搓

cuō

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Verb Uncommon

Definitions

1. to rub or roll between the hands or fingers
2. to twist

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial $9.99 / year

Lifetime for $19.99 Try the 30-second demo

Character focus

Stroke order

12 strokes

Word relationships

Related words

1 item

扭

niǔ

to turn

扭 means to twist or turn something forcefully, not necessarily between hands; related action.

Synonyms

1 item

揉

róu

to knead

Both mean to rub with hands, but 搓 often implies rolling or twisting between palms, while 揉 is more general rubbing or kneading.

Usage notes

Collocations

Common objects with 搓 include 手 (hands), 绳子 (rope), 毛巾 (towel); often used in 搓澡 (scrub in bath) and 搓麻将 (play mahjong).

Cultural notes

搓麻将 is a popular social activity; the rubbing action refers to the mixing of tiles, not the strategic play.

Example Sentences

1 shown

天冷的时候，他不停地搓手。

When it's cold, he keeps rubbing his hands together.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 搓

to rub

to knead; to rub

washboard

to rub clean (garments)

搓衣板

cuō yī bǎn