掃除機
sōjiki[so̞ːʑikʲi]
In Japanese, the word for vacuum is 掃除機 (sōjiki).
掃除機 refers to the vacuum cleaner itself. To describe the action of using a vacuum cleaner, you use the phrase 掃除機をかける.
Meaning: transitive: to clean with a vacuum cleaner (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 掃除機 is a compound of 掃除, meaning cleaning and 機, meaning machine.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of vacuuming, use the verb phrase 掃除機をかける. In casual speech, a shortened form 掃除機かけ is commonly used, as seen in the expression 掃除機かけなきゃ.
How do you pronounce it?
sōjiki
Did you know?
- While 掃除機 is the tool, the verb かける in 掃除機をかける literally means 'to hang' or 'to apply'. This is the same verb used when 'applying' a spell or 'hanging' a phone call.
- Because the sound of a 掃除機 is considered disruptive, Japanese etiquette often dictates specific 'vacuuming hours' to avoid bothering neighbors in thin-walled apartments.
- The word 掃除 comes from the Chinese characters for 'sweep' and 'remove'. Originally, it referred to a ritualistic purification of a space rather than just removing dust.
Examples in context
- 掃除機かけなきゃ。I need to vacuum.This sentence is useful for expressing the need to perform the action of vacuuming.Tatoeba #10176674 by Sim5634, translation #10208928 by dnjst
- 車に掃除機かけなきゃ。I need to vacuum the car.This sentence shows how to specify the object being vacuumed.Tatoeba #10191417 by small_snow, translation #9244235 by CK
- この掃除機、うるさいな。This vacuum cleaner is noisy.This sentence is useful for describing the noise level of the 掃除機.Tatoeba #11385112 by small_snow, translation #3598961 by dibdin
- あの掃除機はどこで買いましたか。Where did you buy that vacuum cleaner?
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are cleaning their living room together.
- 陽太 Yota今からここに掃除機かけるね。Ima kara koko ni soujiki kakeru ne.I'll vacuum here now.
- 結衣 Yuiお願い。私は棚を拭くよ。Onegai. Watashi wa tana o fuku yo.Please do. I will wipe the shelves.
- 陽太 Yotaもう全部掃除機かけたよ。Mou zenbu soujiki kaketa yo.I've already vacuumed everything.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう。助かったよ。Arigatou. Tasukatta yo.Thanks. That helped a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 掃除機, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
