身體保養與衛生 shēntǐ bǎoyǎng yǔ wèishēng means body care and hygiene. In real life, this is the vocabulary you need for showers, soap, shampoo, skin care, shaving, deodorant, brushing teeth, and all the little routines that keep a person socially acceptable. A miracle, honestly.
If you know these words, you can talk about your morning routine, ask for toiletries at a hotel, or explain that you need to wash your face before dinner because, yes, that is a thing people actually do.
This guide uses Traditional Chinese only, with pinyin and easy English meanings. For extra practice, there are also links to related lessons on Traditional Chinese learning, body and face parts, bathroom vocabulary, and daily routines.
Essential Everyday Phrases
These are the phrases you will actually use. Not museum-language. Not textbook dust. Real-life stuff.
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 洗澡 | xǐ zǎo | to take a shower / bath | 我晚上九點洗澡。 | Wǒ wǎnshàng jiǔ diǎn xǐ zǎo. | I take a shower at 9 p.m. |
| 洗頭 | xǐ tóu | to wash one’s hair | 我今天早上洗頭了。 | Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang xǐ tóu le. | I washed my hair this morning. |
| 洗臉 | xǐ liǎn | to wash one’s face | 我先洗臉，再上妝。 | Wǒ xiān xǐ liǎn, zài shàng zhuāng. | I wash my face first, then do my makeup. |
| 刷牙 | shuā yá | to brush one’s teeth | 我睡前一定刷牙。 | Wǒ shuì qián yídìng shuā yá. | I always brush my teeth before bed. |
| 漱口 | shù kǒu | to rinse the mouth | 吃完飯後，我會漱口。 | Chī wán fàn hòu, wǒ huì shù kǒu. | After eating, I rinse my mouth. |
| 擦乾 | cā gān | to dry off / wipe dry | 請把身體擦乾。 | Qǐng bǎ shēntǐ cā gān. | Please dry your body. |
| 抹乳液 | mǒ rǔyè | to apply lotion | 洗完澡後我會抹乳液。 | Xǐ wán zǎo hòu wǒ huì mǒ rǔyè. | After showering, I apply lotion. |
| 剪指甲 | jiǎn zhǐjiǎ | to cut nails | 我週末會剪指甲。 | Wǒ zhōumò huì jiǎn zhǐjiǎ. | I cut my nails on weekends. |
| 刮鬍子 | guā húzi | to shave | 他每天早上刮鬍子。 | Tā měitiān zǎoshang guā húzi. | He shaves every morning. |
| 除毛 | chú máo | to remove hair | 有些人會定期除毛。 | Yǒuxiē rén huì dìngqī chú máo. | Some people remove body hair regularly. |
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 香皂 | xiāng zào | soap bar | 浴室裡有香皂嗎？ | Yùshì lǐ yǒu xiāng zào ma? | Is there soap in the bathroom? |
| 沐浴乳 | mù yù rǔ | body wash / shower gel | 我喜歡這種沐浴乳的味道。 | Wǒ xǐhuan zhè zhǒng mù yù rǔ de wèidào. | I like the smell of this body wash. |
| 洗髮精 | xǐ fǎ jīng | shampoo | 洗髮精在哪裡？ | Xǐ fǎ jīng zài nǎlǐ? | Where is the shampoo? |
| 護髮素 | hù fà sù | conditioner | 我洗頭時會用護髮素。 | Wǒ xǐ tóu shí huì yòng hù fà sù. | I use conditioner when I wash my hair. |
| 毛巾 | máojīn | towel | 請給我一條乾毛巾。 | Qǐng gěi wǒ yì tiáo gān máojīn. | Please give me a dry towel. |
| 浴巾 | yùjīn | bath towel | 這間飯店有提供浴巾。 | Zhè jiān fàndiàn yǒu tígōng yùjīn. | This hotel provides bath towels. |
| 牙膏 | yágāo | toothpaste | 我的牙膏快用完了。 | Wǒ de yágāo kuài yòng wán le. | My toothpaste is almost finished. |
| 牙刷 | yáshuā | toothbrush | 你有多帶一支牙刷嗎？ | Nǐ yǒu duō dài yì zhī yáshuā ma? | Did you bring an extra toothbrush? |
| 指甲剪 | zhǐjiǎ jiǎn | nail clipper | 指甲剪放在哪裡？ | Zhǐjiǎ jiǎn fàng zài nǎlǐ? | Where is the nail clipper? |
| 刮鬍刀 | guā hú dāo | razor | 我忘了帶刮鬍刀。 | Wǒ wàngle dài guā hú dāo. | I forgot to bring a razor. |
Notice the everyday Taiwan-friendly choices here: 洗澡 xǐ zǎo is the standard catch-all for showering or bathing, and 沐浴乳 mù yù rǔ is much more common than a weird literal translation like “bath milk,” which sounds like it belongs in a parody.
