Bedeutung
To feel no guilt.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is often linked to the concept of 'Honor' which is a core value in Polish history. A person with 'czyste sumienie' is seen as a person of honor. The sacrament of confession is closely tied to this idiom. After confession, a person is said to have a 'czyste sumienie' because their sins are washed away. In Polish corporate culture, 'czyste sumienie' is often used in the context of 'compliance' and 'ethics' (etyka biznesu). Many Polish dramas (like those by Słowacki or Wyspiański) revolve around characters who lose their 'czyste sumienie' and suffer tragic consequences.
Use it for recommendations
If you want to sound very sincere when recommending a book, movie, or person, use 'Z czystym sumieniem polecam...'
Watch the negation
Remember: 'Nie mam czysteGO sumienia'. The ending changes to -ego/-a because of the Genitive case.
Bedeutung
To feel no guilt.
Use it for recommendations
If you want to sound very sincere when recommending a book, movie, or person, use 'Z czystym sumieniem polecam...'
Watch the negation
Remember: 'Nie mam czysteGO sumienia'. The ending changes to -ego/-a because of the Genitive case.
Spokojne vs Czyste
Use 'spokojne' when you want to emphasize that you aren't stressed. Use 'czyste' when you want to emphasize that you are innocent.
Religious roots
Even if you aren't religious, using this phrase is perfectly normal and doesn't make you sound like a priest.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Nie zrobiłem nic złego, więc mam czyste __________.
The sentence is positive, so we use the Accusative case: 'sumienie'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the negative sentence.
Negation requires the Genitive case: 'czystego sumienia'.
Complete the dialogue with the appropriate phrase.
A: Czy na pewno nie wziąłeś mojego długopisu? B: Przysięgam! __________.
'Mam czyste sumienie' is the correct idiom for claiming innocence.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to recommend a book you really loved.
'Z czystym sumieniem' is used when giving sincere recommendations.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Czyste vs. Spokojne
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenNie zrobiłem nic złego, więc mam czyste __________.
The sentence is positive, so we use the Accusative case: 'sumienie'.
Select the negative sentence.
Negation requires the Genitive case: 'czystego sumienia'.
A: Czy na pewno nie wziąłeś mojego długopisu? B: Przysięgam! __________.
'Mam czyste sumienie' is the correct idiom for claiming innocence.
You want to recommend a book you really loved.
'Z czystym sumieniem' is used when giving sincere recommendations.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with your friends, your boss, or in a formal essay.
Yes, 'mieć brudne sumienie' (to have a dirty conscience) is the direct opposite, though 'mieć wyrzuty sumienia' is more common.
'Sumienie' is your moral compass (right vs wrong). 'Świadomość' is your awareness or consciousness (being awake/knowing facts).
You say 'Mam czyste sumienie'. Polish uses 'clean' (czyste) instead of 'clear'.
Yes, especially in crime dramas or movies about moral dilemmas like Kieślowski's 'Dekalog'.
You can, but it sounds sarcastic or very dramatic. It's better for bigger moral issues.
No, it's usually just 'mieć' + 'czyste sumienie'. But you can say 'mieć czyste sumienie WOBEC kogoś' (towards someone).
Not exactly, but people might say 'jestem czysty' (I'm clean) in a criminal context.
Yes, to describe your work ethic: 'Zawsze pracuję tak, by mieć czyste sumienie'.
Mamy czyste sumienia (We have clean consciences). Note that 'sumienie' becomes 'sumienia'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
mieć spokojne sumienie
similarTo have a quiet/peaceful conscience.
wyrzuty sumienia
contrastRemorse / pangs of conscience.
z czystym sumieniem
builds onWith a clean conscience / wholeheartedly.
mieć kogoś/coś na sumieniu
similarTo have someone/something on one's conscience.
ruszyło go sumienie
similarHis conscience was stirred.
