洗

Wash

あら(う) (arau)

JLPT N4

Interesting Fact

Before entering a Shinto shrine, visitors stop at a small stone basin called a temizuya (手水舎). ⛩️ Using a wooden ladle, they wash their left hand, right hand, and rinse their mouth in a simple purification ritual. The purpose isn't hygiene—it's to symbolically cleanse the body and mind before approaching the shrine. Even today, millions of Japanese people follow this tradition before offering a prayer.

Memory Trick

The character 洗 combines 氵(water) with 先 (ahead, before). 📜 In ancient Chinese, it originally referred to washing with water, especially before important activities or ceremonies.