There are many verbs in Japanese which express the concept of cleaning. A few verbs that are commonly confused are 掃除する(soujisuru) vs 片づける(katadukeru) and 洗う(arau) vs 洗濯する(sentakusuru). A basic definition combined with an explanation of the nuances of each verb will put you well on your way to being able to use each one correctly.
掃除する(soujisuru) means to clean, for example, a room in a house. Whereas 片づける(katadukeru) means to tidy up, for example, a bunch of stray stationery items on a desk. 洗う(arau) means to wash, for example, a car. Whereas 洗濯する(sentakusuru) means to launder, namely clothes and linen.
Further details about the nuances of the above-mentioned verbs plus several other verbs related to cleaning are provided below. Example sentences and kanji breakdowns are also given to help you really grasp the differences and give you a clear idea of how each verb is used.
掃除する (soujisuru)
Definition: To clean Nuance: Everyday term for cleaning rooms in a house, a bathtub, a garden, the precinct of a temple, etc. It conjures the image of performing activities like sweeping, vacuuming, wiping and dusting. Kanji Breakdown: 掃 - sweep, brush 除 - remove, abolish, cancel Related Words: 大掃除 (daisouji) literally means “big clean”. It is an event usually carried out at the end of the year in which people clean their whole house all in one go to have a clean start for the new year. 掃除機 (soujiki) - vacuum cleaner Example Sentences: 毎週土曜日に部屋を掃除しています。 I clean my room every week on Saturday. お坊さんは毎朝お寺の掃除をしています。 The monks clean the temple every morning. お風呂が汚くなったよ。掃除しなさい！ The bath has gotten dirty. Clean it!
清掃する (seisousuru)
Definition: To clean expertly Nuance: Very thoroughly cleaning from corner to corner. It often conjures the image of professional cleaners using special equipment and cleaning agents. It is a more formal word than 掃除する (soujisuru). It can also be used when the scale of the cleaning is large, and a team of cleaners is involved. For example, cleaning an area of a town, a whole office building, a beach cleaning, etc. Kanji Breakdown: 清 - purify, cleanse, exorcise 掃 - sweep, brush Related Words: 清掃員 (seisouin) - janitorial staff member, municipal waste management worker that does garbage collection 清掃機 (seisouki) - floor cleaning machine Example Sentences: 毎月一回第一土曜日に午前9時から午後12時まで渋谷駅周辺の清掃活動を行いましょう。 Once every month on the first Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM let’s clean the area around Shibuya station. お部屋の清掃をご希望するお客様へのお知らせ。 A notice to guests who wish to have their rooms cleaned. 大変ごみが流れてきたから、皆なで海岸の清掃を行いました。 Since a lot of trash had washed up, we did a beach cleaning.
洗う (arau)
Definition: To wash Nuance: Everyday use term for washing dishes, a car, one’s hair or body, etc. Often conjures the image of washing by hand. Kanji Breakdown: 洗 - wash Example Sentences: 食べる前によく手を洗ってください。 Please wash your hands well before eating. 今度の土曜日に車をあらいます。 I will wash my car this coming Saturday. 私はお皿洗いが好きじゃない。 I don’t like dish washing.
洗濯する (sentakusuru)
Definition: To launder Nuance: Used for laundering clothes and linens, especially in a washing machine. Kanji Breakdown: 洗 - wash 濯 - laundry, wash, rinse Related Words: 洗濯機 (sentakuki) - washing machine Example Sentences: そのタオルを洗濯したほうがいいよ。 You should wash that towel. 週に一回シーツを洗濯しています。 I wash the sheets once per week. 洗濯物が多くて、畳むのに30分もかかってしまいました。 There was so much laundry that it took me 30 minutes to fold it all.
奇麗にする (kireinisuru)
Definition: To bring something to a clean state Nuance: Everyday use term meaning: to make something clean or tidy that is or has become dirty or messy. Technically the word 綺麗 (kirei) is a な (na) adjective which means both beautiful and clean. Adding にする(nisuru) turns it into a verb which means “to make it so”. 奇麗にする is probably the most versatile verb for cleaning in Japanese. It can cover a broad range of situations and can often replace other verbs such as 掃除する and 洗う. Kanji Breakdown: 綺 - beautiful 麗 - lovely, beautiful, graceful Example Sentences: 古い革靴をよく磨いて奇麗にしました。 I polished these old leather shoes and got them looking nice. 誇りをすべて取って、家具を奇麗にしました。 I removed all the dust and made the furniture nice and clean. 肌を綺麗にする方法を教えてください。 Please tell me how I can get my skin looking clean and clear.
片付ける (katadukeru)
Definition: To tidy up, to clean up Nuance: Picking up a bunch of scattered items and arranging them neatly, putting them away or returning them to their original location. For example, if you have a bunch of things scattered on the desk, picking them up and putting them back in a pencil case or drawer. It can also be used to mean: to get something done, to finish off, to do away with, e.g. finish off a work task. Kanji Breakdown: 片 - one-sided, incomplete 付 - adhere, attach Example Sentences: 散らかった厳寒を片づけました。 I cleaned up the messy entrance area. 地震の後、倒れたもの、割れたガラスなどを片づけるのは大変です。 It’s a tough task to clean up all the fallen objects, broken glass, and the like after an earthquake. 残りの仕事を片づけないと、帰宅できない。 I have to finish up this leftover work or else I can’t go home.
洗浄する (senjousuru)
Definition: To cleanse, to wash out, to wash off Nuance: Wash something completely clean with a cleaning agent and water, especially when really caked in filth. It often conjures the image of washing large objects with specialized equipment like pressure washers and steam cleaners. It can also be used to mean: to cleanse a wound. Kanji Breakdown: 洗 - wash 浄 - clean, purify, cleanse Example Sentences: 車のエンジンの内部を洗浄する必要がある。 The inside of the car’s engine needs to be cleaned. 特殊な洗浄機により、鉄道車両の洗浄を行っております。 We wash the train cars by means of a specialized washing machine. 肉を取り扱う機械は毎日しっかりと洗浄する費用があります。 Machines that handle meat must be washed thoroughly everyday.
消毒する (shoudokusuru)
Definition: To disinfect. To sterilize. Nuance: Using an alcohol or other chemical-based cleaning agent to clean something with contaminated surfaces. Kanji Breakdown: 毒 - poison, virus, venom, germ 消 - extinguish, neutralize, cancel Example Sentences: 作業員は消毒作業を行っています。 Workers are carrying out the disinfection task. 館内に入る前に手の消毒をお願いします。 Please disinfect your hands before entering the building. 転んだら、肘に付いた擦り傷を消毒しました。 After I fell, I disinfected the scrape on my elbow.