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Kotomora

掃

sweep, brush

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソウ
  • シュ

Kun'yomi

  • は.く

Nanori

  • か

Meaning

掃 centers on clearing away dirt or debris with a tool: sweeping with a broom or brushing a surface clean.

Most common words using 掃

20 of 65
  • 掃除そうじ
    N5

    cleaning; sweeping; dusting; scrubbing

  • 清掃せいそう
    N2

    cleaning; clean-up; garbage collection; scavenging

  • 一掃いっそう

    clean sweep; purging; doing away with; eradication

  • 掃討そうとう

    cleaning up (enemy remnants); sweeping clean (of opponents); mopping up

  • 掃くはく
    N3

    to sweep; to brush; to clean

  • 掃射そうしゃ

    sweeping with fire; mowing down; strafing

  • 掃き溜めはきだめ

    rubbish heap; garbage dump

  • 掃海そうかい

    sweeping the sea for mines; dragging for mines

  • 掃除屋そうじや

    cleaner; janitor

  • 拭き掃除ふきそうじ

    cleaning; scrubbing

  • 掃引そういん

    sweeping; scanning

  • 掃除機そうじき
    N4

    vacuum cleaner; vacuum; hoover

  • 大掃除おおそうじ

    major cleanup; spring cleaning

  • やえやま型掃海艦やえやまがたそうかいかん

    Yaeyama class minesweeper

  • トイレ掃除トイレそうじ

    toilet cleaning

  • ファイル掃除ファイルそうじ

    file clean-up

  • ロボット掃除機ロボットそうじき

    robotic vacuum cleaner; robovac; Roomba

  • 分解掃除ぶんかいそうじ

    overhaul; taking apart and cleaning

  • 床掃除ゆかそうじ

    cleaning the floor

  • 庭掃除にわそうじ

    tidying a garden; sweeping the yard; garden work

Explore all words using 掃 →

Study

Etymology

掃 combines 扌 (hand) with 帚 (broom), suggesting the action of sweeping with a hand-held broom.

Meaning mnemonic

The left hand 扌 holds a broom 帚, sweeping and brushing away dust.

Reading mnemonic

For ソウ, imagine sweeping so vigorously that you make a soft "sow" sound as the broom moves: sow -> ソウ.