“To wash” in Japanese is 洗う (あらう), pronounced arau.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To wash. A polite word for toilet, お手洗い, literally means “hand-washing place”.
Example sentences
- 手を洗いましょう。てをあらいましょう。Let’s wash our hands.
- 車を洗いました。くるまをあらいました。I washed the car.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 洗う. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 洗う あらう | wash |
| Polite present | 洗います あらいます | wash |
| Polite negative | 洗いません あらいません | don’t wash |
| Polite past | 洗いました あらいました | past of “wash” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 洗わない あらわない | don’t wash (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 洗った あらった | past of “wash” (casual) |
| て-form | 洗って あらって | wash and… / please wash (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 洗いたい あらいたい | want to wash |
Quick practice
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What does {{洗う}} mean?
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Related words: Everyday verbs
FAQ
How do you say to wash in Japanese?
To wash in Japanese is 洗う (あらう), pronounced “arau”.
How do you write to wash in Japanese?
It's written 洗う with kanji, or あらう in hiragana. Both are read arau.
Is 洗う on the JLPT?
Yes. 洗う (arau) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.