verb HSK 2
to take a bath · to bathe · to shower
Meaning
洗澡 is an everyday verb meaning to wash one's body, whether in a bath or shower. It's a separable verb compound where 洗 means 'to wash' and 澡 refers to 'bath' or the act of bathing. This is one of the most common daily activity verbs in Mandarin.
Usage
Used naturally in daily conversation to refer to bathing or showering. Can be separated by inserting other elements like 了 or 过, as in 洗过澡. Often appears with time expressions to indicate when someone bathes. The verb is neutral in register and appropriate for all contexts.
Examples
- 01我每天晚上都洗澡。.I take a bath every night.
- 02他洗完澡就睡觉了。.He went to sleep right after bathing.
Characters
Measure words
- 次洗一次澡
Common collocations
- 洗澡间bathroom (for bathing)
- 洗个澡to take a bath (casual)
- 去洗澡to go take a bath
- 洗完澡after bathing
Origin
澡 originally referred to hot water used for bathing. The combination 洗澡 literally means 'wash bath' and has been the standard term for bathing in modern Mandarin.