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A2 verb #1,500 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

打扫卫生

da3 sao3 wei4sheng1 Top 1,500

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to basic daily routines and household vocabulary. While '打扫卫生' might seem a bit long for an absolute beginner, it is frequently encountered in introductory dialogues about weekend activities. A1 learners should focus on recognizing the phrase as a single unit meaning 'to clean up.' They do not need to worry deeply about its separable nature yet. The primary goal is to associate the sound 'dǎ sǎo wèi shēng' with the action of sweeping, mopping, or tidying a room. Simple sentence structures like '我打扫卫生' (I clean up) or '他在打扫卫生' (He is cleaning up) are sufficient. Vocabulary lists at this stage will often pair this phrase with basic time words, enabling sentences like '星期六我打扫卫生' (On Saturday I clean up). Understanding that this phrase relates to household chores is the foundational step for further grammatical expansion in later levels.

At the A2 level, learners must begin to understand the grammatical mechanics of '打扫卫生'. This is the stage where the concept of separable verbs (离合词) is introduced. A2 learners need to know that they cannot say '打扫卫生我的房间'. Instead, they must learn to separate the verb '打扫' from its generic object '卫生' and replace it with a specific location, resulting in '打扫房间' (clean the room). Furthermore, A2 learners will start using basic aspect particles like '了' to indicate completed actions. They should practice placing '了' correctly, as in '我打扫了卫生' (I cleaned up). This level also involves expanding vocabulary to include specific cleaning tools like 扫把 (broom) and 垃圾桶 (trash can), and using '打扫卫生' in contexts involving obligations, such as '我必须打扫卫生' (I must clean up) or making requests like '请打扫一下卫生' (Please clean up a bit).

For B1 learners, '打扫卫生' becomes a tool for more complex narratives and descriptions. Learners at this stage should be comfortable using duration and frequency complements with the phrase. They must master structures like '我打扫了两个小时的卫生' (I cleaned for two hours) or '我每个星期打扫一次卫生' (I clean once a week). B1 also demands the ability to differentiate '打扫' from similar verbs like '收拾' (to tidy) and '洗' (to wash). A B1 student should know that organizing a messy desk is '收拾桌子', while sweeping a dusty floor is '打扫地板'. Additionally, learners will encounter the phrase in broader contexts, such as discussing school duties (值日) or preparing for festivals (大扫除). They should be able to express reasons and results, for example, '因为明天有客人来，所以我们要彻底打扫卫生' (Because guests are coming tomorrow, we need to clean up thoroughly).

At the B2 level, fluency and natural phrasing are key. Learners should seamlessly integrate '打扫卫生' with result complements, such as '打扫干净' (clean thoroughly). They will use the phrase in more abstract or professional contexts, discussing hygiene standards, public sanitation, or the division of household labor in sociological terms. A B2 learner might debate the fairness of chores, saying '在现代家庭中，夫妻应该共同分担打扫卫生的责任' (In modern families, husbands and wives should share the responsibility of cleaning). The vocabulary expands to include terms like '保洁' (sanitation/cleaning service) and '卫生死角' (blind spots in cleaning). They should also understand idiomatic or metaphorical uses, though '打扫卫生' is mostly literal, the concept of 'cleaning house' can sometimes apply to organizational restructuring. The focus is on precision, appropriate register, and complex sentence integration.

C1 learners possess a near-native command of the phrase and its related vocabulary. They can discuss '打扫卫生' within the context of cultural norms, public health policies, and environmental sanitation. At this level, the language used around cleaning becomes highly descriptive and nuanced. A C1 speaker can easily navigate texts detailing specific sanitation protocols or literary descriptions of a pristine environment. They understand the subtle differences between '清洁', '保洁', '打扫', and '清扫', and can use them appropriately in formal writing or professional presentations. For instance, they might write a report on urban management stating, '提高城市公共区域的卫生打扫标准是改善市容的关键' (Raising the standards for cleaning public areas is key to improving the city's appearance). They are also adept at using rhetorical devices and complex grammatical structures to emphasize the importance or the burden of maintaining hygiene.

