洗手 (xǐ shǒu) Definition & Meaning - What does 洗手 mean in Chinese

1
v.wash one's hands
- shén me dì fang néng xǐ shǒu
  什么地方能洗手？
  Where can I wash my hands?
- ràng hái zi men qù xǐ shǒu gāi chī fàn le
  让孩子们去洗手，该吃饭了。
  Tell the kids to wash up. It's time to eat.
- qù xǐ shǒu ba nǐ de shǒu tài zāng le
  去洗手吧，你的手太脏了。
  Go wash your hands, your hands are too dirty.
2
v.meta(of a thief, bandit, etc.) wash one's hands forever of criminal activity; stop doing evil and reform oneself
- xǐ shǒu bù gàn
  洗手不干
  stop doing evil and reform oneself
3
v.metaquit a job; give up a profession
- jīn pén xǐ shǒu
  金盆洗手
  stop doing evil and reform oneself

Separable word
"洗" and "手" can be combined as one word, or be used separately with other elements inserted.
- 他出狱以后就洗了手。
  He stopped doing evil after he was out of prison.
- 他洗过手了，再也不干违法的事了。
  He stopped doing anything illegal.
- 我去洗个手，大家继续聊。
  I'll wash my hands and you can keep talking.
Reduplication
"洗手" can be reduplicated, for example: "洗洗手".
- 洗洗手去，你的手脏极了！
  Go and wash your hands; they're absolutely black!

洗 手