====== qīngjié: 清洁 - Clean, To Clean ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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)`.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`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 Sentences =====
**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.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
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`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[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.