A1 Collocation 中性

服を洗う

fuku o arau

Wash clothes

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential way to describe the act of cleaning your clothes in Japanese.

  • Means: To wash clothes (the physical action).
  • Used in: Daily conversations about chores and hygiene.
  • Don't confuse: With {洗濯|せんたく}する, which refers to the whole laundry process.
👕 + 💧 = {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}う

Explanation at your level:

This is a very basic phrase. {服|ふく} means 'clothes' and {洗|あら}う means 'to wash'. You use it to talk about your daily routine. It's one of the first 'action' phrases you learn to describe what you do at home.
At this level, you can use the phrase in different tenses. For example, '{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}わなければなりません' (I must wash clothes). You start to distinguish between washing by hand and using a machine.
Intermediate learners use this phrase to discuss household responsibilities or environmental issues, like using less water when washing clothes. You might use the passive form '{服|ふく}が{洗|あら}われる' in specific contexts.
Upper-intermediate learners understand the nuance between {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}う and {洗濯|せんたく}する. They can describe the process in detail, using specific verbs for rinsing ({濯|すす}ぐ) and spinning ({脱水|だっすい}する).
Advanced learners can analyze the phrase within the context of Japanese consumer culture, such as the marketing of detergents or the historical evolution of the kanji {洗|あら}う from its ritualistic origins to modern daily use.
At a near-native level, one appreciates the phrase's role in literature and film to depict domesticity or the passage of time. They understand the sociolinguistic implications of 'washing' as a metaphor for starting over or purification in Japanese thought.

意思

To clean garments and apparel.

🌍

文化背景

Japanese people often check the 'Laundry Index' ({洗濯指数|せんたくしすう}) on the morning news to see how quickly clothes will dry outside. It is common to use leftover bath water ({お{風呂|ふろ}の{残|のこ}り{湯|ゆ}}) for the first wash cycle to save water, though the final rinse is always fresh water. Laundry nets ({洗濯|せんたく}ネット) are used extensively in Japan to protect clothes from damage in the machine, reflecting a culture of taking great care of possessions. Hanging laundry outside is so common that 'laundry poles' ({物干|ものほ}し{竿|ざお}) are a standard feature of almost every balcony.

🎯

Use {洗濯|せんたく} for the chore

If someone asks what your plans are, say '{洗濯|せんたく}します' rather than '{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}います' to sound more natural.

⚠️

Check the label

Before you {洗|あら}う, always check the tag for the 'Hand Wash' ({手洗い|てあらい}) symbol.

意思

To clean garments and apparel.

🎯

Use {洗濯|せんたく} for the chore

If someone asks what your plans are, say '{洗濯|せんたく}します' rather than '{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}います' to sound more natural.

⚠️

Check the label

Before you {洗|あら}う, always check the tag for the 'Hand Wash' ({手洗い|てあらい}) symbol.

💬

The Sun is Key

Japanese people take pride in drying clothes in the sun. If you see a neighbor, mentioning the good 'laundry weather' is a great icebreaker.

自我测试

Fill in the missing verb in its polite form.

{今日|きょう}は{服|ふく}を_______。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： {洗|あら}います

The context of {服|ふく} (clothes) requires the verb {洗|あら}う (to wash).

Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I am washing clothes'?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}っています。

The {て|て} + {いる|いる} form indicates an ongoing action.

Match the Japanese phrase to its English meaning.

Match the following:

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： all

The verb {洗|あら}う is versatile but the object changes the meaning.

Complete the dialogue.

A: {明日|あした}、{一緒|いっしょ}に{映画|えいが}を{見|み}ませんか？ B: すみません、{明日|あした}は{家|いえ}で_______。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}います

Washing clothes is a common reason to stay home and do chores.

🎉 得分： /4

视觉学习工具

Things you can {洗|あら}う

🧺

Objects

  • • {服|ふく} (Clothes)
  • • {皿|さら} (Dishes)
  • • {車|くるま} (Car)
  • • {靴|くつ} (Shoes)

常见问题

10 个问题

Yes, {車|くるま}を{洗|あら}う is perfectly correct.

{洗|あら}う is the physical act of washing. {洗濯|せんたく}する is the general chore of doing laundry.

{洗濯|せんたく}をしています or {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}っています.

It is neutral. To be polite, say {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}います.

Yes, for washing shoes.

It is {洗剤|せんざい} (senzai).

{手洗い|てあらい} (tearai).

