gānjìng: 干净 - Clean, Neat, Tidy

• Keywords: 干净, gānjìng, ganjing, clean in Chinese, how to say tidy in Chinese, Chinese word for neat, gānjìng meaning, what does ganjing mean, Chinese culture cleanliness, HSK 2 word
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 干净 (gānjìng), which means “clean,” “neat,” and “tidy.” This guide goes beyond a simple translation, exploring how gānjìng is used to describe not just a clean room, but also a pure heart, a finished task, and a decisive action. Discover its cultural importance, see practical examples, and learn to use it like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gānjìng
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To be free from dirt, mess, or clutter; figuratively, to be complete, thorough, or pure.
• In a Nutshell: At its most basic, 干净 (gānjìng) is the word you use to describe a sparkling clean kitchen or freshly washed clothes. However, its meaning expands beautifully in Chinese. It can act like the English suffix “-up,” as in “eat up” (吃干净, chī gānjìng). It can also describe a person's simple and honest character or a job done swiftly and without any loose ends. It's a word that covers both physical and metaphorical tidiness.

• 干 (gān): This character's primary meaning here is “dry.” Think of a washed dish that is now completely dry and ready to be put away. Dryness is an essential component of being truly clean and free from moisture or mildew.
• 净 (jìng): This character means “clean” or “pure.” The left side (冫) is the “ice” radical, suggesting coolness and purity. The right side (争) means “to strive.” So you can think of it as “striving for purity.”

Together, 干净 (gānjìng) combines “dry” and “clean” to create a powerful, encompassing sense of total cleanliness—nothing dirty, wet, or messy remains.

In Chinese culture, 干净 (gānjìng) is more than just a state of being; it's a reflection of one's diligence, character, and respect for others. A clean and tidy home is not just a personal preference but a sign that the host is thoughtful and well-organized, an important aspect of giving “face” (面子, miànzi) to guests. This can be contrasted with some Western attitudes where a bit of “organized chaos” might be seen as a sign of a creative or busy mind. In China, orderliness and cleanliness are more universally seen as virtues. This extends metaphorically as well. A person with a “干净的背景” (gānjìng de bèijǐng), or a “clean background,” is considered trustworthy and reliable, which is highly valued in both personal and professional relationships. Having a “clean” record is often a prerequisite for positions of trust.

干净 (gānjìng) is a versatile word used constantly in daily life.

• Literal Cleanliness: This is its most common use. You can use it for anything that is physically clean.
• `你的房间很干净。` (Nǐ de fángjiān hěn gānjìng.) - Your room is very clean.
• `洗手干净了吗？` (Xǐshǒu gānjìng le ma?) - Have you washed your hands clean?
• Figurative Use (As a Resultative Complement): When placed after a verb, 干净 often means “completely” or “thoroughly,” indicating the action has been completed, leaving no remainder.
• `请把米饭吃干净。` (Qǐng bǎ mǐfàn chī gānjìng.) - Please eat up all the rice.
• `我把那件事忘干净了。` (Wǒ bǎ nà jiàn shì wàng gānjìng le.) - I've completely forgotten about that matter.
• Describing People and Actions: It can describe a person's character as pure or a person's actions as neat and decisive.
• `她的心地很干净。` (Tā de xīndì hěn gānjìng.) - She has a very pure heart.
• `这个球进得真干净！` (Zhège qiú jìn de zhēn gānjìng!) - That was a really clean goal! (No fumbling, no messy defense).