At the C2 level, the learner's understanding of '打扫卫生' is indistinguishable from an educated native speaker. They grasp the deep cultural and historical connotations of cleanliness in Chinese philosophy and society, such as the concept of sweeping away the old to welcome the new during the Spring Festival (辞旧迎新). C2 users can effortlessly deploy the phrase in any context, from casual banter with neighbors about the hassle of daily chores to high-level academic discourse on public health infrastructure. They can play with the language, perhaps using the concept of '打扫' metaphorically to refer to purging corruption or clearing out outdated systems in a corporate or political context (e.g., 打扫思想上的灰尘 - sweeping away the dust in one's thoughts). The phrase is no longer just a vocabulary item but a cultural concept fully integrated into their extensive linguistic repertoire.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

打扫卫生 en 30 secondes

Means 'to clean up' or 'do the cleaning'.
It is a separable verb (离合词).
Cannot take a direct object (e.g., location) after it.
Commonly used for household chores and school duties.

The Chinese phrase 打扫卫生 (dǎ sǎo wèi shēng) is a highly common and essential vocabulary item for learners, typically introduced at the A2 level. At its core, it translates to 'to clean up' or 'to do the cleaning,' specifically referring to the act of cleaning a physical space such as a room, a house, an office, or a public area. To truly understand this phrase, we must break it down into its constituent parts. The first part, 打扫 (dǎ sǎo), is a verb meaning 'to sweep' or 'to clean.' The character 打 (dǎ) is a versatile verb often associated with actions involving the hands, while 扫 (sǎo) specifically means 'to sweep' with a broom. Together, 打扫 forms a compound verb that encompasses various cleaning activities beyond just sweeping, including dusting, wiping, and organizing. The second part, 卫生 (wèi shēng), is a noun meaning 'hygiene,' 'sanitation,' or 'health.' When combined, 打扫卫生 literally means 'to sweep and maintain hygiene,' but in everyday usage, it functions as a separable verb (离合词 - lí hé cí) meaning 'to do the cleaning.' This grammatical feature is crucial because it dictates how the phrase interacts with other words in a sentence. For instance, you cannot directly attach an object after 打扫卫生. Instead of saying 打扫卫生我的房间 (incorrect), you must say 打扫我的房间 (clean my room) or 打扫房间的卫生 (clean the hygiene of the room). Understanding this structural nuance is key to mastering Chinese syntax. Furthermore, the concept of 打扫卫生 carries cultural significance in Chinese society, where cleanliness and orderliness are highly valued virtues, often emphasized in both domestic and public spheres. From a young age, students participate in 大扫除 (dà sǎo chú), a massive collective cleaning effort at school, reinforcing the importance of shared responsibility for hygiene.

Morphological Breakdown: 打扫 (verb): to clean, to sweep. 卫生 (noun): hygiene, sanitation. The combination forms a Verb-Object (VO) structure.

Semantic Scope: It covers all general cleaning tasks: sweeping, mopping, dusting, and taking out the trash. It does not typically include personal hygiene like showering.

Cultural Context: Maintaining a clean environment is seen as a reflection of one's character and respect for others, deeply rooted in traditional values.

周末我通常在家里打扫卫生。

妈妈叫我赶紧去打扫卫生。

为了迎接客人，我们必须打扫卫生。

今天轮到你打扫卫生了。

他一边听音乐一边打扫卫生。

Using 打扫卫生 correctly requires an understanding of Chinese verb-object (VO) compounds, also known as separable verbs (离合词). Because 打扫 (verb) and 卫生 (object) already form a complete verb-object pair, you cannot append another object directly to the end of the phrase. This is one of the most common grammatical hurdles for A2 learners. For example, in English, you say 'I clean the room.' A direct, word-for-word translation might lead a learner to say 我打扫卫生房间, which is grammatically incorrect in Chinese. Instead, you have two primary options. Option 1: Drop the generic object 卫生 and replace it with the specific object you are cleaning. Thus, 'I clean the room' becomes 我打扫房间 (Wǒ dǎsǎo fángjiān). Option 2: Turn the specific object into a modifier for 卫生 using the possessive particle 的 (de). This makes the sentence 我打扫房间的卫生 (Wǒ dǎsǎo fángjiān de wèishēng), which literally translates to 'I clean the room's hygiene.' Both are perfectly natural, though Option 1 is more concise and commonly used in spoken Chinese. Another critical aspect of separable verbs is how they interact with aspect particles like 了 (le), 过 (guo), and 着 (zhe), as well as measure words for actions. These elements must be inserted between the verb and the object. If you want to say 'I cleaned up for a bit,' you would say 我打扫了一下卫生 (Wǒ dǎsǎo le yíxià wèishēng), placing the aspect particle 了 and the duration measure 一下 right in the middle of the phrase. You cannot say 我打扫卫生了一下. Similarly, to express completion, you say 打扫完卫生 (finished cleaning). Mastering this separation is essential for sounding fluent and natural.

