How to say "cleaning" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 掃除そうじnoun, suru verb, transitive verbEveryday cleaning of rooms, houses, and similar spaces: sweeping, dusting, and scrubbing to keep a place tidy. This is what 'cleaning' usually means in daily life.
- 洗浄せんじょうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCleansing by washing: removing dirt with water or another liquid. It applies to things, surfaces, or equipment rather than rooms, and is at home in technical and medical contexts.
- 清掃せいそうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCleaning of public spaces, buildings, and streets, often as a paid service or municipal job; it also covers garbage collection. Less natural for cleaning your own room, where 掃除 fits.
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbChiefly dry cleaning: having clothes cleaned professionally, or the shop that does it. It is not the word for cleaning a room or tidying up — use 掃除 there.
Use 掃除 for everyday cleaning of rooms and houses, 清掃 for cleaning public spaces or garbage collection, 洗浄 for washing things clean with water or liquid, and 「クリーニング」 only for dry cleaning and laundry services.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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