家を掃除する
ie o sōji suru
To clean the house in Japanese is 家を掃除する (ie o sōji suru).
The phrase is used to describe the act of removing dirt and tidying up the rooms of a home. The core concept of cleaning is expressed by the word 掃除 (sōji), which is a noun meaning 'cleaning'. To turn this noun into the verb 'to clean', you add the verb する (suru). You can also express the idea of cleaning using seiso suru.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 家を掃除する is composed of 家 (ie, house), the object marker を (o) and 掃除する (sōji suru, to clean).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The dictionary form 家を掃除する is used in casual conversation with friends or family.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action in different tenses or states, you can modify the verb part. For the polite past tense 'cleaned the house', change 掃除する to 掃除しました.
How do you pronounce it?
ie o sōji suru
Did you know?
- The word 掃除 (sōji) is derived from Buddhist terminology, where it originally referred to the spiritual act of sweeping away worldly desires and impurities from the mind.
- In Japan, the end of the year is marked by 大掃除 (ōsōji), a 'big cleaning' where people scrub every corner of the house to welcome the New Year and the deity Toshigami.
- In Japanese schools, students perform 掃除 (sōji) themselves as part of their daily schedule instead of relying on janitors, teaching them responsibility and respect for their environment.
Examples in context
- 私が家を掃除するのを手伝ってください。Please help me clean the house.This sentence is useful for asking for help with the action of 家を掃除する.Tatoeba #167848 by mookeee, translation #246650 by CK
- 週末は家を掃除する。Shūmatsu wa ie o sōji suru.I clean the house on weekends.
- 今日は天気がいいから、家を掃除する。Kyō wa tenki ga ii kara, ie o sōji suru.The weather is nice today, so I will clean the house.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are discussing their chores for the day.
- 結衣 Yui蓮くん、今日は家を掃除する？Ren-kun, kyō wa ie o sōji suru?Ren, are you cleaning the house today?
- 蓮 Renうん、午後に家を掃除するよ。Un, gogo ni ie o sōji suru yo.Yeah, I'll clean the house in the afternoon.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、私は洗濯をするね。Jā, watashi wa sentaku o suru ne.Then, I will do the laundry.
- 蓮 Ren助かるよ、ありがとう。Tasukaru yo, arigatō.That helps, thanks.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