Direct Objects: Never put a location directly after 打扫卫生. Use 打扫 + Location instead.

Separability: Insert time duration, frequency, or aspect particles between 打扫 and 卫生. Example: 打扫了半天卫生 (cleaned for half a day).

Complements: Result complements attach to the verb part: 打扫干净卫生 (clean up thoroughly).

我需要打扫一下卫生。

他昨天打扫了两个小时的卫生。

你打扫完卫生了吗？

我们每个月都会彻底打扫一次卫生。

帮我打扫一下厨房的卫生好吗？

The phrase 打扫卫生 is ubiquitous in Chinese daily life, appearing in almost every context where physical spaces are maintained. You will hear it most frequently in domestic settings. Roommates might discuss a cleaning schedule, saying '今天该谁打扫卫生了？' (Whose turn is it to clean up today?). Parents frequently use it to instruct children to tidy up their living spaces, fostering a sense of responsibility. Beyond the home, the phrase is heavily used in educational environments. In Chinese schools, students are typically responsible for cleaning their own classrooms and school grounds. This practice is known as 值日 (zhí rì - being on duty), and the primary task of the students on duty is 打扫卫生. Teachers will remind students, '放学后记得打扫卫生' (Remember to clean up after school). In the workplace, especially in smaller offices or retail environments, employees might be tasked with 打扫卫生 before opening or after closing the shop. In larger corporate settings, the term is used to refer to the work done by professional cleaning staff (保洁员 - bǎo jié yuán). You might hear a manager say, '会议室的卫生已经打扫过了' (The meeting room has already been cleaned). Furthermore, in public health campaigns or community announcements, the phrase is used to encourage citizens to maintain a clean environment, often tied to broader concepts of public sanitation and disease prevention. Understanding where and how this phrase is deployed provides valuable insight into the collective mindset regarding cleanliness and shared spaces in Chinese culture.

Home Life: Used when discussing chores, dividing household labor, or preparing for guests.

School Environment: A daily reality for students who participate in classroom cleaning duties.

Workplace: Refers to both employee responsibilities in small shops and professional janitorial services.

同学们，放学后留下来打扫卫生。

保洁阿姨正在办公室打扫卫生。

快过年了，家家户户都在打扫卫生。

请大家注意保持公共场所的卫生。

我租的房子太脏了，花了一整天打扫卫生。

Learners of Chinese often make a few predictable errors when using 打扫卫生, primarily stemming from direct translation from their native languages. The most frequent mistake, as mentioned earlier, is treating the phrase as a transitive verb that can take a direct object. Saying 我打扫卫生我的家 (I clean up my house) is a classic beginner error. The correct forms are 我打扫我的家 or 我打扫家里的卫生. Another common mistake is confusing 打扫卫生 with other cleaning-related verbs, specifically 洗 (xǐ - to wash) and 整理 (zhěng lǐ - to organize/tidy up). 打扫卫生 implies the removal of dirt, dust, and trash, usually from surfaces like floors, tables, and windows. It does not apply to cleaning items with water and soap. You cannot 打扫卫生 clothes or dishes; for those, you must use 洗 (洗衣服 - wash clothes, 洗碗 - wash dishes). Similarly, if a room is just messy with items scattered around but not necessarily dirty, the more appropriate verb is 整理 or 收拾 (shōu shi). You 收拾 a desk by putting papers away, but you 打扫 a desk by wiping off the dust. Using 打扫卫生 when you just mean 'organize' sounds unnatural to native speakers. Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the pronunciation, particularly the tones. 打扫 (dǎ sǎo) consists of two third tones, which means the first character 打 undergoes a tone sandhi and is pronounced as a second tone (dá sǎo). Failing to apply this tone change makes the speech sound disjointed.

