Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| чи́стить | čístitʹ | imperfective |
| почи́стить | počístitʹ | perfective |
| вы́чистить | výčistitʹ | perfective |
| очища́ть | očiščátʹ | imperfective |
| очи́стить | očístitʹ | perfective |
The verb is used to remove dirt from an object or place. Depending on the context, it can also mean to peel vegetables (чи́стить овощи́) or to brush teeth (чи́стить зу́бы).
Which one should you use?
The different forms of the verb change the focus of the action. Use the imperfective чи́стить to describe the ongoing process of cleaning or a habitual action. The perfective почи́стить is used to emphasize the completion of a single cleaning task. To express cleaning something out thoroughly, such as the inside of a container or a room, use the perfective вы́чистить. For the sense of purifying or cleansing something like air or water, use the imperfective очища́ть or its perfective counterpart очи́стить.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb чи́стить is transitive and requires an object in the accusative case.
How do you pronounce it?
čístitʹ
Did you know?
- While чи́стить means 'to clean', the word for 'cleaning' as a household chore is убо́рка. This comes from the word for 'tidying' or 'putting things away' rather than the act of removing dirt.
- In Russian, if you want to say you are 'cleaning up' a mess you made, you might use прибира́ть. This differs from чи́стить because it focuses on organization and order rather than the removal of grime.
- Russian has a specific word прибо́рка which refers to a 'light cleaning' or a quick tidy-up. It is a diminutive form of убо́рка and implies the work was done quickly or superficially.
Examples in context
- чистая комнатаClean room
- чистая одеждаClean clothes
- Я собираюсь чи́стить ковёр.Ya sobirayus' chistit' kover.I am going to clean the carpet.
- Нужно чи́стить обувь перед выходом.Nuzhno chistit' obuv' pered vykhodom.One needs to clean the shoes before going out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clean” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
