A1 Collocation Neutral

部屋を片付ける

heya o katadzukeru

Tidy a room

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A fundamental phrase for daily life used to describe tidying, organizing, or putting things back in their place within a room.

  • Means: To tidy up or organize a room (not necessarily deep cleaning).
  • Used in: Daily chores, preparing for guests, or talking about habits.
  • Don't confuse: With '{掃除|そうじ}する' which specifically means cleaning/scrubbing dirt.
📦 + 🏠 = ✨ {部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}ける

Explanation at your level:

This phrase is very simple. It means 'to tidy a room'. You use it when you put your toys, books, or clothes away. It uses the word 'heya' (room) and 'katazukeru' (to tidy). It is a basic action you do every day at home.
At this level, you learn that 'katazukeru' is a transitive verb. You use it with the particle 'o'. It's different from 'soji suru' (to clean with water or a vacuum). You can use it to talk about your daily chores or tell someone to clean up.
Intermediate learners should distinguish between 'katazukeru' (tidying) and 'seiri-seiton' (organizing). You can also use 'katazukeru' for finishing tasks or work. Understanding the intransitive form 'katazuku' (to be tidied) is important for describing the state of a room.
Upper-intermediate learners recognize the idiomatic uses of 'katazukeru', such as 'settling' a problem or 'dealing with' a person (though the latter can be quite harsh). You should be comfortable using various causative and passive forms in different social registers.
Advanced learners can analyze the etymological roots of 'kata' and 'tsukeru'. You can discuss the cultural implications of 'katazukeru' in Japanese society, such as its role in education and its connection to Shinto concepts of purity and 'kegare' (impurity/clutter).
At a near-native level, you master the subtle nuances between 'katazukeru', 'shimau', 'kata o tsukeru', and 'shimatsu suru'. You can use the phrase in literary contexts to describe the resolution of complex narrative threads or the psychological state of a character seeking order in chaos.

Significado

To organize and clean a room.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Students are responsible for cleaning their own classrooms and hallways every day. This practice, called 'O-soji', teaches them to 'katazukeru' from a very young age. The world-famous tidying expert Marie Kondo popularized the idea of 'katazukeru' as a way to spark joy. Her method is a modern take on traditional Japanese values of organization. Japanese people perform a massive cleaning of their homes at the end of December to welcome the gods of the new year. This is the most important 'katazukeru' event of the year. Because Japanese apartments in cities like Tokyo are very small, 'katazukeru' is essential for making the most of the limited space.

💡

Use it for tasks too!

You can say '{仕事|しごと}を{片付|かたづ}ける' to mean 'finishing up work.'

⚠️

Don't say 'arau'!

Never say you 'wash' (arau) a room unless you are literally hosing it down with water.

Significado

To organize and clean a room.

💡

Use it for tasks too!

You can say '{仕事|しごと}を{片付|かたづ}ける' to mean 'finishing up work.'

⚠️

Don't say 'arau'!

Never say you 'wash' (arau) a room unless you are literally hosing it down with water.

🎯

The 'Shimau' combo

Pair 'katazukeru' with 'shimau' ({片付|かたづ}けてしまう) to sound like a native who is 'getting it all done!'

💬

The 'Katazuku' state

Japanese people love to say '{部屋|へや}が{片付|かたづ}いている' to describe a peaceful, organized home.

Ponte a prueba

Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: '{友達|ともだち}が{来|く}るから、{急|いそ}いで{部屋|へや}を＿＿＿＿。'

Which verb fits best?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: {片付|かたづ}けます

You tidy a room (katazukeru) when a guest is coming. You don't wash (arau), eat (taberu), or drink (nomu) a room.

Fill in the particle: '{部屋|へや}＿{片付|かたづ}けてください。'

Which particle is used for the object of the action?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: を

The particle 'o' marks the direct object of the transitive verb 'katazukeru'.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Situation: A mother is angry at her child's messy room.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: {部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けなさい！

The '-nasai' form is used for commands, typically from a parent to a child.

Complete the dialogue.

A: {部屋|へや}がすごく{散|ち}らかっているね。 B: うん、{明日|あした}＿＿＿＿＿＿。

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: {片付|かたづ}けるつもりだよ

'Tsumori' expresses intention for the future (tomorrow).

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Katazukeru vs. Soji suru

{片付|かたづ}ける (Tidying)
Books Put on shelf
Clothes Put in closet
{掃除|そうじ}する (Cleaning)
Dust Wipe away
Floor Vacuum

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

'Katazukeru' is about tidying clutter (putting things away). 'Soji suru' is about cleaning dirt (vacuuming, mopping).

Yes! '{机|つくえ}を{片付|かたづ}ける' is very common.

Yes, in its '-masu' form ({片付|かたづ}けます), it is perfectly polite for any situation.

You can say '{片付|かたづ}けが{苦手|にがて}です' (I am weak at tidying).

Be careful! In slang/movies, it can mean 'to take someone out' or 'kill', but in daily life, it's only for objects and tasks.