Object Placement Error: Incorrect: 打扫卫生房间. Correct: 打扫房间.

Washing vs. Sweeping: Do not use 打扫 for washing dishes or clothes. Use 洗 (xǐ) instead.

Tidying vs. Cleaning: If you are just putting things in order, use 整理 (zhěng lǐ) or 收拾 (shōu shi), not 打扫.

❌ 错误: 我要打扫卫生我的车。
✅ 正确: 我要清洗我的车。

❌ 错误: 他在打扫卫生衣服。
✅ 正确: 他在洗衣服。

❌ 错误: 房间很乱，我需要打扫卫生。
✅ 正确: 房间很乱，我需要收拾一下。

❌ 错误: 我打扫卫生了两个小时。
✅ 正确: 我打扫了两个小时的卫生。

❌ 错误: 我们打扫卫生干净了。
✅ 正确: 我们打扫干净了。

To expand your vocabulary and speak more precisely, it is helpful to compare 打扫卫生 with similar terms in Chinese. While 打扫卫生 is the most general and widely used phrase for cleaning a space, several other words offer more specific nuances. 清洁 (qīng jié) is a more formal or technical term for 'to clean' or 'cleanliness.' You will often see it in professional contexts, such as 清洁工 (cleaner) or 清洁剂 (cleaning agent). It emphasizes the state of being free from dirt or pollution. 大扫除 (dà sǎo chú) translates to 'a thorough cleaning' or 'spring cleaning.' This implies a massive, comprehensive effort to clean every corner of a space, usually done collectively before major holidays or at the end of a school term. 整理 (zhěng lǐ) and 收拾 (shōu shi) both mean 'to tidy up' or 'to organize.' They focus on putting things in their proper places rather than removing dirt. 收拾 is more colloquial and commonly used in spoken Chinese (e.g., 收拾行李 - pack luggage, 收拾房间 - tidy the room), while 整理 is slightly more formal and can apply to abstract things like data or thoughts (整理资料 - organize data). Finally, 擦 (cā) means 'to wipe' or 'to rub.' It is a specific action often part of the broader 打扫卫生 process, such as 擦桌子 (wipe the table) or 擦窗户 (wipe the windows). By understanding these distinctions, you can choose the exact word that fits the situation, elevating your Chinese from basic communication to nuanced expression.

清洁 (qīng jié): Formal/Professional cleaning. Often used as an adjective or in compound nouns.

大扫除 (dà sǎo chú): Deep cleaning. A major event involving thorough cleaning of a whole area.

收拾 (shōu shi): To tidy up or organize. Focuses on order rather than sanitation.

这家酒店的清洁工作做得很到位。

春节前，全家人一起进行大扫除。

客人马上就到了，快点收拾一下客厅。

我需要整理一下我的书桌。

请拿抹布把黑板擦干净。

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Informel

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

我打扫卫生。

I clean up.

Basic Subject-Verb-Object structure.

妈妈在打扫卫生。

Mom is cleaning up.

Use of '在' to indicate ongoing action.

今天我打扫卫生。

Today I clean up.

Time word '今天' placed at the beginning.

他不喜欢打扫卫生。

He doesn't like cleaning up.

Negative form using '不'.

我们一起打扫卫生吧。

Let's clean up together.

Use of '一起' (together) and suggestion particle '吧'.

星期天我们打扫卫生。

On Sunday we clean up.

Time word indicating routine.

这是谁打扫的卫生？

Who cleaned this up?

Basic question using '谁'.

去打扫卫生！

Go clean up!

Imperative command.

我昨天打扫了卫生。

I cleaned up yesterday.

Use of aspect particle '了' for completed action.

请你打扫一下房间。

Please clean the room a bit.

Separation of verb: 打扫 + object (房间).

我已经打扫完卫生了。

I have already finished cleaning.

Result complement '完' indicating completion.

你要打扫卫生吗？

Are you going to clean up?

