The Word “Shave”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
The word “shave” primarily refers to the act of cutting or trimming hair from the face, body, or other areas, typically using a razor or similar tool. It can also have a broader metaphorical meaning, indicating something being made thinner or more precise. In this article, we will explore the meaning, usage, and translations of the word “shave” in 30 different languages.
Meaning of “Shave”
- To Trim Hair:
- The most common meaning of shave is to remove hair from the face, body, or scalp, usually with a razor or an electric shaver.
- Example: “He needs to shave every morning to keep his face smooth.”
- To Shape or Remove Something Thin:
- Shave can also mean to remove a very small layer of something, often in a careful or precise manner.
- Example: “The carpenter shaved off the excess wood to make the edges smooth.”
- Metaphorical Usage:
- In a metaphorical sense, shave can indicate reducing or eliminating something, like “shaving off time” or “shaving points off a score.”
- Example: “He was able to shave several seconds off his personal best time.”
- Shaving as a Ritual:
- Shaving, particularly facial shaving, is often part of personal grooming and hygiene practices. It is also linked to various cultural and religious rituals.
- Example: “Every Saturday, he goes to the barber for a shave and haircut.”
Common Usages in Context
- As a Personal Grooming Activity:
- “He shaved his beard for the summer.”
- “She asked him to shave before the wedding to look neat.”
- As a Process of Shaping or Reducing:
- “The sculptor shaved the marble to create a beautiful statue.”
- “He carefully shaved the edges of the metal to fit the piece into place.”
- Metaphorical Usage:
- “The team shaved off ten minutes from the total time by using a faster route.”
- “The new policy will shave costs by reducing waste in the production process.”
- In Rituals and Grooming:
- “In some cultures, men must shave their heads as a sign of devotion.”
- “Before the meeting, he went to the barber to get a quick shave and freshen up.”
Translations of “Shave” in 30 Languages
| Language | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Afeitar | “Él se afeita todos los días por la mañana.” |
| French | Raser | “Il se rase tous les matins avant de partir au travail.” |
| German | Rasieren | “Er rasiert sich jeden Morgen mit einem Rasierer.” |
| Italian | Radere | “Ogni mattina si rade la barba.” |
| Portuguese | Barbear | “Ele se barbeia antes de sair de casa.” |
| Dutch | Scheren | “Hij scheert zich elke ochtend.” |
| Russian | Брить (Brit’) | “Он бреется каждый день.” |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 剃须 (Tìxū) | “他每天早上剃须。” |
| Japanese | 髭を剃る (Hige o Soru) | “彼は毎朝髭を剃ります。” |
| Korean | 면도하다 (Myeondohada) | “그는 매일 아침 면도를 합니다.” |
| Hindi | दाढ़ी बनाना (Dadhi Banana) | “वह रोज़ सुबह दाढ़ी बनाता है।” |
| Bengali | দাড়ি কামানো (Daari Kaamano) | “সে প্রতিদিন সকালে দাড়ি কামায়।” |
| Turkish | Tıraş etmek | “Her sabah tıraş olur.” |
| Greek | Ξυρίζω (Xyrízo) | “Ξυρίζει το πρόσωπό του κάθε πρωί.” |
| Hebrew | גילוח (Giluach) | “הוא מתגלח כל בוקר.” |
| Swedish | Raka | “Han rakar sig varje morgon.” |
| Norwegian | Barbere | “Han barberer seg hver morgen.” |
| Danish | Barbere | “Han barberer sig hver morgen.” |
| Finnish | Ajaa parta | “Hän ajaa partansa joka aamu.” |
| Polish | Golić | “On goli się codziennie rano.” |
| Czech | Holit | “Každé ráno se holí.” |
| Hungarian | Borotválkozni | “Minden reggel borotválkozik.” |
| Romanian | A se rade | “El se rade în fiecare dimineață.” |
| Thai | โกนหนวด (Kon Nuat) | “เขาโกนหนวดทุกเช้า.” |
| Vietnamese | Cạo râu | “Anh ấy cạo râu mỗi sáng.” |
| Indonesian | Mencukur | “Dia mencukur setiap pagi.” |
| Malay | Mencukur | “Dia mencukur setiap pagi.” |
| Swahili | Kunyoa | “Ananyoa kila asubuhi.” |
| Filipino | Mag-ahit | “Nag-aahit siya tuwing umaga.” |
| Arabic | حلاقة (Halaqa) | “هو يحلق وجهه كل صباح.” |
| Estonian | Pügama | “Ta ajab iga hommik habet.” |
Additional Examples in Selected Languages
- French:
- “Il a décidé de se raser la tête avant l’événement.”
- “Elle se rase les jambes chaque semaine.”
- Spanish:
- “Se afeita a menudo para que su visage reste lisse.”
- “Antes de sortir, il se rase soigneusement pour paraître propre.”
- German:
- “Er rasiert sich immer mit einem Rasiermesser für eine gründliche Rasur.”
- “Jeden Morgen rasiert er sich schnell, um pünktlich zur Arbeit zu kommen.”
- Chinese (Simplified):
- “他习惯在早晨剃须，以保持清爽的外表。”
- “他喜欢剃须，而不是留胡子。”
- Arabic:
- “يحب أن يحلق ذقنه بشكل دقيق للحصول على مظهر مرتب.”
- “يذهب إلى الحلاق كل أسبوع ليحلق رأسه.”
Shaving is not just a routine task, but a practice embedded in many cultures, symbolizing cleanliness, grooming, and sometimes even discipline. Whether it’s a personal grooming ritual, a metaphorical action, or a professional task, the word shave spans across languages, illustrating its universal importance in daily life.
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