What is the difference between "掃除する", "綺麗", "清潔な", "せいけつ", "一網打尽"?

"掃除する" means "to clean (a room, house)", "綺麗" means "clean, beautiful, pretty", "清潔な" means "clean; sanitary; neat; pure", "せいけつ" means "clean, pure, neat", "一網打尽" means "a clean sweep, rounding up".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "掃除する", "綺麗", "清潔な", "せいけつ", "一網打尽"

All represent the core concept "clean", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

掃除する

そうじする (souji suru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

綺麗

きれい (kirei)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

清潔な

せいけつな (seiketsuna)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

せいけつ

せいけつ (seiketsu)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

一網打尽

いちもうだじん (ichimoudajin)

C1 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "clean" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "掃除する", "綺麗", "清潔な", "せいけつ", "一網打尽" based on context.

掃除する (そうじする (souji suru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to clean (a room, house)" and is used when 部屋や場所をきれいにすること。ごみを取ったり、拭いたりする行為です。.
綺麗 (きれい (kirei) - Level: N4): Maps to "clean, beautiful, pretty" and is used when Can mean both 'clean'.
清潔な (せいけつな (seiketsuna) - Level: N3): Maps to "clean; sanitary; neat; pure" and is used when Refers to being clean, sanitary, neat, hygienic, or pure in state/attitude. Often used as a な-adjective or a noun.
せいけつ (せいけつ (seiketsu) - Level: N3): Maps to "clean, pure, neat" and is used when Refers to physical cleanliness and hygiene. Can be used as a な-adjective.
一網打尽 (いちもうだじん (ichimoudajin) - Level: C1): Maps to "a clean sweep, rounding up" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "掃除する"

毎日部屋を掃除します。

I clean my room every day.

Context for "綺麗"

彼女はとても綺麗で、いつも笑顔です。

She is very beautiful and always smiling.

Context for "清潔な"

病院では、院内を常に_______な状態に維持することが厳格に求められています。

In hospitals, maintaining the interior in a clean state at all times is strictly required.

Context for "せいけつ"

この部屋はいつも清潔に保たれています。

This room is always kept clean.

Context for "一網打尽"

私は一網打尽に興味があります。

I am interested in a clean sweep, rounding up.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "毎日部屋を掃除します。" (Meaning: "I clean my room every day.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "掃除する" is correct here because it represents "to clean (a room, house)" in the context: "I clean my room every day.".