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.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To organize and clean a room.
Contexte culturel
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.
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.
Teste-toi
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?
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?
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.
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}＿＿＿＿＿＿。
'Tsumori' expresses intention for the future (tomorrow).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Katazukeru vs. Soji suru
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesWhich verb fits best?
You tidy a room (katazukeru) when a guest is coming. You don't wash (arau), eat (taberu), or drink (nomu) a room.
Which particle is used for the object of the action?
The particle 'o' marks the direct object of the transitive verb 'katazukeru'.
Situation: A mother is angry at her child's messy room.
The '-nasai' form is used for commands, typically from a parent to a child.
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}＿＿＿＿＿＿。
'Tsumori' expresses intention for the future (tomorrow).
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questions'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.
Expressions liées
{掃除|そうじ}する
similarTo clean (scrub, dust, vacuum)
{整理|せいり}する
specialized formTo organize/sort
{片付|かたづ}く
contrastTo be tidied/to be in order
{散|ち}らかる
contrastTo be messy/cluttered
{仕舞|しま}う
similarTo put away
Où l'utiliser
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！
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。
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。
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。
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？
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！
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a 'KATAna' (sword) being 'TSUKERU' (attached/put back) into its scabbard. You are putting things back where they belong.
Association visuelle
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'!
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'tidy up' or 'put away.' In German, 'aufräumen' has a similar sense of 'clearing space.'
Word Web
Défi
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.
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after learning. Try to use it every time you clean your desk.
Prononciation
Two syllables, flat pitch in many dialects.
The 'u' in 'zu' is often devoiced. The 'r' is a Japanese flap.
Spectre de formalité
{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けます。 (General statement)
{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けるよ。 (General statement)
{部屋|へや}、{片付|かたづ}けるね。 (General statement)
{部屋|へや}、{片付|かたづ}けちゃうわ。 (General statement)
Derived from the words 'Kata' (side/direction) and 'Tsukeru' (to attach/fix).
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'katazukeru' can also be used to mean 'to get married' (especially for a woman) in older Japanese, implying she has 'settled' into her proper place.
Notes culturelles
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.
“{学校|がっこう}で{毎日|まいにち}{片付|かたづ}けをします。”
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.
“こんまりメソッドで{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}ける。”
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.
“{年末|ねんまつ}に{大掃除|おおそうじ}をして、{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けます。”
Because Japanese apartments in cities like Tokyo are very small, 'katazukeru' is essential for making the most of the limited space.
“{狭|せま}い{部屋|へや}を{上手|じょうず}に{片付|かたづ}ける。”
Amorces de conversation
{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けるのは{好|す}きですか？
いつ{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けますか？
{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けるとき、{音楽|おんがく}を{聞|き}きますか？
{片付|かたづ}けが{苦手|にがて}な{人|ひと}に、どんなアドバイスをしますか？
Erreurs courantes
{部屋|へや}を{掃除|そうじ}づける
{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}ける
L1 Interference
{部屋|へや}を{洗|あら}う
{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}ける
L1 Interference
{部屋|へや}が{片付|かたづ}ける
{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}ける
L1 Interference
{部屋|へや}をきれいする
{部屋|へや}をきれいにする
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Ordenar la habitación
Spanish uses a noun-based verb 'ordenar' while Japanese uses a compound verb.
Ranger la chambre
French doesn't have the intransitive 'katazuku' equivalent as a single verb.
Das Zimmer aufräumen
German uses a separable prefix verb, which is a different grammatical structure.
ترتيب الغرفة (Tartib al-ghurfa)
Arabic often uses a noun + verb construction.
整理房间 (Zhěnglǐ fángjiān)
Chinese 'zhengli' is used for both casual and formal tidying.
방을 정리하다 (Bang-eul jeongrihada)
Korean uses the 'noun + hada' pattern.
Arrumar o quarto
Portuguese can also use 'limpar' more broadly than Japanese uses 'soji'.
Tidy up the room
Japanese is much stricter about separating 'tidying' from 'cleaning'.
Spotted in the Real World
“まずは、{片付|かたづ}けの{目的|もくてき}を{決|き}めましょう。”
Marie Kondo explaining the first step of her method.
“お{引|ひ}っ{越|こ}し！お{引|ひ}っ{越|こ}し！さっさと{片付|かたづ}けちゃおう！”
The sisters are excited to move into their new house and start organizing.
“{共有|きょうゆう}スペースはちゃんと{片付|かたづ}けてほしい。”
A common source of conflict in the reality show is housemates not tidying the common areas.
Facile à confondre
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'.
Both mean organizing.
'Seiri' is more about sorting and discarding. 'Katazukeru' is the general daily word.
Questions fréquentes (10)
'Katazukeru' is about tidying clutter (putting things away). 'Soji suru' is about cleaning dirt (vacuuming, mopping).
basic understandingYes! '{机|つくえ}を{片付|かたづ}ける' is very common.
usage contextsYes, in its '-masu' form ({片付|かたづ}けます), it is perfectly polite for any situation.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '{片付|かたづ}けが{苦手|にがて}です' (I am weak at tidying).
practical tipsBe careful! In slang/movies, it can mean 'to take someone out' or 'kill', but in daily life, it's only for objects and tasks.
common mistakesIt's the intransitive version. It means 'to be tidied' or 'to be settled.'
grammar mechanicsHer name isn't, but her profession is the definition of 'katazuke'!
cultural usageUse '{部屋|へや}を{片付|かたづ}けてくれる？' (Can you tidy the room?) for a friendly request.
practical tipsYes, '{テ|て}ー{ブル|ぶる}を{片付|かたづ}ける' is the standard way to say 'clear the table'.
usage contextsIt's the ritual cleaning done at the end of the year in Japan.
cultural usage
