Definition
擦 (cā) means to wipe or rub a surface with a cloth or towel, or to apply something (like lipstick or lotion) by rubbing. It differs from 刷 (shuā 'to brush') which uses a brush, and from 涂/抹 (tú/mǒ 'to apply, smear') which are more for spreading paint or cream. 揉 (róu) and 搓 (cuō) involve kneading or rubbing between hands, not on a surface.
verb
to wipeto rub (with a cloth or towel)to apply (lipstick, cream, lotion, etc.) by rubbing or patting
Examples
- 擦。Qǐng bǎ zhuōzi cā gānjìng.Please wipe the table clean.
- 擦。Tā měitiān zǎoshang dōu cā kǒuhóng.She applies lipstick every morning.
- 擦。Tā qí chē cóng wǒmen shēnbiān cā guò.He brushed past us on his bike.
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