Translation guide
The English word 'hygienic' describes conditions, practices, or items that promote health and cleanliness by preventing disease. In Japanese, the concept is expressed through adjectives, nouns, and descriptive phrases that emphasize cleanliness, sanitation, and healthfulness.
Describing something as clean and free from germs, often in everyday contexts like food, personal care, or living spaces.
The most direct and common translation for 'hygienic'. It is a な-adjective used to describe things, places, or practices that are sanitary and promote health.
This restaurant is very hygienic.
It's important to maintain a hygienic environment.
A な-adjective meaning 'clean' or 'pure'. It often overlaps with 'hygienic' but focuses more on physical cleanliness rather than the health aspect. Commonly used for personal hygiene and cleanliness of objects.
Please use a clean (hygienic) towel.
Let's keep our hands clean (hygienic).
The negative form meaning 'unhygienic'. Useful for warnings or describing unsanitary conditions.
Eating it as is is unhygienic.
Referring to actions or habits that maintain health and prevent disease, such as handwashing or food handling.
Literally 'hygiene management'. Used in contexts like food safety, workplace sanitation, and public health. Often appears in professional or official settings.
Strict hygienic management is practiced in food factories.
Means 'hygiene aspect' or 'from a hygiene standpoint'. Used to evaluate or discuss the hygienic quality of something.
Are there any hygienic issues?
Adverbial form meaning 'to do something hygienically'. Used to describe how an action is performed.
Please handle food hygienically.
Relating to an individual's cleanliness and grooming habits.
Refers to personal cleanliness and tidiness. Often used in health education or daily conversation.
Let's be mindful of personal hygiene.
A noun meaning 'sense of cleanliness' or 'clean appearance'. Often used to describe a person's neat and hygienic look.
He has a hygienic/clean appearance.
Referring to community-level hygiene, such as waste disposal, water quality, and disease prevention.
The formal term for 'public health' or 'public hygiene'. Used in governmental, medical, and academic contexts.
Improvement of public hygiene is required.
Means 'hygienic condition' or 'sanitary state'. Used to assess or report on the cleanliness of an area or facility.
衛生的 (eiseiteki) emphasizes the health and disease-prevention aspect, while 清潔 (seiketsu) focuses on physical cleanliness. For example, a visibly clean surface is 清潔, but if it's also disinfected, it's 衛生的. In many everyday situations, they are interchangeable, but 衛生的 is more precise for 'hygienic'.
This kitchen is clean, but I wouldn't call it hygienic.
The English word 'sanitary' can mean 'hygienic', but in Japanese, 生理用 (seiriyou) specifically refers to menstrual products. Avoid using 生理用 to mean 'hygienic' in general.
It's important to wash your hands to stay hygienic.
The hotel room was very clean and hygienic.
The hygienic conditions at the shelter are worsening.