How to say "sweeping" in Japanese

• 掃除そうじJLPT N5approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe literal, physical sense: sweeping as one part of cleaning. Use it for housework and chores — sweeping a floor falls under this general cleaning word.
  あなたの部屋へやを掃除そうじしましたか。↗

  Did you clean your room?
• 席巻せっけんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbFigurative: a force, army, team, or trend sweeping over or across a country or field and conquering it. Think of a victorious side sweeping through a tournament or a boom sweeping the nation.
• 大雑把おおざっぱJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjectiveDescribes statements, summaries, or estimates that are broad and rough rather than precise — the 'sweeping' of a sweeping generalization. When 'sweeping' means glossing over detail, this is the word you want.
  大雑把おおざっぱに言いえば、バスには３０名めいほどの人ひと達たちがいました。↗

  Roughly speaking, there were about 30 people in the bus.
• 風靡ふうびCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbOnly the grand figurative sense of 'sweeping the world': a person, group, or fashion overwhelmingly dominating an era. For any other 'sweeping' it is seldom the word you want.
• 払いはらいCommon
  nounSweeping or clearing something away, as in brushing off dust or snow. Outside this sense the noun often refers to payment, so for English 'sweeping' it is seldom the word you want.

Use 掃除 for literal sweeping as part of cleaning, 「払い」 for sweeping something away, 席巻 and 風靡 for forces sweeping over or dominating a country or field, and 大雑把 for sweeping statements that are broad and rough.

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

• 掃除そうじcleaning
• 席巻せっけんsweeping (over, across)
• 大雑把おおざっぱrough (estimate, summary, etc.)
• 風靡ふうびoverwhelming
• 掃引そういんsweeping
• 主語が大きいしゅごがおおきいovergeneralizing (statement, assumption, etc.)
• 払いはらいsweeping