Translation guide
How to express the act of tidying, organizing, or restoring order in Japanese, depending on what is being cleaned and the context.
General cleaning and putting things in order in a room, house, or area.
The most common verb for tidying up, putting things away, and cleaning a room. Transitive.
部屋を片付ける。
I'll clean up my room.
おもちゃを片付けなさい。
Put away your toys.
Focuses on cleaning by sweeping, wiping, or removing dirt. Often used for house cleaning.
週末に家を掃除する。
I clean the house on weekends.
Emphasizes organizing, sorting, and putting things in order, rather than just cleaning dirt.
机の上を整理した。
I organized my desk.
Dealing with the aftermath of a party, meal, or accidental spill.
Specifically means cleaning up after something, like washing dishes after a meal or tidying after a party.
パーティーの後片付けを手伝って。
Help me clean up after the party.
Can also be used for cleaning up after an event, but 後片付け is more specific.
散らかったキッチンを片付ける。
Clean up the messy kitchen.
Making oneself neat and presentable, such as washing up or grooming.
Refers to getting ready, including grooming and dressing. Often used before going out.
出かける前に身支度をしなさい。
Clean yourself up before going out.
Focuses on adjusting one's appearance, like fixing hair or clothes.
面接の前に身なりを整えた。
I cleaned myself up before the interview.
Resolving a difficult situation, fixing mistakes, or dealing with consequences.
Means to deal with the aftermath of a problem or trouble, often used in business or personal contexts.
彼の失敗の後始末をしなければならない。
I have to clean up his mess.
A general term for handling or processing a matter, including cleaning up problems.
この問題を早く処理しないと。
We need to clean up this problem quickly.
Removing unnecessary files, organizing digital information.
Used for organizing digital files, emails, etc.
メールボックスを整理する。
Clean up my inbox.
Specifically means to delete or remove unwanted data.
不要なファイルを削除して、ディスクをきれいにした。
I cleaned up the disk by deleting unnecessary files.
片付ける focuses on putting things in order and tidying up clutter. 掃除する focuses on removing dirt and dust by sweeping, wiping, etc. You can 片付ける a room without 掃除する if you just put things away, but often both are done together.
The English phrase 'clean up' can be translated literally as きれいにする, but this is often too vague. Use more specific verbs like 片付ける or 掃除する depending on the action.
母が帰ってくる前に部屋を片付けないと。
I need to clean up my room before my mom gets home.
キッチンの片付けを手伝ってくれる？
Can you help me clean up the kitchen?