Translation guide
The English word 'cleaning' covers a wide range of activities from tidying up a room to deep cleaning. In Japanese, different words are used depending on what is being cleaned, how, and in what context. This guide helps you choose the right expression.
To express the act of cleaning a room, house, or general space, often as a routine activity.
The most common and general word for cleaning. It implies removing dirt, dust, and clutter. Used for rooms, houses, and general spaces.
週末に部屋の掃除をします。
I clean my room on weekends.
掃除が終わったら、買い物に行きます。
After I finish cleaning, I'll go shopping.
Focuses on tidying up, putting things away, and organizing. It's about removing clutter rather than scrubbing. Often used for desks, rooms, or after playing.
子供におもちゃの片付けをさせました。
I made the kids clean up their toys.
机の上を片付けてください。
Please clean up your desk.
Literally 'to make clean/beautiful'. A very common and natural way to say 'clean' in a broad sense. Can be used for rooms, objects, or even personal grooming.
部屋をきれいにしてください。
Please clean your room.
使った後は、きれいにしましょう。
Let's clean up after using it.
To express cleaning by wiping, scrubbing, or polishing a surface like a floor, table, or window.
To wipe. Used for wiping tables, floors, windows, etc. with a cloth or paper towel.
テーブルを拭いてください。
Please wipe the table.
窓を拭いたら、ピカピカになりました。
When I wiped the window, it became sparkling clean.
To polish or scrub something until it shines. Used for shoes, teeth, mirrors, sinks, etc.
To express cleaning something using water, such as dishes, clothes, or a car.
To wash with water. Used for dishes, hands, clothes, cars, etc.
食器を洗ってください。
Please wash the dishes.
車を洗いました。
I washed the car.
Specifically refers to laundry, washing clothes. Often used as a noun or with する.
To express a thorough, often seasonal cleaning of the entire house.
Literally 'big cleaning'. Refers to a thorough cleaning, often done at the end of the year or before a special occasion.
年末に大掃除をします。
We do a big year-end cleaning.
今日は家中の大掃除をした。
Today I deep-cleaned the whole house.
To express cleaning done by a professional service or using specialized methods.
Loanword from English. Often refers to dry cleaning for clothes, but can also mean professional cleaning services for houses, air conditioners, etc.
スーツをクリーニングに出しました。
I took my suit to the dry cleaners.
エアコンのクリーニングを頼んだ。
I had the air conditioner cleaned (by a professional).
To express cleaning as a regular chore or responsibility, often in a school or workplace context.
Refers to being on cleaning duty, especially in schools or offices where cleaning tasks are assigned on a rotating basis.
今週は私が掃除当番です。
I'm on cleaning duty this week.
The standard verb phrase for 'to do cleaning'. Can be used in any context.
毎朝、教室の掃除をします。
We clean the classroom every morning.
掃除 (そうじ) focuses on removing dirt and dust, while 片付け (かたづけ) focuses on organizing and putting things away. If you say 'I cleaned my room' and you mainly put things back in their place, use 片付け. If you vacuumed and wiped surfaces, use 掃除. Often both are done together.
部屋の掃除と片付けをした。
I cleaned and tidied up my room.
掃除 is for spaces and surfaces. For washing dishes, use 洗う (あらう) or 食器洗い (しょっきあらい). For laundry, use 洗濯 (せんたく). Using 掃除 for these would sound unnatural.
I polish my shoes every night.
シンクを磨いてピカピカにした。
I scrubbed the sink until it shone.
洗濯物を干してください。
Please hang up the laundry.
明日は洗濯をする予定です。
I plan to do laundry tomorrow.