Future intention using '要'.

他正在打扫客厅的卫生。

He is currently cleaning the living room.

Specific location modifying '卫生' with '的'.

打扫卫生很累。

Cleaning up is very tiring.

Verb phrase used as a subject.

每个周末我都要打扫卫生。

Every weekend I have to clean up.

Expressing routine and obligation with '都要'.

别忘了打扫卫生。

Don't forget to clean up.

Negative imperative '别'.

我花了一个小时打扫卫生。

I spent an hour cleaning up.

Expressing time spent using '花了'.

因为房间太脏了，所以我必须打扫卫生。

Because the room was too dirty, I had to clean up.

Cause and effect conjunctions '因为...所以...'.

只要你打扫卫生，我就给你买冰淇淋。

As long as you clean up, I will buy you ice cream.

Conditional structure '只要...就...'.

打扫卫生不仅能让房间变干净，还能锻炼身体。

Cleaning up not only makes the room clean but also exercises the body.

'不仅...还...' (not only... but also) structure.

轮到你打扫卫生了，别找借口。

It's your turn to clean up, don't make excuses.

Use of '轮到' (one's turn).

他把房间的卫生打扫得干干净净。

He cleaned the room spotlessly.

'把' structure with degree complement '得干干净净'.

虽然我不喜欢打扫卫生，但我还是做了。

Although I don't like cleaning, I still did it.

Concession structure '虽然...但...'.

大扫除的时候，每个人都要负责打扫卫生。

During spring cleaning, everyone must be responsible for cleaning up.

Contextual vocabulary '大扫除' and '负责'.

保持环境整洁是每个人的责任，不能只靠保洁员打扫卫生。

Keeping the environment tidy is everyone's responsibility; we can't just rely on cleaners to clean up.

Complex sentence discussing responsibility and reliance.

为了迎接卫生检查，全公司上下都在突击打扫卫生。

To prepare for the health inspection, the entire company is doing a crash cleaning.

Advanced vocabulary '迎接检查' and '突击'.

她对打扫卫生有一种近乎强迫症的执着。

She has an almost obsessive-compulsive dedication to cleaning.

Descriptive phrasing '近乎强迫症的执着'.

与其抱怨环境脏乱，不如自己动手打扫卫生。

Rather than complaining about the messy environment, it's better to clean it up yourself.

Comparison structure '与其...不如...'.

现代科技的发展让打扫卫生变得越来越轻松，比如扫地机器人的普及。

The development of modern technology has made cleaning easier and easier, such as the popularization of robot vacuums.

Discussing trends and technology.

即使工作再忙，他也会抽出时间打扫卫生。

Even if work is extremely busy, he will still make time to clean up.

Concessive conditional '即使...也...'.

打扫卫生不仅是体力劳动，更是一种生活态度的体现。

Cleaning is not just physical labor; it is more a reflection of one's attitude towards life.

Philosophical/abstract description.

这间屋子空置了很久，打扫起卫生来非常费劲。

This house has been vacant for a long time, so cleaning it up is very strenuous.

Use of '起来' to indicate the initiation and evaluation of an action.

在推进城市文明建设的过程中，彻底打扫卫生死角是一项艰巨的任务。

In the process of promoting urban civilization construction, thoroughly cleaning up sanitary blind spots is an arduous task.

Formal, bureaucratic register.

她将打扫卫生视为一种冥想的方式，在扫除灰尘的同时也净化了心灵。

She views cleaning as a form of meditation, purifying her mind while sweeping away the dust.

Metaphorical and literary usage.

物业管理公司必须制定严格的打扫卫生标准，以确保业主的居住体验。

Property management companies must establish strict cleaning standards to ensure the living experience of the owners.

Professional/business context.

逢年过节的大扫除，不仅是为了打扫卫生，更是承载着辞旧迎新的文化内涵。

The deep cleaning during festivals is not just for sanitation, but carries the cultural connotation of sweeping away the old and welcoming the new.

Cultural analysis and advanced vocabulary.

面对满目疮痍的灾后现场，志愿者们自发组织起来打扫卫生，重建家园。

Facing the devastated post-disaster scene, volunteers spontaneously organized to clean up and rebuild their homes.

