清掃（せいそう、seisou）
- to clean

The Japanese word 清掃 (せいそう, *seisō*) primarily means "cleaning," "cleanup," or "sweeping." It refers to the act of removing dirt, dust, and other unwanted materials from a place or object. It can encompass various cleaning activities, from simple dusting to thorough sanitation. The term implies a level of orderliness and maintaining a clean environment. It is often used in both domestic and professional contexts. The act of 清掃 may involve a variety of tools, such as brooms, vacuum cleaners, mops, and cleaning agents. The goal of 清掃 is generally to improve the aesthetic appearance, hygiene, and overall condition of a space.

⚫︎部屋の 清掃 をする。 Translation: I will clean the room. ⚫︎会社で毎日 清掃 している。 Translation: I clean the office every day. ⚫︎公園の 清掃 活動に参加する。 Translation: I will participate in the cleanup activities at the park.

⚫︎ Use 清掃 when referring to the act or process of cleaning something. It is a more formal and general term compared to more casual words like 掃除 (*sōji*). ⚫︎ It can be used as a noun, meaning "cleaning" itself, or as a verb in its various forms (e.g., 清掃 します - *seisō shimasu* - "to clean"; 清掃 しました - *seisō shimashita* - "cleaned"). ⚫︎ It's appropriate in many situations where cleanliness is emphasized, such as in schools, workplaces, public spaces, and homes.

⚫︎ The word is typically written with the kanji 清掃 and read せいそう in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎ The okurigana (suffix hiragana) for the verb forms depends on the conjugation, but the base form remains 清掃. For example, 清掃 しました (*seisō shimashita*) is the past tense form.

⚫︎ 掃除 (*sōji*) - Cleaning; a more general term. ⚫︎ クリーニング (*kurīningu*) - Cleaning (borrowed from English, often for clothes or specific services) ⚫︎ 片付け (*katazuke*) - Tidying up; putting things away. ⚫︎ 拭き掃除 (*fukisōji*) - Wiping; cleaning by wiping. ⚫︎ 掃き掃除 (*hakisōji*) - Sweeping; cleaning by sweeping.

⚫︎ 汚す (*yogosu*) - To make dirty; to soil. ⚫︎ 汚染 (*osen*) - Pollution; contamination. ⚫︎ 散らかす (*chira kasu*) - To mess up; to make a mess.

毎週末、家全体の 清掃 をするのが私の日課です。 ・Translation: Cleaning the entire house every weekend is my daily routine. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the regular cleaning schedule of a person.

学校は生徒に 清掃 の責任を教えています。 ・Translation: The school teaches students about the responsibility of cleaning. ・Explanation: This sentence shows the importance of cleaning in a school environment.

The word 清掃 is a compound word formed from two kanji: 清 (*sei*), meaning "clean," "pure," or "clear," and 掃 (*sō*), meaning "to sweep" or "to brush away." Together, they combine to describe the act of cleaning or removing dirt and impurities to make something clean and clear.