沐浴露

mù yù lù · HSK 7

gel

🚿🧴 沐浴 = bathe + 露 = lotion/dew → bathing-lotion = shower gel

沐浴 (mùyù) means to bathe; 露 (lù) here means a liquid or lotion (same 露 as in dew). So the bathing-lotion is shower gel. The final 露 also shows up in other liquid products like 花露水 floral toilet water.

露 — rain 雨 (top) + road 路 (bottom, phonetic)
露 combines 雨 'rain' as the meaning component with 路 'road' as the phonetic. It originally referred to dew — the moisture that settles overnight on outdoor paths. From there it extended to 'expose' or 'reveal,' since dew lies open on surfaces.

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