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.
I clean my room on weekends.
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.
I made the kids clean up their toys.
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.
Please clean your room.
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.
Please wipe the table.
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 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.
We do a big year-end cleaning.
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.
I took my suit to the dry cleaners.
To express cleaning as a regular chore or responsibility, often in a school or workplace context.
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.
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.
I scrubbed the sink until it shone.
洗濯物を干してください。
Please hang up the laundry.
I plan to do laundry tomorrow.
Today I deep-cleaned the whole house.
I had the air conditioner cleaned (by a professional).