• Example 1:
  • 这个盘子你洗得不干净，上面还有油。
  • Pinyin: Zhège pánzi nǐ xǐ de bù gānjìng, shàngmiàn háiyǒu yóu.
  • English: You didn't wash this plate clean; there's still oil on it.
  • Analysis: A very common, literal usage. It shows 干净 used in a negative form (`不干净`) to mean “not clean” or “dirty.”
• Example 2:
  • 出门前，他总是把衣服穿得干干净净的。
  • Pinyin: Chūmén qián, tā zǒngshì bǎ yīfú chuān de gāngānjìngjìng de.
  • English: Before going out, he always dresses very neatly and cleanly.
  • Analysis: This uses the AABB reduplication pattern (`干干净净`) to add emphasis, similar to saying “spick and span” in English.
• Example 3:
  • 孩子们把桌子上的蛋糕都吃干净了。
  • Pinyin: Háizimen bǎ zhuōzi shàng de dàngāo dōu chī gānjìng le.
  • English: The children ate up all the cake on the table.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of 干净 as a resultative complement. It doesn't mean they ate “cleanly,” but that they finished it completely.
• Example 4:
  • 他做事很干净利落，从不拖泥带水。
  • Pinyin: Tā zuòshì hěn gānjìng lìluo, cóng bù tuōnídàishuǐ.
  • English: He works very efficiently and decisively, never sloppily.
  • Analysis: Here, 干净 is part of a four-character idiom, 干净利落 (gānjìng lìluo), meaning “crisp” or “efficient.” It describes a style of action.
• Example 5:
  • 我希望找到一个背景干净的男朋友。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng zhǎodào yīgè bèijǐng gānjìng de nánpéngyǒu.
  • English: I hope to find a boyfriend with a “clean” background.
  • Analysis: This shows the metaphorical use of 干净 to describe a person's past—no criminal record, no complicated romantic history, etc.
• Example 6:
  • 雨后的天空特别干净，像被洗过一样。
  • Pinyin: Yǔhòu de tiānkōng tèbié gānjìng, xiàng bèi xǐguò yīyàng.
  • English: The sky after the rain is exceptionally clean, as if it has been washed.
  • Analysis: This applies 干净 to nature, describing a clear, unpolluted sky free of clouds or haze.
• Example 7:
  • 分了就分了，让我们分得干净一点，以后别再联系。
  • Pinyin: Fēnle jiù fēnle, ràng wǒmen fēn de gānjìng yīdiǎn, yǐhòu bié zài liánxì.
  • English: We've broken up, so let's make a clean break and not contact each other anymore.
  • Analysis: This is a powerful emotional use of the word. A “clean” breakup (分得干净) is one with no lingering feelings, arguments, or attachments.
• Example 8:
  • 请把你的思路写干净，让大家都能看懂。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ nǐ de sīlù xiě gānjìng, ràng dàjiā dōu néng kàn dǒng.
  • English: Please write out your train of thought clearly so everyone can understand.
  • Analysis: Here, 干净 means “clear” and “uncluttered” when applied to writing or thinking. It implies simplicity and directness.
• Example 9:
  • 他的笑容很干净，看起来很天真。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xiàoróng hěn gānjìng, kàn qǐlái hěn tiānzhēn.
  • English: His smile is very “clean” (pure), he looks very innocent.
  • Analysis: This describes a person's expression. A 干净 smile is one that is genuine, open, and without any hidden agenda.
• Example 10:
  • 警察把这个犯罪团伙一网打尽，处理得很干净。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá bǎ zhège fànzuì tuánhuǒ yīwǎngdǎjìn, chǔlǐ de hěn gānjìng.
  • English: The police caught the entire criminal gang in one fell swoop and handled it very cleanly.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a professional use. “Handling it cleanly” means the operation was efficient, thorough, and left no unresolved issues or escaped suspects.

• `干净` (gānjìng) vs. `整洁` (zhěngjié): This is a critical distinction for learners.
  • 干净 means “clean” (free of dirt).
  • 整洁 means “tidy” or “orderly” (free of clutter).
  • A desk can be 整洁 (papers are in neat stacks) but not 干净 (it's covered in dust).
  • A floor can be 干净 (just mopped) but not 整洁 (toys are scattered everywhere).
• The “Completely” Meaning: English speakers often forget that 干净 after a verb means “completely,” not that the action was done in a clean manner.
  • Incorrect: He ate his meal cleanly. (Interpreting `他吃干净了`.)
  • Correct: He ate up his meal completely. (`他吃干净了`.)

If you want to say he ate without making a mess, you'd have to describe it differently, e.g., `他吃饭的时候很讲究，一点都没弄脏` (Tā chīfàn de shíhòu hěn jiǎngjiù, yīdiǎn dōu méi nòng zāng).

• Not for “Clean Energy”: While we say “clean energy” in English, you cannot use 干净 for this. The correct term is 清洁能源 (qīngjié néngyuán). 干净 is generally for more direct, observable cleanliness.

• 整洁 (zhěngjié) - Tidy, orderly. Describes the state of being well-organized, a close synonym but with a different focus.
• 脏 (zāng) - Dirty, filthy. The direct antonym of 干净.
• 乱 (luàn) - Messy, chaotic. The direct antonym of 整洁.
• 清洁 (qīngjié) - To clean; cleaning. More formal than 干净. Often used as a verb (e.g., `清洁房间` - to clean the room) or a noun for the concept of cleaning.
• 打扫 (dǎsǎo) - To clean, to sweep. The action one takes to make a place 干净.
• 收拾 (shōushi) - To tidy up, to put in order. The action one takes to make a place 整洁.
• 纯洁 (chúnjié) - Pure, chaste. Used exclusively for abstract concepts like a person's heart, soul, or love. It's much deeper and more “innocent” than 干净.
• 干净利落 (gānjìng lìluo) - An idiom meaning neat, efficient, and decisive. Used to praise someone's work style or actions.