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JapanLingo

wash

N4
Onyomi
Kunyomi
Stroke count
9
JLPT
N4

Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.

Memory tip

A flat illustration of a river bending past a stone in its current, with the kanji 洗 ("wash") drawn into the picture.

Break 洗 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a river bending past a stone in its current, put 洗 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wash" — wash. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

Stroke Order

Stroke count: 9

General writing tips

These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.

  • •Write from top to bottom.
  • •Write from left to right.
  • •Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
  • •Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
  • •In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
  • •This kanji has 9 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.

Step by step

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Practice Writing

Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.

Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.

Writing Tips

  • Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
  • Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
  • Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
  • Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.

Example words

sentaku

laundry

sentakusuru

to do laundry

sentakushita

plain past: did laundry

sentakushimasu

polite: do laundry

sentakuchuudesu

in the middle of laundry

sentakushinai

plain negative: does not do laundry

Example sentences (3)

tenki ga ii node, sentaku o shimasu.

The weather is nice, so I will do the laundry.

asa, shatsu o sentaku shimashita.

I washed a shirt this morning.

shuumatsu wa heya o souji shitari, sentaku o shitari shimasu.

On weekends I do things like cleaning my room and doing laundry.