洗(あら)う

あらう
verb (godan)
to wash
1. to wash
Used for cleaning something with water, typically hands, dishes, clothes, or a car. The object being washed takes the particle を.
手(て)を洗(あら)ってください。
Please wash your hands.
食(た)べる前(まえ)に手(て)を洗(あら)います。
I wash my hands before eating.
車(くるま)を洗(あら)いたいです。
I want to wash the car.
朝(あさ)起(お)きたら、まず顔(かお)を洗(あら)います。
When I wake up in the morning, I first wash my face.
ごはんを食(た)べた後(あと)、お皿(さら)を洗(あら)うのは私(わたし)の仕事(しごと)です。
Washing the dishes after meals is my job.

TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive). No intransitive pair. Pattern: Xを洗(あら)う.

ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing action. 洗(あら)っている = 'is washing.'

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 手(て)を洗(あら)う (wash hands)
  • 顔(かお)を洗(あら)う (wash face)
  • 皿(さら)を洗(あら)う (wash dishes)
  • 車(くるま)を洗(あら)う (wash a car)

Different from 洗濯(せんたく)する which specifically means 'to do laundry' (wash clothes in a machine).

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:55 · Revised 2026.2.19 10:34
00500/00827_arau