Meaning
To organize and clean a room.
Cultural Background
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.
Meaning
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.
Test Yourself
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
Visual Learning Aids
Katazukeru vs. Soji suru
Practice Bank
4 exercisesWhich 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: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Related Phrases
{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
