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.
このレストランはとても衛生的だ。
This restaurant is very hygienic.
衛生的な環境を保つことが大切です。
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.
清潔なタオルを使ってください。
Please use a clean (hygienic) towel.
手を清潔に保ちましょう。
Let's keep our hands clean (hygienic).
The negative form meaning 'unhygienic'. Useful for warnings or describing unsanitary conditions.
そのまま食べるのは不衛生です。
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.
食品工場では厳しい衛生管理が行われている。
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.
衛生面に問題はありませんか？
Are there any hygienic issues?
Adverbial form meaning 'to do something hygienically'. Used to describe how an action is performed.
食品は衛生的に扱ってください。
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.
身の回りの清潔を心がけましょう。
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.
彼は清潔感がある。
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.
公衆衛生の向上が求められている。
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.
避難所の衛生状態が悪化している。
The hygienic conditions at the shelter are worsening.
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'.
このキッチンは清潔だが、衛生的とは言えない。
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.
衛生的であるために手を洗うことが大切です。
It's important to wash your hands to stay hygienic.
ホテルの部屋はとても清潔で衛生的だった。
The hotel room was very clean and hygienic.