Meaning
The kanji 濯 (Taku) primarily means 'to wash', 'to rinse', and 'to cleanse'. It describes the act of cleaning something with water, often implying a thorough purification or the removal of dirt and impurities. This kanji is a phono-semantic compound: one part hints at its meaning, and another suggests its pronunciation.
Visually, 濯 is made up of two main parts. On the left is the radical 氵 (sanzui), the 'water' radical. This component immediately tells us that the kanji's meaning relates to water or liquids. On the right is 矍 (kaku), which serves as the phonetic component, providing the 'daku' sound. While 矍 itself means 'to look around quickly and vigilantly', when combined with 'water', it forms the clear and logical meaning of 'to wash' or 'to rinse'.
This kanji has 18 strokes, making it a relatively complex character to write. It is not part of the Kyoiku (elementary school) kanji list. Instead, it's designated for general use, typically encountered at the junior high or high school level, corresponding to the JLPT N2 level.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi readings originate from Chinese pronunciations. They are primarily used when a kanji appears in compound words, often alongside other kanji.
ダク (DAKU) — This is the main On'yomi reading for 濯. It almost exclusively appears in compounds related to washing, cleaning, or rinsing, especially in formal or technical contexts. Its most frequent usage, however, is in the common word for 'laundry'.
洗濯 (sentaku) — Washing, laundry. This is the most common compound using 濯, referring to the act of washing clothes.
濯足 (takusoku) — Washing one's feet. This compound is less common in modern daily conversation, but you might find it in classical or very specific contexts.
洗濯物 (sentakumono) — Laundry (the items to be washed or already washed).
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations connected to the kanji's meaning. They are typically used when the kanji stands alone as a verb or adjective, often with okurigana (送り仮名) – trailing hiragana characters.
すす-ぐ (susu-gu) — This reading is used for the verb 'to rinse' or 'to wash out'. It implies cleaning something by passing water through or over it, often with a swirling motion to remove soap or dirt.
口を濯ぐ (kuchi wo susugu) — To rinse one's mouth. (e.g., after brushing teeth)
髪を濯ぐ (kami wo susugu) — To rinse one's hair. (e.g., after shampooing)
目を濯ぐ (me wo susugu) — To rinse one's eyes. (e.g., to remove an irritant)
ゆす-ぐ (yusu-gu) — Similar to すす-ぐ, this reading also means 'to rinse' or 'to wash out'. It often suggests a more vigorous or agitated rinsing motion, perhaps involving shaking or swishing. While often interchangeable with すす-ぐ, ゆす-ぐ can emphasize the act of shaking or agitating to get something clean.
食器を濯ぐ (shokki wo yusugu) — To rinse dishes.
洗濯物を濯ぐ (sentakumono wo yusugu) — To rinse the laundry.
汚れを濯ぐ (yogore wo yusugu) — To rinse off dirt.
Common Words & Compounds
Here are various words and compounds incorporating the kanji 濯, categorized by their usage to help you understand their contexts.
Daily Life & Household
- 洗濯 (sentaku) — This is the most common and essential word, meaning laundry or washing. It refers to the entire process of cleaning clothes.
- 洗濯機 (sentakuki) — A washing machine. This compound is crucial for talking about household appliances.
- 洗濯物 (sentakumono) — Laundry items; clothes that need washing or have just been washed. This term refers to the physical garments.
- 洗濯洗剤 (sentaku senzai) — Laundry detergent.
- 洗濯板 (sentakuita) — A washboard, a traditional tool for hand washing clothes.
- 洗濯槽 (sentakusou) — The tub or drum inside a washing machine where clothes are washed.
Actions & Processes
- 濯ぐ (susugu) — To rinse. This is the common verb form for simple rinsing actions, such as rinsing one's mouth or hair.
- 濯ぐ (yusugu) — To rinse, often with more emphasis on agitating or swishing. It's often used interchangeably with すす-ぐ.
- 手濯ぎ (tesusugi) — Hand washing or hand rinsing. This implies washing something manually, often for delicate items.
- 濯ぎ時間 (susugijikan) — Rinsing time, referring to the duration of the rinse cycle in a washing machine.
- 予め濯ぎ (yomesusugi) — Pre-rinse or preliminary rinse, a wash cycle before the main wash.
Figurative & Less Common Uses
- 心を濯ぐ (kokoro wo susugu) — To cleanse one's heart/mind; to purify one's feelings. This is a metaphorical usage, often referring to relieving oneself of worries or negative emotions.
- 濯濯 (takutaku) — Sparkling clean, gleaming. This is a literary or poetic expression, not commonly heard in everyday speech.
Example Sentences
毎日、洗濯機で洗濯します。
Mainichi, sentakuki de sentaku shimasu.
I do laundry in the washing machine every day.
食後は、必ず口を濯いでください。
Shokugo wa, kanarazu kuchi wo susuide kudasai.
Please always rinse your mouth after meals.
髪をシャンプーした後は、よく濯ぎましょう。
Kami wo shanpuu shita ato wa, yoku yusugimashou.
After shampooing your hair, let's rinse it well.
汗をかいた服は、すぐに洗濯するべきです。
Ase wo kaita fuku wa, sugu ni sentaku suru beki desu.
Clothes soaked with sweat should be washed immediately.
この食器は手で濯ぐのがおすすめです。
Kono shokki wa te de yusugu no ga osusume desu.
It's recommended to rinse these dishes by hand.
洗濯物が溜まっているので、今日は洗濯の日です。
Sentakumono ga tamatte iru node, kyou wa sentaku no hi desu.
There's a lot of laundry, so today is laundry day.
実験後は、使ったビーカーをきれいにするため水で濯いだ。
Jikkengo wa, tsukatta biikaa wo kirei ni suru tame mizu de susuguita.
After the experiment, I rinsed the used beakers with water to clean them.
洗濯機の濯ぎモードを選択して使います。
Sentakuki no susugi moodo wo sentaku shite tsukaimasu.
I use the washing machine's rinse mode.
温泉で旅の心を濯ぐような気持ちになった。
Onsen de tabi no kokoro wo susugu you na kimochi ni natta.
At the hot spring, I felt as if I was cleansing my travel-weary mind.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 濯, focus on its two main components. On the left, you'll see 氵 (sanzui), the 'water' radical, which looks like three drops of water. This immediately signals that the kanji has something to do with water.
On the right, we have 矍 (kaku), the phonetic component. While 矍 itself means 'to look around quickly and vigilantly' (imagine a watchful bird), it contributes the 'daku' sound and a sense of thoroughness. So, combine 'water' (氵) with the 'thoroughness' implied by 矍, and you get the clear meaning of 'to wash' or 'to rinse thoroughly'. Picture someone vigorously rinsing clothes with lots of water to remove all the suds, making them sparkling clean!