qīngjié: 清洁 - Clean, To Clean

• Keywords: qīngjié, 清洁, how to say clean in Chinese, Chinese for clean, cleaning in Chinese, gānjìng, dǎsǎo, Chinese vocabulary, Chinese words for daily life, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 清洁 (qīngjié), which means both “clean” (as in sanitary) and “to clean.” This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use. Discover how it differs from similar words like `干净 (gānjìng)` and `打扫 (dǎsǎo)`, and master its usage in everyday conversations, from keeping a room tidy to understanding public signs in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qīngjié
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To be clean or sanitary; the act of cleaning.
• In a Nutshell: `清洁` is a versatile word that conveys a sense of thorough, hygienic cleanliness. It's a step above just being “not dirty.” Think of the deep clean a hotel performs, the sanitation of a public space, or the cleansing of a wound. It can be used as a verb (“to clean”) or an adjective (“is clean”), and generally has a slightly more formal or official tone than its common counterpart, `干净 (gānjìng)`.

• 清 (qīng): This character means “clear” or “pure.” It's composed of the water radical (氵) on the left and `青 (qīng)` on the right, which means blue/green and provides the pronunciation. The water radical strongly suggests purity, clarity, and the act of washing.
• 洁 (jié): This character means “clean” or “pure.” It also features the water radical (氵) on the left. The right side, `吉 (jí)`, means auspicious or lucky and contributes to the pronunciation. Again, the water radical links the character to the concept of washing away dirt.
• Together, 清洁 (qīngjié) is a powerful combination. Both characters contain the water radical and share a meaning of purity. This doubles down on the concept, creating a word that implies a deep, thorough, water-washed cleanliness and sanitation.

In modern China, there is a strong societal emphasis on public hygiene and order, making `清洁` a very important concept. You will see signs with `保持清洁 (bǎochí qīngjié)`—“Maintain Cleanliness”—in subways, parks, and public restrooms everywhere. This reflects a collective value of presenting a clean and modern face to the world. While an English speaker might use “clean” for almost any situation, Chinese distinguishes between different types of “clean.” `清洁` is often contrasted with `干净 (gānjìng)`.

• `干净 (gānjìng)` is like the English “clean” in its most common, everyday sense. It's a personal observation: “Your shirt is clean (`干净`).” “The table is clean (`干净`).”
• `清洁 (qīngjié)` carries a weight of process, sanitation, and officiality. A hotel room isn't just `干净`; it has undergone `清洁`. A “sanitation worker” is a `清洁工 (qīngjié gōng)`. This reflects a cultural appreciation for the labor and standards involved in maintaining a hygienic environment, distinguishing it from a simple state of tidiness.

`清洁` is used in a variety of contexts, often with a slightly more formal or technical feel than other words for cleaning. As a Verb (To Clean): It's used for the act of cleaning, especially when the process is thorough or professional.

• `清洁厨房 (qīngjié chúfáng)` - To clean the kitchen.
• `清洁伤口 (qīngjié shāngkǒu)` - To clean a wound.

As an Adjective (Is Clean): It describes a state of sanitary cleanliness, often in public or formal settings.

• `清洁的环境 (qīngjié de huánjìng)` - A clean environment.
• `这个酒店的房间很清洁。(Zhège jiǔdiàn de fángjiān hěn qīngjié.)` - This hotel's rooms are very clean.

In Official Language and Signage: This is one of its most common uses for a visitor to China.

• `保持清洁 (bǎochí qīngjié)` - Keep Clean (common on signs).
• `清洁时间 (qīngjié shíjiān)` - Cleaning Time.

In Job Titles:

• `清洁工 (qīngjié gōng)` - Cleaner, Janitor, Sanitation Worker.
• `保洁员 (bǎojié yuán)` - Cleaner (often for indoor/commercial spaces).

Example 1:

• 请保持公共场所的清洁。
• Pinyin: Qǐng bǎochí gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ de qīngjié.
• English: Please maintain the cleanliness of public areas.
• Analysis: A very common and polite phrase seen on signs in places like parks, train stations, and public restrooms. Here, `清洁` is used as a noun meaning “cleanliness.”

Example 2:

• 阿姨，麻烦你帮我清洁一下房间。
• Pinyin: Āyí, máfan nǐ bāng wǒ qīngjié yíxià fángjiān.
• English: Ma'am (referring to a cleaner/housekeeper), could I trouble you to clean the room for me?
• Analysis: Here, `清洁` is a verb. This is a common and polite way to request room cleaning services in a hotel. `阿姨 (āyí)` is a respectful term for a middle-aged woman, often used for service staff.

Example 3:

• 医生用酒精清洁了我的伤口。
• Pinyin: Yīshēng yòng jiǔjīng qīngjié le wǒ de shāngkǒu.
• English: The doctor used alcohol to clean my wound.
• Analysis: This highlights the “sanitary” aspect of `清洁`. You wouldn't use `打扫 (dǎsǎo)` for a wound; `清洁` is the correct medical term.

Example 4:

• 这家公司的主要业务是提供家庭清洁服务。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de zhǔyào yèwù shì tígōng jiātíng qīngjié fúwù.
• English: This company's main business is providing home cleaning services.
• Analysis: `清洁` is used here as a noun modifying “services.” It implies a professional, thorough service.

