<ul>
<li>清洁 can also be used as a verb "to clean", not just as an adjective</li>
<li>清理 is only really used as a verb "to clean" in general. It can also mean "to tidy up" (no water required), and even "to dispose of" (even euphemistically, like 处理).</li>
<li>洗 is used for "to wash", but where it overlaps with "to clean" is often in a construction with 给, e.g. 给X洗干净 "give X a (good/thorough) clean". </li>
<li>清洗 is a more literary version of the above.</li>
<li>清涤 and 洗涤 are even more literary versions of the above, used in certain newspaper articles, official notices, translations of the Bible etc.</li>
<li>打扫 is used for "to sweep", but often gives the impression of "tidying up" and especially of rooms / parts of the house that don't require water for cleaning.</li>
<li>整理 is to "tidy up" or "arrange", and is also especially common for tidying up one's room.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T13:18:34.260Z
Great answer. I would add 收拾 as it is often the intended meaning of "clean" in English (put things away)
Stephen C
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T13:19:54.240Z
@StephenCowley Good one there!
Michaelyus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T11:09:58.073Z
2019-04-26T11:22:15.413Z
2019-04-26T11:22:15.413Z
Michaelyus
<p>or you can try this sentence in a very conversational tone: 把你的房间整干净再走。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T13:43:35.260Z
2019-04-26T13:43:35.260Z
Xuehong Zhang
<p>I usually see adjectives like 干净 and 清洁 for clean but I couldn't find a general verb for clean in Chinese. Let's say I want to say. "please clean your room before you leave". What's the right clean(verb) word to use in this sentence? And btw it will be really nice and helpful if you guys can provide some common "clean" verbs for different situations :D</p>

<meaning><usage><difference>
The word for clean (verb)
# The word for clean (verb)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-26)

I usually see adjectives like 干净 and 清洁 for clean but I couldn't find a general verb for clean in Chinese. Let's say I want to say. "please clean your room before you leave". What's the right clean(verb) word to use in this sentence? And btw it will be really nice and helpful if you guys can provide some common "clean" verbs for different situations :D

**Tags:** meaning, usage, difference


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-04-26. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

* 清洁 can also be used as a verb "to clean", not just as an adjective
* 清理 is only really used as a verb "to clean" in general. It can also mean "to tidy up" (no water required), and even "to dispose of" (even euphemistically, like 处理).
* 洗 is used for "to wash", but where it overlaps with "to clean" is often in a construction with 给, e.g. 给X洗干净 "give X a (good/thorough) clean".
* 清洗 is a more literary version of the above.
* 清涤 and 洗涤 are even more literary versions of the above, used in certain newspaper articles, official notices, translations of the Bible etc.
* 打扫 is used for "to sweep", but often gives the impression of "tidying up" and especially of rooms / parts of the house that don't require water for cleaning.
* 整理 is to "tidy up" or "arrange", and is also especially common for tidying up one's room.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Great answer. I would add 收拾 as it is often the intended meaning of "clean" in English (put things away)  
> **username_1**: @StephenCowley Good one there!  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-04-26. Score: 0

or you can try this sentence in a very conversational tone: 把你的房间整干净再走。


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