Translation guide
The English phrasal verb 'clean up' covers tidying a space, removing mess, and figurative uses like improving behavior or finishing tasks. In Japanese, the best expression depends on what is being cleaned and the context.
To put things in order, organize, or make a room neat.
The most common verb for tidying up a room, desk, or belongings. Transitive; takes an object marked with を.
部屋を片付けてください。
Please clean up your room.
机の上を片付けた。
I cleaned up my desk.
Intransitive counterpart of 片付ける. Describes the state of being tidy. Often used when the room gets clean by itself or without specifying who did it.
部屋がやっと片付いた。
The room finally got cleaned up.
Focuses on organizing, sorting, and putting things in order. More systematic than 片付ける. Often used for documents, data, or decluttering.
書類を整理してください。
Please clean up (organize) the documents.
To clean something by washing, wiping, or removing stains and trash.
General cleaning, such as sweeping, vacuuming, or wiping surfaces. Used for rooms, houses, and objects.
週末に家を掃除する。
I clean up the house on weekends.
キッチンを掃除した。
I cleaned up the kitchen.
Literally 'make clean/beautiful'. A versatile phrase for cleaning anything, from a room to a stain. Can be used for personal grooming as well.
汚れた床をきれいにした。
I cleaned up the dirty floor.
To wash. Use when cleaning with water, such as dishes, hands, or a car.
To clear away dishes, trash, or aftermath of an activity.
Specifically means cleaning up after something, like a party, meal, or work. Emphasizes putting things back in order.
パーティーの後片付けを手伝って。
Help clean up after the party.
Also works for clearing away things after an event, but 後片付け is more explicit.
食事の後、テーブルを片付けた。
After the meal, I cleaned up the table.
To stop doing something bad or to reform oneself.
To reform or correct one's behavior. Often used in formal contexts or self-reflection.
生活態度を改めなさい。
Clean up your act.
Idiom meaning 'to wash one's feet', used figuratively for quitting a bad habit or shady business.
To complete or deal with leftover items.
Also used metaphorically for finishing work or tasks. Implies clearing them from your to-do list.
残りの仕事を片付けよう。
Let's clean up the remaining work.
To process or deal with tasks, especially administrative or systematic ones.
メールを処理する。
Clean up (deal with) emails.
片付ける focuses on tidying and putting things away, while 掃除する focuses on removing dirt and dust. You can 片付ける a messy desk by organizing papers, but you 掃除する it by wiping it down.
The English phrase 'clean up' can be translated literally as きれいにする, but in many contexts a more specific verb like 片付ける or 掃除する is more natural. Using きれいにする for tidying a room may sound slightly off.
I washed the car and cleaned it up.
He cleaned up his act and quit gambling.