More Useful Body Care Words
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 洗手 | xǐ shǒu | to wash hands | 吃飯前要洗手。 | Chī fàn qián yào xǐ shǒu. | You should wash your hands before eating. |
| 洗手液 | xǐ shǒu yè | hand soap / hand wash | 洗手台旁邊有洗手液。 | Xǐshǒutái pángbiān yǒu xǐ shǒu yè. | There is hand soap next to the sink. |
| 護手霜 | hù shǒu shuāng | hand cream | 冬天我會擦護手霜。 | Dōngtiān wǒ huì cā hù shǒu shuāng. | In winter, I use hand cream. |
| 保濕 | bǎo shī | to moisturize / hydration | 這款乳液很保濕。 | Zhè kuǎn rǔyè hěn bǎo shī. | This lotion is very moisturizing. |
| 去角質 | qù jiǎo zhí | to exfoliate | 我一週去角質一次。 | Wǒ yì zhōu qù jiǎo zhí yí cì. | I exfoliate once a week. |
| 防曬 | fáng shài | sunscreen / sun protection | 出門前要擦防曬。 | Chūmén qián yào cā fáng shài. | You should put on sunscreen before going out. |
| 止汗劑 | zhǐ hàn jì | deodorant / antiperspirant | 我每天早上會用止汗劑。 | Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang huì yòng zhǐ hàn jì. | I use deodorant every morning. |
| 體香膏 | tǐ xiāng gāo | deodorant stick / body fragrance balm | 她習慣帶體香膏出門。 | Tā xíguàn dài tǐ xiāng gāo chūmén. | She usually carries deodorant with her. |
| 棉花棒 | miánhuā bàng | cotton swab | 棉花棒不要拿來掏耳朵太深。 | Miánhuā bàng bú yào nálái tāo ěrduo tài shēn. | Do not use cotton swabs too deeply in the ear. |
| 衛生紙 | wèi shēng zhǐ | tissue paper | 便利商店有賣衛生紙。 | Biànlì shāngdiàn yǒu mài wèishēngzhǐ. | Convenience stores sell tissue paper. |
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 牙線 | yáxiàn | dental floss | 我每天晚上都會用牙線。 | Wǒ měitiān wǎnshàng dōu huì yòng yáxiàn. | I use dental floss every night. |
| 漱口水 | shù kǒu shuǐ | mouthwash | 刷牙後我會用漱口水。 | Shuā yá hòu wǒ huì yòng shù kǒu shuǐ. | I use mouthwash after brushing my teeth. |
| 牙線棒 | yáxiàn bàng | floss pick | 牙線棒比較方便帶出門。 | Yáxiàn bàng bǐjiào fāngbiàn dài chūmén. | Floss picks are easier to carry around. |
| 口罩 | kǒuzhào | face mask | 感冒時我會戴口罩。 | Gǎnmào shí wǒ huì dài kǒuzhào. | When I have a cold, I wear a mask. |
| 洗面乳 | xǐ miàn rǔ | facial cleanser | 這瓶洗面乳適合油性皮膚。 | Zhè píng xǐ miàn rǔ shìhé yóuxìng pífū. | This facial cleanser is suitable for oily skin. |
| 面膜 | miànmó | face mask sheet | 我週末常敷面膜。 | Wǒ zhōumò cháng fū miànmó. | I often use a face mask on weekends. |
| 化妝水 | huà zhuāng shuǐ | toner | 洗臉後先擦化妝水。 | Xǐ liǎn hòu xiān cā huà zhuāng shuǐ. | After washing my face, I apply toner first. |
| 乳液 | rǔyè | lotion | 我冬天需要厚一點的乳液。 | Wǒ dōngtiān xūyào hòu yìdiǎn de rǔyè. | I need a thicker lotion in winter. |
| 護唇膏 | hù chún gāo | lip balm | 嘴唇乾的時候我會擦護唇膏。 | Zuǐchún gān de shíhou wǒ huì cā hù chún gāo. | I use lip balm when my lips are dry. |
| 身體乳 | shēntǐ rǔ | body lotion | 洗澡後可以擦身體乳。 | Xǐzǎo hòu kěyǐ cā shēntǐ rǔ. | You can apply body lotion after showering. |
Bathroom And Shower Vocabulary
A lot of hygiene language overlaps with bathroom vocabulary, so these words are extra useful. For a deeper bathroom-only set, see bathroom vocabulary in Traditional Chinese.
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 浴室 | yùshì | bathroom / shower room | 浴室地板有點滑。 | Yùshì dìbǎn yǒudiǎn huá. | The bathroom floor is a little slippery. |
| 淋浴 | línyù | to shower | 我比較喜歡淋浴。 | Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuan línyù. | I prefer showering. |
| 浴缸 | yùgāng | bathtub | 這家飯店房間裡有浴缸。 | Zhè jiā fàndiàn fángjiān lǐ yǒu yùgāng. | This hotel room has a bathtub. |
| 蓮蓬頭 | liánpéngtóu | shower head | 蓮蓬頭水太小了。 | Liánpéngtóu shuǐ tài xiǎo le. | The shower head water is too weak. |
| 水龍頭 | shuǐ lóngtóu | faucet / tap | 請把水龍頭關上。 | Qǐng bǎ shuǐlóngtóu guān shàng. | Please turn off the tap. |
| 洗手台 | xǐshǒutái | sink / wash basin | 洗手台旁邊有肥皂。 | Xǐshǒutái pángbiān yǒu féizào. | There is soap next to the sink. |
| 排水孔 | páishuǐ kǒng | drain | 排水孔要定期清理。 | Páishuǐ kǒng yào dìngqī qīnglǐ. | The drain should be cleaned regularly. |
| 浴簾 | yùlián | shower curtain | 浴簾沒有拉好。 | Yùlián méiyǒu lā hǎo. | The shower curtain was not pulled closed properly. |
| 沐浴球 | mùyù qiú | bath sponge / shower puff | 沐浴球很容易起泡。 | Mùyù qiú hěn róngyì qǐ pào. | A bath sponge creates foam easily. |
| 刮鬍泡 | guā hú pào | shaving foam | 刮鬍泡用完了。 | Guā hú pào yòng wán le. | The shaving foam is used up. |
Hygiene And Cleanliness Words
These words help you describe being clean, dirty, fresh, or in need of a serious reset.
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 乾淨 | gānjìng | clean | 房間很乾淨。 | Fángjiān hěn gānjìng. | The room is very clean. |
| 髒 | zāng | dirty | 你的手有點髒。 | Nǐ de shǒ |
