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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'to wipe' with 擦 (cā)

    Actions & Events

    Structure

    擦 + Result Complement + Object

    Explanation

    擦 (cā) means "to wipe," "to rub," or "to clean by wiping" and describes the action of using a cloth or similar material to clean a surface. It is commonly followed by a complement indicating the result, such as 擦干净 (wipe clean) or 擦掉 (wipe off). This is an everyday verb used in practical, household contexts.

    Examples

    • 他拿起抹布把桌子擦得干干净净。

      tā ná qǐ mābù bǎ zhuōzi cā de gāngān jìngjìng.

      He picked up a rag and wiped the table spotlessly clean.

    • 下雨天鞋子很脏，进门前先擦一下吧。

      xiàyǔ tiān xiézi hěn zāng, jìnmén qián xiān cā yīxià ba.

      Shoes get dirty on rainy days, so wipe them off before coming in.

    • 她用纸巾擦掉了眼镜上的水珠。

      tā yòng zhǐjīn cā diào le yǎnjìng shàng de shuǐzhū.

      She wiped the water droplets off her glasses with a tissue.

    Expressing 'to wipe' with 擦 (cā) | Chinese Grammar