qù ba, Hàorán.Then go quickly, Haoran.
- 浩然 Haoran好，洗完澡再聊。Hǎo, xǐ wán zǎo zài liáo.Okay, let's chat after I finish bathing.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
