洗

Phono-semantic compound:

水 (water radical) – semantic, representing water, washing, cleansing.

先 (ahead, first) – phonetic element.

The character conveys the idea of cleansing with water, removing impurities.

세탁 (洗濯) – washing, laundry

세수 (洗手) – washing hands

세례 (洗禮) – baptism (ritual washing)

세정 (洗淨) – cleansing, purification

세척 (洗滌) – washing, cleansing

This is a polyphonic character:

Generally read as 세 (齊 rhyme).

In the context of the musical pitch 姑洗 (고선), it follows the 선 (先 rhyme) reading.

Closely related to 洒, with which it shares the same root meaning “to wash, sprinkle.”