漂白剤
hyōhaku-zai[ço̞ːha̠kɯ̟za̠i]
The English word "bleach" is translated into Japanese as 漂白剤 (hyōhaku-zai).
The noun 漂白剤 refers to the chemical substance used for bleaching. If you want to express the action of treating something with bleach, you can use the verb form 漂白する.
Meaning: chemical (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun 漂白剤 is composed of 漂白, which means 'bleaching' and 剤, meaning 'agent' or 'medicine'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hyōhaku-zai
Did you know?
- The word 漂白 shares its first character with 漂流 (hyōryū), the word for 'drifting' as in a shipwreck.
- Japanese households often use a specific brand of bleach called ハイター (Haitā) as a generic trademark for the substance itself.
- If you are looking for hair bleach at a salon, you are more likely to hear the katakana loanword ブリーチ (burīchi) than the formal 漂白剤.
Examples in context
- 漂白剤を使用して、シャツを白くすることができます。You can make your shirt white by using bleach.
- 漂白液を添加すると、汚れが取れやすくなります。Adding bleach makes it easier to remove stains.
- 昨日、ブリーチで髪の毛を染めました。Yesterday, I dyed my hair with bleach.
- このシャツを漂白して、汚れを取り除きます。I will bleach this shirt to remove the stains.
- 漂白剤を使いすぎないでください。Hyōhakuzai o tsukaisuginaide kudasai.Please do not use too much bleach.
- この漂白剤はとても強力です。Kono hyōhakuzai wa totemo kyōryoku desu.This bleach is very strong.
- 漂白剤の近くに置かないでください。Hyōhakuzai no chikaku ni okanaide kudasai.Please do not place things near the bleach.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are talking in the laundry room.
- 健太 Kenta漂白剤はどこにありますか？Hyōhakuzai wa doko ni arimasu ka?Where is the bleach?
- 結衣 Yui棚の下にありますよ。Tana no shita ni arimasu yo.It is under the shelf.
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、気を付けて使ってくださいね。Hai, ki o tsukete tsukatte kudasai ne.Okay, please use it carefully.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bleach” translations and entries 漂白剤, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
