扫帚

sàozhou

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"扫帚" (sàozhou) refers to a broom, a common household tool used for sweeping floors or outdoor areas. It is a tangible noun and typically appears in contexts related to cleaning or tidying.

Common Collocations

  • 扫帚箕 (broom and dustpan): often mentioned together when talking about cleaning tools.
  • 扫帚 (sweep the floor with a broom): a frequent phrase describing the action of cleaning.

Usage Notes

When using "扫帚," it usually implies manual sweeping. It is a concrete object, so it is not used metaphorically in everyday speech. The word is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese.

Common Confusions

Do not confuse "扫帚" with "" (tuōbǎ), which means mop. Both are cleaning tools but used differently: "扫帚" for dry sweeping, "" for wet mopping.

Example Sentences

妈妈用扫帚打扫院子。

Māmā yòng sàozhou dǎsǎo yuànzi.

Mom uses a broom to clean the yard.

这把扫帚很结实,不容易坏。

Zhè bǎ sàozhou hěn jiēshi, bù róngyì huài.

This broom is very sturdy and not easy to break.

请把扫帚放回原处,保持房间整洁。

Qǐng bǎ sàozhou fàng huí yuán chù, bǎochí fángjiān zhěngjié.

Please put the broom back in its place to keep the room tidy.