How to say "purification" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 浄化じょうかnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe broadest word for purification: cleansing of air, water, or environments, and figuratively of minds, hearts, or society. The default choice when you mean removing impurities or defilement.
- 精製せいせいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers the technical, industrial sense of purification — refining raw substances such as oil, sugar, or chemicals into pure products. Not the word for cleansing places or spiritual purification.
- 純化じゅんかnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbPurification in the sense of making something purer or more concentrated in character, often of movements, ideas, or substances being refined toward a purer state. Less common a choice than 浄化 for everyday contexts.
Use 浄化 for cleansing or purification in a general or figurative sense, 精製 for industrial refining of substances, and 純化 for making something purer or more refined in quality.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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