Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the idea of 'putting things in order' in Japanese, including physical tidying, arranging items in a sequence, and organizing abstract things like thoughts or schedules.
The physical act of cleaning up a space, putting objects back where they belong, or making a room neat.
The most common verb for tidying up a room, desk, or belongings. It implies putting things back in their proper places.
Please tidy up your room.
Means to organize or sort things, often with the nuance of discarding unnecessary items. Used for both physical and abstract things.
I organized my desk.
Specifically means to arrange things neatly and in order, often used for tools, shelves, or desks. More formal than 片付ける.
Please arrange the tools neatly.
Putting items in a specific order, such as alphabetical, numerical, or chronological.
Putting ideas, information, or schedules into a logical or structured order.
The go-to verb for organizing thoughts, data, or plans. It implies sorting out and making sense of something.
Arranging tasks, goals, or items based on their urgency or significance.
To prioritize; literally 'attach priority order'. Common in business and daily life.
片付ける is for general tidying up (putting things away). 整理する is for organizing and sorting, often with discarding. 整頓する is for arranging neatly in a specific order, often used in formal contexts like workplace organization.
Tidy up the room (daily cleaning)
I need to put my room in order.
Put away your toys.
書類を整理する必要がある。
I need to organize the documents.
To line up or arrange things in a row or order. Can be used for physical objects or abstract sequences.
I arranged the books in order of size.
Please put the names in order of the Japanese syllabary.
Explicitly means to arrange in order or sequence. Often used when the order is important.
Please put the cards in order.
To line up or form a queue. Used for people or things in a strict line. Often used in formal or technical contexts.
I had the students line up in order of height.
I want to organize my thoughts.
I'll organize the information and then report.
To bring together, summarize, or consolidate. Often used when gathering scattered ideas or items into a coherent whole.
Please put the opinions together (in order).
It took time to put the report together.
To put in a logical order or sequence. Used for arguments, procedures, or explanations.
Please explain the procedure in order.
Please prioritize the tasks.
To give priority to something. Often used when one thing is more important than others.
Please act with safety as the priority.
書類を整理する（不要なものを捨てる）
Organize documents (discard unnecessary ones)
Arrange the shelf neatly
There is no verb '順番する'. Use '順番に並べる' or '順番をつける' instead.
She put the files in alphabetical order.
Let's put our ideas in order before the meeting.