How to Say "Cleaning" in Chinese

打扫

dǎsǎo

The English phrase 'cleaning' is translated into Chinese as 打扫 (dǎsǎo).

打扫 is typically used for cleaning up a space or a room, such as sweeping or tidying up.

Meaning: action in which something is cleaned (verb)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of 打 (to hit/strike) and 扫 (to sweep).

While 打扫 refers to tidying or sweeping a space, 清洁 (qīngjié) is a more formal term often used for the process of sanitizing or deep cleaning.

As a verb, 打扫 can be followed directly by an object like 房间 (room) or 屋子 (house).

dǎsǎo

During the Lunar New Year cleaning ritual, it is traditionally forbidden to 打扫 or sweep the floors on the actual first day of the year, as this would sweep away the new year's good fortune.
The word 扫 (to sweep) is also the root of the modern Chinese word for 'scanning' a QR code, 扫码 (sǎo mǎ), as the laser 'sweeps' across the code.
In China, the most intense period of 打扫 happens during the 'Spring Cleaning' before the Lunar New Year, which symbolically sweeps away the bad luck of the previous year.

他讨厌打扫自己的房间。
He hates cleaning his room.
This sentence shows how to use 打扫 when expressing a dislike for cleaning a room.
Tatoeba #4789635 by 400S, translation #303401 by CK
打扫屋子真的是我最害怕的工作。
Cleaning up the house is truly my most dreaded task.
This sentence demonstrates using 打扫 to describe a dreaded task involving a house.
Tatoeba #12615483 by Enzo, translation #12615331 by LoverofEnglish
他在打扫他的房间。
He was cleaning his room.
This sentence illustrates the continuous use of 打扫 when someone is currently cleaning a room.
Tatoeba #358288 by zhouj1955, translation #298837 by adjusting
请负责清洁教室。
Please be responsible for cleaning the classroom.
我得去打扫公寓了。
I have to go clean the apartment.
这间卧室需要保持卫生。
This bedroom needs to be kept clean.
妈妈让我去扫地。
Mom asked me to sweep the floor.
每周六，我们全家要搞卫生。
Every Saturday, our whole family does the cleaning.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

A couple is preparing to clean their apartment together.

梓涵 Zihan

伟，我们今天打扫一下客厅吧。
Wěi, wǒmen jīntiān dǎsǎo yīxià kètīng ba.
Wei, let's clean the living room today.
伟 Wei

好啊，我也想打扫一下阳台。
Hǎo a, wǒ yě xiǎng dǎsǎo yīxià yángtái.
Okay, I also want to clean the balcony.
梓涵 Zihan

那你负责打扫阳台，好吗？
Nà nǐ fùzé dǎsǎo yángtái, hǎo ma?
Then you are responsible for cleaning the balcony, okay?
伟 Wei

没问题，梓涵，我们开始吧。
Méi wèntí, Zǐhán, wǒmen kāishǐ ba.
No problem, Zihan, let's get started.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