Some do, but air-drying is much more common.

Yes, {顔|かお}を{洗|あら}う.

Not really, but you can drop the particle: {服|ふく}{洗|あら}う.

相关表达

🔄

{洗濯|せんたく}する

synonym

To do laundry

🔗

{服|ふく}を{干|ほ}す

builds on

To hang clothes to dry

🔗

{服|ふく}を{畳|たた}む

builds on

To fold clothes

🔗

{洗剤|せんざい}

similar

Detergent

🔗

{汚|よご}れを{落|お}とす

specialized form

To remove a stain

在哪里用

🧺

At a Coin Laundry

Learner: すみません、ここで{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}ってもいいですか？

Staff: はい、もちろんです。あちらの{洗濯機|せんたくき}を{使|つか}ってください。

neutral
🏠

Talking to a Roommate

Roommate: {今日|きょう}、{洗濯|せんたく}する？

Learner: うん、{汚|よご}れた{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}うよ。

informal
🛍️

At a Clothing Store (Asking about care)

Learner: この{服|ふく}は{家|いえ}で{洗|あら}えますか？

Clerk: はい、ネットに{入|い}れて{洗|あら}ってください。

formal
🍷

Spilling something at a party

Friend: あ！ワインが！

Learner: すぐ{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}わないと！

informal
☀️

Weather conversation

Neighbor: {今日|きょう}はいいてんきですね。

Learner: そうですね。{絶好|ぜっこう}の{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}う{日|ひ}ですね。

neutral
🤝

Asking for help with chores

Parent: {手伝|てつだ}ってくれる？

Child: いいよ。{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}えばいい？

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Fuku' as 'Full of gunk' and 'Arau' as 'Around the water'. You take the 'Full of gunk' clothes 'Around the water' to clean them.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant Japanese washing machine with the kanji {服|ふく} (clothes) spinning inside a whirlpool of water shaped like the kanji {洗|あら}う.

Rhyme

Wash the fuku, don't be a muku (innocent/clueless).

Story

A young samurai spilled tea on his favorite {服|ふく}. He ran to the river to {洗|あら}う it before his master saw. He scrubbed so hard the water turned blue!

Word Web

{洗濯|せんたく}{洗剤|せんざい}{干|ほ}す{畳|たた}む{汚|よご}れ{綺麗|きれい}{水|みず}{石鹸|せっけん}

挑战

Go to your laundry basket, pick up one item, and say out loud: '今からこの{服|ふく}を{洗|あら}います' (I'm going to wash this clothing now).

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Lavar la ropa

Spanish requires the definite article 'la'.

French high

Laver les vêtements

French uses 'faire' (to do) for the chore more often than 'laver'.

German moderate

Wäsche waschen

The noun 'Wäsche' is more common than 'Kleidung' in this context.

English high

Wash clothes

English often omits the article in 'wash clothes' but Japanese requires the particle {を|を}.

Arabic high

غسل الملابس (Ghasl al-malabis)

Arabic uses a definite article 'al-'.

Chinese high

洗衣服 (Xǐ yīfú)

Chinese does not use particles like {を|を}.

Korean high

옷을 빨다 (Oseul ppalda)

Korean has a specific verb '빨다' just for laundry, whereas Japanese uses the general 'arau'.

Portuguese high

Lavar a roupa

Portuguese requires the article 'a'.

Easily Confused

服を洗う 对比 {皿|さら}を{洗|あら}う

Both use the verb {洗|あら}う.

Remember that {服|ふく} is for fabric, {皿|さら} is for ceramic/plastic dishes.

服を洗う 对比 {クリーニング|くりーにんぐ}に{出|だ}す

Both involve cleaning clothes.

Use {洗|あら}う for home washing and {クリーニング|くりーにんぐ} for professional services.

常见问题 (10)

Yes, {車|くるま}を{洗|あら}う is perfectly correct.

{洗|あら}う is the physical act of washing. {洗濯|せんたく}する is the general chore of doing laundry.

{洗濯|せんたく}をしています or {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}っています.

It is neutral. To be polite, say {服|ふく}を{洗|あら}います.

Yes, for washing shoes.

It is {洗剤|せんざい} (senzai).

{手洗い|てあらい} (tearai).

Some do, but air-drying is much more common.

Yes, {顔|かお}を{洗|あら}う.

Not really, but you can drop the particle: {服|ふく}{洗|あら}う.

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