拭 means “wipe”

ふく · fuku

Also: mop, swab

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ぬぐう, ふく

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ショク, シキ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) beside 式, a ceremony: picture wiping everything clean before the guests arrive. 拭く is to wipe, as with the おしぼり a Japanese restaurant hands you, and 払拭, sweeping clear, is wiping away doubts or a bad image.

Used in 拭く (fuku, to wipe), 拭う (nuguu, to wipe away), and 払拭 (fusshoku, dispelling)

More from Grip, Rub & Twist

• 貼 stick
• 捻 twist
• 剝 peel
• 塡 fill
• 摘 pick out
• 振 wave
• 握 grip
• 携 carry
• 扱 handle
• 摩 rub
• 撲 strike
• 抽 draw out

Learn 拭 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.