Japanese

あらう
Meaning: to wash; to investigate
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 洗う 洗わない
Polite 洗います 洗いません
Past 洗った 洗わなかった
Polite + Past 洗いました 洗いませんでした
Te-form 洗って 洗わなくて
Potential 洗える 洗えない
Passive 洗われる 洗われない
Causative 洗わせる 洗わせない
Causative + Passive 洗わされる 洗わされない
Imperative 洗え 洗うな

Handwriting

洗
う

Example sentences

Before meals, always wash your hands with soap.
お風呂に入る前に体を洗う
Wash your body before getting in the bath.
手を洗ってから食事をする
I wash my hands before eating.
朝起きて顔を洗う
Wake up in the morning and wash my face.
まずは手を洗ってから食事にしましょう。
First, let's wash our hands before we eat.
食事の前に手を洗うのは常識だ。
It is common sense to wash your hands before meals.
手を洗った後、タオルできれいに手を拭いた。
After washing my hands, I wiped them clean with a towel.
彼は食後に食器を丁寧に洗った。
He carefully washed the dishes after the meal.
石鹸でよくあわを立てて洗う。
Lather well with soap and wash.
まず野菜を洗います。次に、それらを細かく切ります。
First wash the vegetables. Next, cut them into small pieces.

Usage Notes

Mainly means to clean with water. Can also mean to investigate a background or crime.

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