擦灰 (cāhuī): to dust

Meanings

1 to dust
2 to wipe away dust

Characters

擦

Examples

书架上的书每周都要擦灰。

Shūjià shàng de shū měi zhōu dōu yào cā huī.

The books on the shelf need dusting every week.

我用鸡毛掸子擦灰。

Wǒ yòng jīmáodǎnzi cā huī.

I dust with a feather duster.

Tips

usage

Colloquial everyday alternative to the more technical 除尘 (chúchén). 鸡毛掸子 (jīmáodǎnzi, feather duster) is the classic household tool — also a symbol of parental discipline in older Chinese homes.

Stroke Order

擦 cā

灰 huī

Related Words

擦 cā HSK 4 #1,790

to wipe / to rub / to polish / to apply (cream, etc.)

不费吹灰之力 bùfèichuīhuīzhīlì

as easy as blowing away dust / effortlessly / a piece of cake

灰 huī HSK 7 #3,279

ash; dust / gray (color) / discouraged; disheartened

擦窗户 cāchuānghu

to clean the windows / to wipe the windows

擦地板 cādìbǎn

to wipe the floor / to mop the floor (by hand)

擦脸 cāliǎn

to wipe one's face / to apply (cream/lotion) to the face

擦桌子 cāzhuōzi

to wipe the table / to clean the desk

擦掉 cādiào #10,558

to wipe off / to erase / to rub out

擦拭 cāshì #20,348

to wipe / to wipe clean / to polish

灰头土脸 huītóutǔliǎn

head and face covered in dust and grime / (figuratively) dejected; dispirited; humiliated