Narrative description of a serious event.

缺乏合理的规章制度，公共区域的打扫卫生工作往往会陷入互相推诿的僵局。

Lacking reasonable rules and regulations, the cleaning of public areas often falls into a deadlock of shifting blame.

Sociological observation using idioms like '互相推诿'.

这家餐厅因后厨打扫卫生不达标，被卫生监督部门勒令停业整顿。

This restaurant was ordered to suspend business for rectification by the health supervision department due to substandard kitchen cleaning.

Legal/administrative reporting style.

与其在表面上做文章，不如切实抓好基层的打扫卫生工作，从根本上改善环境。

Rather than doing superficial work, it is better to earnestly grasp the grassroots cleaning work to fundamentally improve the environment.

Idiomatic expression '做文章' and formal directive tone.

古人云‘一屋不扫，何以扫天下’，可见打扫卫生这件小事中蕴含着治国平天下的大道理。

The ancients said, 'If one does not sweep one's own room, how can one sweep the world?', showing that the small matter of cleaning contains the great principle of governing the country and bringing peace to the world.

Integration of classical quotes and philosophical concepts.

在经历了一场深刻的思想洗礼后，他决定对自己的生活方式进行一次彻底的‘打扫卫生’。

After undergoing a profound ideological baptism, he decided to conduct a thorough 'cleaning' of his lifestyle.

Metaphorical use of the phrase for personal transformation.

该报告尖锐地指出，体制内的官僚主义作风亟待像打扫卫生一样被无情地清除。

The report sharply pointed out that the bureaucratic style within the system urgently needs to be ruthlessly cleared out, just like cleaning up dirt.

Political/administrative metaphor.

她以近乎苛刻的眼光审视着每一个角落，确保这次打扫卫生不留任何瑕疵。

She scrutinized every corner with an almost harsh eye, ensuring that this cleaning left no flaws whatsoever.

Highly descriptive, nuanced literary prose.

城市化进程中，边缘社区的打扫卫生问题往往折射出深层次的社会资源分配不均。

In the process of urbanization, the sanitation issues in marginalized communities often reflect deep-seated inequalities in the distribution of social resources.

Academic/sociological discourse.

这篇散文通过细腻笔触描写母亲日常打扫卫生的背影，勾勒出中国传统女性坚韧奉献的群像。

Through delicate strokes describing the mother's back while doing daily cleaning, this prose outlines the collective image of the resilience and dedication of traditional Chinese women.

Literary critique and analysis.

企业重组犹如一次大刀阔斧的打扫卫生，必须剔除冗余，方能焕发新生。

Corporate restructuring is like a bold and decisive cleaning; redundancies must be eliminated before new life can radiate.

Business strategy metaphor.

在生态文明理念的指引下，全域范围内的环境打扫卫生已升级为系统性的生态修复工程。

Guided by the concept of ecological civilization, region-wide environmental cleaning has been upgraded to a systematic ecological restoration project.

High-level policy and environmental terminology.

Collocations courantes

彻底打扫卫生

定期打扫卫生

负责打扫卫生

帮忙打扫卫生

突击打扫卫生

打扫卫生死角

打扫公共卫生

周末打扫卫生

轮流打扫卫生

认真打扫卫生

Phrases Courantes

打扫一下卫生

该打扫卫生了

打扫完卫生

打扫卫生很累

谁来打扫卫生

大扫除打扫卫生

每天打扫卫生

忘记打扫卫生

不喜欢打扫卫生

打扫卫生的阿姨

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打扫卫生 vs 收拾 (to tidy up)

打扫卫生 vs 洗 (to wash)

打扫卫生 vs 整理 (to organize)

Expressions idiomatiques

Facile à confondre

打扫卫生 vs

Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

nuance

Implies physical cleaning (sweeping, mopping, wiping), not just organizing.

formality

Neutral, suitable for both casual and semi-formal contexts.

regional differences

Universally understood across Mandarin-speaking regions.

