Translation guide
The English word 'clean' covers a wide range of meanings, from physical cleanliness to moral purity, completeness, and smoothness. This guide organizes the most useful Japanese expressions by intended meaning, helping learners avoid common literal translation errors.
Describing something free from dirt, stains, or mess.
The most common and versatile word for 'clean' in the sense of not dirty. It can also mean 'beautiful' or 'tidy'.
This room is clean, isn't it?
Please wash your hands clean.
Means 'clean' with an emphasis on hygiene and sanitation. Often used for personal cleanliness, medical settings, or public health.
Please use a clean towel.
This restaurant is very clean.
Literally 'not dirty'. Used when you want to emphasize the absence of dirt, but it's less common than きれい.
This shirt is still clean.
The action of removing dirt or mess.
The general verb for cleaning a room, house, or space. It implies tidying up and removing dirt.
I clean the house on weekends.
Clean your room.
Means 'to wash'. Use for cleaning objects with water, like dishes, hands, or clothes.
Means 'to wipe'. Use for cleaning surfaces with a cloth or paper.
Means 'to tidy up' or 'put away'. Focuses on organizing and decluttering rather than removing dirt.
Free from corruption, guilt, or illegal activity.
A loanword from English, often used in contexts like 'clean energy', 'clean record', or 'clean game' (fair play).
He is a clean athlete (no doping).
Means 'innocent' or 'clean' in the sense of being free from suspicion or guilt. Often used in legal or formal contexts.
Refers to integrity and honesty, often used for politicians or public figures. Implies clean hands in a moral sense.
Done fully, without leaving anything behind; a clean sweep, clean break, etc.
An adverb meaning 'completely' or 'entirely'. Often used with verbs like 忘れる (forget) or なくなる (disappear) to express a clean state.
I completely forgot about the appointment. (clean forgot)
An emphatic adverb meaning 'completely' or 'cleanly', often with a nuance of relief or freshness. Used with verbs like 忘れる or なくなる.
Using きれいに as an adverb before a verb can mean doing something completely or neatly, like a clean cut or clean removal.
I cut the paper cleanly in half.
Having a neat, sharp edge or surface; a clean cut, clean lines.
Again, きれい is versatile. When describing a cut or line, it means 'neat' or 'clean'.
Please draw a clean straight line.
Often used for a clean, uncluttered appearance or a refreshing feeling. Can describe design, appearance, or even a clean taste.
Clean water, clean air, clean fuel, etc.
Clean joke, clean language.
Clean driving record, clean criminal record.
While きれい is the most common translation, it doesn't fit all contexts. For actions, use specific verbs like 掃除する (clean a room), 洗う (wash), or 拭く (wipe). For moral purity, クリーン or 潔白 may be better. For completeness, use adverbs like すっかり or きれいに.
掃除する focuses on removing dirt and dust (cleaning), while 片付ける focuses on organizing and putting things away (tidying up). In English, 'clean your room' often includes both, but in Japanese, you might need both verbs: 部屋を掃除して片付ける.
I need to clean the bathroom.
He has a clean driving record.
Make a clean break with the past.
Please wash the dishes.
Did you wash your hands?
Can you wipe the table?
Clean up your toys.
Promote clean energy.
彼の潔白が証明された。
His innocence (clean record) was proven.
清廉な政治家は少ない。
There are few clean (honest) politicians.
The snow has completely melted. (a clean melt)
I've completely forgotten all the unpleasant things. (clean forgotten)
汚れをきれいに落とした。
I removed the stain completely. (got it clean off)
このデザインはすっきりしている。
This design is clean and simple.
A beer with a clean, crisp taste.
清浄な空気が必要です。
Clean air is necessary.
Use clean language.