Definition

1. Verb:
   • To scrub carefully: To clean a surface by applying pressure and moving a brush, cloth, or similar tool back and forth repeatedly and thoroughly.
   • To scrub up and down: To clean with a vigorous, repeated rubbing motion, often in a specific directional pattern.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy kì cọ sàn nhà thật sạch sẽ. (She scrubbed the floor very clean.)
  • Anh ấy đang kì cọ chiếc chảo dính dầu mỡ. (He is scrubbing the greasy frying pan.)
  • Trước khi sơn, bạn phải kì cọ bức tường cho hết bụi. (Before painting, you must scrub the wall to remove all dust.)

Advanced Usage

• The action often implies a more vigorous, thorough, and sometimes prolonged effort than simple wiping or rinsing. It is commonly used for tasks involving removing stubborn dirt, grime, or stains from hard surfaces like floors, pots, or tiles.

Variants and Related Words

• Cọ rửa (v): to scrub and wash. A very close synonym.

  • Cọ rửa nhà vệ sinh (to scrub the toilet)

• Chà (v): to scrub, to scour. Can be slightly less systematic than "kì cọ".

  • Chà sàn bằng bàn chải cứng (to scour the floor with a stiff brush)

Synonyms

• Scrub: To rub hard in order to clean.
• Scour: To clean or polish by vigorous rubbing.
• Clean thoroughly: To make completely clean.

Related Idioms

• While "kì cọ" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the concept is used figuratively.
  • Kì cọ lại kiến thức: (figurative) To brush up on knowledge, implying a thorough review.

1. Scrub up and down,scrub carefully