Translation guide
The English verb 'sweep' covers cleaning with a broom, moving quickly or forcefully, spreading rapidly, and more. This guide organizes the most useful Japanese equivalents by meaning.
To clean a floor or surface using a broom or brush.
The standard verb for sweeping with a broom. Transitive.
毎朝、玄関を掃きます。
I sweep the entrance every morning.
I swept up the fallen leaves.
General cleaning, not limited to sweeping. Often used when the action includes more than just sweeping.
I cleaned the room (which may include sweeping).
To move swiftly and powerfully, often in a wide arc or across an area.
To sweep through and clear out enemies or obstacles. Often used in military or police contexts.
They swept through the enemy forces.
To sweep away completely; to eliminate or clear out thoroughly.
To sweep away corruption.
To move swiftly, like a sweeping motion. More casual and descriptive.
He swept out of the room.
To sweep across; to dominate or overwhelm (e.g., a market, a competition).
The new product swept the market.
To spread quickly through an area or population, like a trend, disease, or fire.
Intransitive verb meaning to spread or extend. Used for trends, news, fire, etc.
The rumor swept through the town.
To become popular; to be in vogue. Used for trends and fads.
To spread (of disease, crime, etc.), often with a negative connotation.
The infectious disease swept through.
To move systematically over an area to search or examine.
To win all games, prizes, or categories in a competition.
To stretch or curve over a wide area, like a landscape or a gesture.
English 'sweep' has many figurative uses. Using 掃く for non-cleaning contexts will sound unnatural. Choose the appropriate verb based on the intended meaning.
掃く specifically means sweeping with a broom. 掃除する is general cleaning, which may include sweeping, wiping, dusting, etc. Use 掃く when the action is clearly sweeping.
The fire swept through quickly.
That game is sweeping the nation.
The guard swept the building.