Translation guide
The act of putting things in order, cleaning up a space, or organizing items. Japanese has several common verbs and phrases that cover different nuances of tidying up, from quick straightening to deep cleaning and decluttering.
To straighten up a room, desk, or area by putting things back where they belong.
The most common and versatile verb for tidying up. It implies putting things away and making a space neat.
Please tidy up your room.
I tidied up my desk.
Focuses on organizing, sorting, and putting things in logical order. Often used for documents, data, or systematic arrangement.
Literally 'make clean/pretty'. Used for both tidying and cleaning, implying a neat and clean result.
I tidied up / cleaned the room.
To quickly put away a few things or straighten up a small area.
To go through belongings, discard unnecessary items, and deeply organize a space.
A popular term combining refusal, disposal, and separation. Refers to the minimalist practice of decluttering and letting go of possessions.
I decluttered over the weekend.
Noun form of 片付ける. Often used in the context of 'tidying up' as a concept or activity, especially in the KonMari method.
To put away things used during a meal, project, or gathering.
To make oneself look neat, such as fixing hair or clothes.
片付ける (katazukeru) means to put things away and straighten up. 掃除する (souji suru) means to clean by sweeping, wiping, or vacuuming. They are often used together: 部屋を片付けてから掃除する (tidy up the room, then clean it).
Let's tidy up first, then clean.
English 'tidying up' often overlaps with light cleaning, but in Japanese, 片付ける does not include dusting or mopping. Use 掃除する for actual cleaning tasks.
片付けが苦手です。
I'm not good at tidying up.
the KonMari method of tidying up
Cleaning up after the party is tough.
I tidy up after cooking.