清掃|せいそうseisou[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbcleaning; clean-up; garbage collection; scavenging
    美術館びじゅつかんの東ひがしの陳列ちんれつ棟むねは清掃せいそうのため閉鎖へいさされていた。↗
    The museum's eastern gallery was closed for cleaning.
Conjugation
Dictionary form清掃する(せいそうする)
Polite (masu)清掃します(せいそうします)
Negative (nai)清掃しない(せいそうしない)
polite (masen)清掃しません(せいそうしません)
classical zu / nu清掃せず・清掃せぬ(せいそうせず・せいそうせぬ)
Past (ta)清掃した(せいそうした)
polite (mashita)清掃しました(せいそうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)清掃しなかった(せいそうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)清掃しませんでした(せいそうしませんでした)
Te form清掃して(せいそうして)
Potential清掃できる(せいそうできる)
Passive清掃される(せいそうされる)
Causative清掃させる(せいそうさせる)
Causative passive清掃させられる(せいそうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)清掃すれば(せいそうすれば)
tara清掃したら(せいそうしたら)
Volitional清掃しよう(せいそうしよう)
polite (mashou)清掃しましょう(せいそうしましょう)
Imperative清掃しろ(せいそうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym掃除そうじNeutralThe everyday word for cleaning (「部屋を掃除する」); 「清掃」 sounds more formal and is typical for public places and professional cleaning.
  • SynonymクリーニングNeutralLoanword centered on professional laundering — dry cleaning and the laundry shop, as in 「クリーニングに出す」; the stress is on specialist washing.
  • Related洗浄せんじょうNeutralWashing or cleansing, used mainly for equipment and in medical contexts (「洗浄剤」「胃洗浄」).
  • RelatedさらうNeutralTo dredge — clear earth and sand from the bottom of a river or ditch (「どぶを浚う」); can also mean to sweep or wash things away.
  • Related洗濯せんたくNeutralWashing clothes, sheets and towels (「洗濯機」); 「清掃」 is about cleaning places, not laundry.
  • Related洗うあらうNeutralVerb meaning to wash (「手を洗う」); it can also mean to investigate something thoroughly.
  • Related洒掃さいそうWrittenWritten-style word for sprinkling water and sweeping; rarely seen in modern usage.
  • Related洗滌せんできWrittenWritten-style term, the original way of writing 「洗浄」; read 「せんでき」, later also 「せんじょう」; rare today.
  • Related洗い濯ぎあらいすすぎNeutralWashing and rinsing; used to describe housework and rarely seen.
  • Antonym汚染おせんNeutralPollution or contamination; the opposite of 「清掃」.
  • Antonym汚すよごすNeutralTo make something dirty or pollute it; the action opposite to 「清掃」.

Choose 「清掃」 for cleaning public places or professional, business cleaning (「清掃員」「道路清掃」). At home it is 「掃除」; laundry is 「洗濯」, dry cleaning 「クリーニング」, and cleansing equipment 「洗浄」. The opposite is 「汚す」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. ある場所ばしょを掃き清はききよめること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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