Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Wash" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "wash", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
洗います
あらいます (araimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
洗う
あらう (arau)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "wash" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 洗います and 洗う.
In Japanese, 洗います (あらいます (araimasu)) is typically associated with "to wash" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Polite form of 洗う.
On the other hand, 洗う (あらう (arau)) maps to "to wash" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Transitive verb. Used for washing clothes, dishes, hands, hair, etc. The polite form is 洗います. A literal translation of "wash" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "洗います"
夜ごはんの後、お皿を洗います。
After dinner, I wash the dishes.
Bilingual Context for "洗う"
毎日、お皿を洗います。
I wash the dishes every day.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "夜ごはんの後、お皿を ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "After dinner, I wash the dishes.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "洗います" fits here because it means "to wash" in the context of: "After dinner, I wash the dishes.". "洗う" represents "to wash".