Erreurs courantes

Adding a location object: *打扫卫生客厅 (Incorrect) -> 打扫客厅 (Correct).
Using it for washing: *打扫卫生衣服 (Incorrect) -> 洗衣服 (Correct).
Wrong time placement: *打扫卫生了两个小时 (Incorrect) -> 打扫了两个小时的卫生 (Correct).
Confusing with tidying: *房间很乱，我打扫卫生一下 (Unnatural) -> 房间很乱，我收拾一下 (Natural).
Ignoring tone sandhi: Pronouncing dǎ sǎo instead of dá sǎo.

Astuces

Separable Verb Warning

Never put a location after 打扫卫生. Say 打扫房间, not 打扫卫生房间.

Tone Sandhi

Remember to pronounce 打 as a second tone (dá) before 扫 (sǎo).

Washing vs Cleaning

Use 洗 for clothes and dishes. Use 打扫 for floors and rooms.

Spring Festival Cleaning

Before Chinese New Year, everyone does a 大扫除 to sweep away bad luck.

Adding 一下

To sound more natural and polite, say 打扫一下卫生 (clean up a bit).

Time Duration

Put time in the middle: 打扫了一个小时的卫生.

Related Tools

Learn words like 扫把 (broom) and 拖把 (mop) to expand your cleaning vocabulary.

Result Complements

Say 打扫干净 (clean thoroughly) to emphasize the result of the cleaning.

School Chores

In China, students clean their own classrooms. This is called 值日.

Tidying vs Cleaning

If you are just putting books away, use 收拾 (tidy), not 打扫 (clean).

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine DA (Dad) and SAO (Sow) WEIting (waiting) to SHENG (sing) until the house is perfectly CLEANED UP.

Origine du mot

'打' is a generic action verb. '扫' depicts a hand holding a broom. '卫' means to guard or protect. '生' means life. '卫生' originally meant 'to protect life' (health), coined in ancient texts but popularized in its modern sense of 'hygiene' via Japanese translation in the late 19th century. Together, they mean 'cleaning to protect health'.

Contexte culturel

Removing shoes indoors, daily sweeping.

Spring Festival (大扫除)

Students clean their own schools, no janitors for classrooms.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"今天轮到谁打扫卫生了？ (Whose turn is it to clean today?)"

"你周末通常什么时候打扫卫生？ (When do you usually clean on weekends?)"

"你觉得打扫卫生累吗？ (Do you find cleaning tiring?)"

"你们家谁负责打扫卫生？ (Who is responsible for cleaning in your house?)"

"有没有什么打扫卫生的好方法？ (Are there any good tips for cleaning?)"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe your weekly cleaning routine using 打扫卫生.

Write about a time you had to do a massive '大扫除'.

How do you feel about students cleaning their own classrooms?

Compare how you organize (收拾) vs how you clean (打扫).

Write a short story about a robot that loves to 打扫卫生.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, this is grammatically incorrect. '打扫卫生' is a verb-object phrase. You cannot add another object after it. You should say '打扫我的房间' or '打扫房间的卫生'.

'打扫' is just the verb 'to clean/sweep'. It requires an object (e.g., 打扫地板). '打扫卫生' includes the generic object 'hygiene', so it stands alone as 'to do the cleaning'.

No. '打扫卫生' is for cleaning spaces (floors, rooms). For washing items with water, use '洗' (xǐ), like '洗碗' (wash dishes).

Because it's a separable verb, the time duration goes in the middle. Say '我打扫了两个小时的卫生' (I cleaned two hours of hygiene).

It is neutral and very common in daily life. For highly formal or professional contexts, '清洁' (qīng jié) might be used instead.

'大扫除' (dà sǎo chú) means a massive, thorough cleaning, like 'spring cleaning'. It's a bigger event than regular '打扫卫生'.

When two third tones are together, the first one changes to a second tone. So 'dǎ sǎo' is pronounced 'dá sǎo'.

Yes. '卫生' can mean 'hygienic' or 'sanitary'. For example, '这家餐厅很不卫生' means 'This restaurant is very unhygienic'.

You can say '去打扫卫生！' (Go clean up!) or more politely, '请打扫一下卫生' (Please clean up a bit).

'值日' (zhí rì) means being on duty. In Chinese schools, students take turns being on duty, and their main task is '打扫卫生' (cleaning the classroom).