How to say "sanitary" in Japanese

• 清潔せいけつJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'sanitary' in its everyday sense of clean and free of dirt or germs; the natural choice for describing clean conditions, facilities, or habits.
  その別荘べっそうは清潔せいけつで整然せいぜんとしていた。↗

  The cottage was clean and tidy.
• サニタリーCommon
  nounA loanword used almost entirely within fixed commercial vocabulary — hygiene products and bathroom fixtures — rather than as a general adjective; seldom the word you want for plain 'sanitary'.
• 衛生的えいせいてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe direct adjective for 'hygienic': use it when 'sanitary' describes conditions, practices, or environments that meet hygiene standards, rather than simple cleanliness.
  アフリカ大陸あふりかたいりくのどこかへ行いくとしたらどこが一番いちばん衛生的えいせいてきで安全あんぜんですか？↗

  If I was going to the African continent where would be the safest and most sanitary place?
• 健康的けんこうてきCommon
  na-adjectiveReally means 'healthy' or 'healthful', describing a healthy lifestyle or appearance; its 'sanitary' gloss is secondary, so it is seldom the word you want for clean or hygienic conditions.
  海辺うみべの空気くうきはきれいで健康的けんこうてきだ。↗

  The air by the sea is pure and healthy.

Use 清潔 for the everyday 'clean and hygienic' sense and 衛生的 for 'hygienic'; 「サニタリー」 is almost entirely limited to fixed commercial vocabulary, while 健康的 really means 'healthy' and seldom translates 'sanitary'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 清潔せいけつclean
• サニタリーsanitary
• 衛生的えいせいてきhygienic
• 健康的けんこうてきhygienic
• 衛生上えいせいじょうhygiene-related