Japanese dictionary
How to say "clean" in Japanese
きれいきれい · kirei
"Clean" as an adjective is きれい (kirei), as in きれいな部屋 (a clean room). To clean a room is 掃除する (sōji suru).
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Ways to say "clean" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| きれいきれい · kirei | Clean; tidy (describing a place or thing). |
| 掃除するそうじする · sōji suru | To clean (a room or place). |
| 洗うあらう · arau | To wash; to clean with water. |
| 片付けるかたづける · katazukeru | To tidy up; to put away. |
How to use it
きれい also means beautiful. Context tells you which.
Tidying up by putting things away is 片付ける (katazukeru). Washing dishes or hands is 洗う (arau).
Example sentences
- 週末に部屋を掃除しました。Shūmatsu ni heya o sōji shimashita.I cleaned my room on the weekend.
- ホテルの部屋はとてもきれいでした。Hoteru no heya wa totemo kirei deshita.The hotel room was very clean.
- 会議の後、机を片付けてください。Kaigi no ato, tsukue o katazukete kudasai.Please clear the desks after the meeting.
- 食べる前に手を洗いましょう。Taberu mae ni te o araimashō.Let's wash our hands before eating.
- 日本の駅はきれいですね。Nihon no eki wa kirei desu ne.Train stations in Japan are clean, aren't they?
- 年末に大掃除をします。Nenmatsu ni ōsōji o shimasu.We do a big cleaning at the end of the year.
Questions
What is 大掃除?
大掃除 (ōsōji) is a big cleaning of the home or office, traditionally done at the end of the year before New Year's.
What is the difference between 掃除する and 片付ける?
掃除する (sōji suru) is cleaning, like vacuuming and wiping. 片付ける (katazukeru) is tidying up and putting things away.
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