Example 5:

• 我们每周六都会对家里进行一次大清洁。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen měi zhōu liù dōu huì duì jiālǐ jìnxíng yí cì dà qīngjié.
• English: We do a big clean-up of the house every Saturday.
• Analysis: `大清洁` means “a big clean” or “spring cleaning.” It shows `清洁` being used as the core concept of a major cleaning task.

Example 6:

• 他非常爱护环境，总是确保周围很清洁。
• Pinyin: Tā fēicháng àihù huánjìng, zǒngshì quèbǎo zhōuwéi hěn qīngjié.
• English: He really cares for the environment and always ensures his surroundings are very clean.
• Analysis: Here, `清洁` is an adjective describing the state of the environment. It implies more than just tidy; it suggests a hygienic, pleasant state.

Example 7:

• 使用清洁能源是未来发展的趋势。
• Pinyin: Shǐyòng qīngjié néngyuán shì wèilái fāzhǎn de qūshì.
• English: Using clean energy is the trend for future development.
• Analysis: This shows a more abstract use of `清洁`, similar to the English “clean energy.” It means non-polluting and pure.

Example 8:

• 清洁工每天早上五点就开始工作了。
• Pinyin: Qīngjié gōng měitiān zǎoshang wǔ diǎn jiù kāishǐ gōngzuò le.
• English: The sanitation workers start their work at 5 AM every morning.
• Analysis: A direct and common job title using `清洁`.

Example 9:

• 饭前便后要洗手，保持双手清洁。
• Pinyin: Fàn qián biàn hòu yào xǐ shǒu, bǎochí shuāng shǒu qīngjié.
• English: Wash your hands before meals and after using the toilet to keep your hands clean.
• Analysis: A classic public health message. `清洁` is used here to mean hygienically clean, free of germs.

Example 10:

• 这款洗面奶有很好的清洁效果。
• Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn xǐmiànnǎi yǒu hěn hǎo de qīngjié xiàoguǒ.
• English: This facial cleanser has a very good cleaning effect.
• Analysis: Used in product marketing, `清洁` describes the function or effect of a product designed for deep cleaning.

The most common mistake for learners is not understanding the difference between `清洁 (qīngjié)`, `干净 (gānjìng)`, and `打扫 (dǎsǎo)`.

• `干净 (gānjìng)` - Adjective: Use this to describe the state of something being clean in a general, everyday way. It's the most common of the three.
  • Correct: `我的衬衫很干净。 (Wǒ de chènshān hěn gānjìng.)` - My shirt is clean.
  • Incorrect/Unnatural: `我的衬衫很清洁。 (Wǒ de chènshān hěn qīngjié.)` - This sounds overly formal, like the shirt has been medically sterilized.
• `打扫 (dǎsǎo)` - Verb: Use this for the physical action of cleaning, especially tidying, sweeping, or mopping a space.
  • Correct: `我正在打扫我的房间。 (Wǒ zhèngzài dǎsǎo wǒ de fángjiān.)` - I am cleaning my room.
  • Incorrect: `我正在干净我的房间。 (Wǒ zhèngzài gānjìng wǒ de fángjiān.)` - `干净` is an adjective, not a verb.
• `清洁 (qīngjié)` - Verb/Adjective: Use this for a more thorough, hygienic, or formal action or state of being clean. It's perfect for professional services, public signs, and sanitation.
  • Correct: `清洁人员每天清洁酒店房间。 (Qīngjié rényuán měitiān qīngjié jiǔdiàn fángjiān.)` - The cleaning staff cleans the hotel rooms every day.
  • Using `打扫` here (`…měitiān dǎsǎo…`) would also be acceptable but slightly less formal. Using `干净` as a verb would be incorrect.

Key Takeaway: For a simple observation (“it's clean”), use `干净`. For the action of tidying up (“I'm cleaning”), use `打扫`. For a formal, hygienic, or professional clean (“sanitation,” “to sanitize”), use `清洁`.

• 干净 (gānjìng) - The most common adjective for “clean.” A direct synonym for the adjectival use of `清洁`, but much more colloquial and widely used.
• 打扫 (dǎsǎo) - A verb meaning “to clean,” “to sweep,” “to tidy up.” Refers to the physical action of cleaning a space.
• 卫生 (wèishēng) - Hygiene; sanitation. Often used with `清洁`, as in `清洁卫生` (clean and hygienic). `卫生间 (wèishēngjiān)` is a common word for “restroom.”
• 整洁 (zhěngjié) - Tidy; neat; orderly. This focuses more on the organization and arrangement of things, whereas `清洁` focuses on the absence of dirt. A room can be `整洁` but not perfectly `清洁`.
• 保洁 (bǎojié) - To maintain cleanliness (verb). A term often used in the cleaning service industry. `保洁员 (bǎojiéyuán)` is a synonym for `清洁工`.
• 洗 (xǐ) - To wash. A specific type of cleaning involving water (e.g., wash hands, wash clothes).
• 擦 (cā) - To wipe. A specific cleaning action (e.g., wipe a table).
• 纯洁 (chúnjié) - Pure; chaste. This is an abstract form of “cleanliness,” usually referring to a person's character, heart, or innocence.
• 洁白 (jiébái) - Spotlessly white; pure white. Describes a brilliant, clean whiteness, like snow or teeth.