It's the intransitive version. It means 'to be tidied' or 'to be settled.'

Her name isn't, but her profession is the definition of 'katazuke'!

Use '{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けてくれる？' (Can you tidy the room?) for a friendly request.

Yes, '{テ|て}ー{ブル|ぶる}を{片付|かたづ}ける' is the standard way to say 'clear the table'.

It's the ritual cleaning done at the end of the year in Japan.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

{掃除|そうじ}する

similar

To clean (scrub, dust, vacuum)

🔗

{整理|せいり}する

specialized form

To organize/sort

🔗

{片付|かたづ}く

contrast

To be tidied/to be in order

🔗

{散|ち}らかる

contrast

To be messy/cluttered

🔗

{仕舞|しま}う

similar

To put away

Dónde usarla

🏠

Before a guest arrives

Person A: もうすぐ{田中|たなか}さんが{来|く}るよ！

Person B: わあ、{急|いそ}いで{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けないと！

neutral
🧒

Parent to child

Mother: {遊|あそ}んだ{後|あと}は、{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けなさい。

Child: はーい、いまやるよ。

informal
💼

At the office

Manager: {会議|かいぎ}の{前|まえ}に、この{資料|しりょう}を{片付|かたづ}けておいてください。

Staff: かしこまりました。すぐにやります。

formal
📦

Moving house

Friend: {引|ひ}っ{越|こ}しの{準備|じゅんび}はどう？

You: まだ{全然|ぜんぜん}、{部屋|へや}が{片付|かたづ}いていないんだ。

neutral
🎉

After a party

Host: みんな、{今日|きょう}はありがとう！

Guest: {片付|かたづ}けを{手伝|てつだ}うよ。どこからやる？

informal
🎍

New Year's Eve

Grandpa: {大掃除|おおそうじ}で{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けよう。

Grandchild: うん、ピカピカにするね！

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'KATAna' (sword) being 'TSUKERU' (attached/put back) into its scabbard. You are putting things back where they belong.

Visual Association

Picture a room split into two sides. On one side, everything is messy. You move everything to the 'proper side' (Kata) and 'fix' (Tsukeru) it there. Now it's tidy!

Rhyme

Heya o katazukeru, make it look better-u!

Story

You are expecting a guest. You see a 'Kata' (a shape/form) of a messy room. You decide to 'Tsukeru' (attach) every item to its correct shelf. When you're done, the room is 'Katazuita'!

Word Web

{掃除|そうじ} (Cleaning){整理|せいり} (Organizing){整頓|せいとん} (Arranging){捨|す}てる (To throw away){散|ち}らかる (To be messy){机|つくえ} (Desk){床|ゆか} (Floor){箱|はこ} (Box)

Desafío

Spend 5 minutes tidying your desk right now and say '{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けます' out loud three times while doing it.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Ordenar la habitación

Spanish uses a noun-based verb 'ordenar' while Japanese uses a compound verb.

French high

Ranger la chambre

French doesn't have the intransitive 'katazuku' equivalent as a single verb.

German high

Das Zimmer aufräumen

German uses a separable prefix verb, which is a different grammatical structure.

Arabic moderate

ترتيب الغرفة (Tartib al-ghurfa)

Arabic often uses a noun + verb construction.

Chinese high

整理房间 (Zhěnglǐ fángjiān)

Chinese 'zhengli' is used for both casual and formal tidying.

Korean high

방을 정리하다 (Bang-eul jeongrihada)

Korean uses the 'noun + hada' pattern.

Portuguese high

Arrumar o quarto

Portuguese can also use 'limpar' more broadly than Japanese uses 'soji'.

English high

Tidy up the room

Japanese is much stricter about separating 'tidying' from 'cleaning'.

Easily Confused

部屋を片付ける vs {掃除|そうじ}する

Both involve making a room look better.

If you need a vacuum or a mop, use 'soji'. If you are just moving books and clothes, use 'katazukeru'.

部屋を片付ける vs {整理|せいり}する

Both mean organizing.

'Seiri' is more about sorting and discarding. 'Katazukeru' is the general daily word.

Preguntas frecuentes (10)

'Katazukeru' is about tidying clutter (putting things away). 'Soji suru' is about cleaning dirt (vacuuming, mopping).

Yes! '{机|つくえ}を{片付|かたづ}ける' is very common.

Yes, in its '-masu' form ({片付|かたづ}けます), it is perfectly polite for any situation.

You can say '{片付|かたづ}けが{苦手|にがて}です' (I am weak at tidying).

Be careful! In slang/movies, it can mean 'to take someone out' or 'kill', but in daily life, it's only for objects and tasks.

It's the intransitive version. It means 'to be tidied' or 'to be settled.'

Her name isn't, but her profession is the definition of 'katazuke'!

Use '{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けてくれる？' (Can you tidy the room?) for a friendly request.

Yes, '{テ|て}ー{ブル|ぶる}を{片付|かたづ}ける' is the standard way to say 'clear the table'.

It's the ritual cleaning done at the end of the year in Japan.

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