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March 24, 2026
干净(乾淨)gānjìng(gan1jing4)
The term 干净 (gān jìng) means 'clean' or 'neat' and is used to describe cleanliness in both physical environments and personal hygiene. It can refer to a tidy room, clean clothes, or an overall sense of orderliness. This word is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts related to housekeeping or personal appearance.
Frequency#1309DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with respect and good fortune. For example, during traditional festivals, people clean their homes thoroughly to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'gan' (干) of wheat that is 'jing' (净) - pure and clean. Visualize a sparkling, tidy room where everything is in its place, representing the essence of cleanliness. The components 干 (gan) suggest 'to do' or 'to work', implying effort put into keeping things clean.
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AI Study Notes for 干净
Quick Contrast
整洁 (zhěngjié) - use 干净 for physical cleanliness, while 整洁 emphasizes tidiness and order.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'gan' (干) of wheat that is 'jing' (净) - pure and clean. Visualize a sparkling, tidy room where everything is in its place, representing the essence of cleanliness. The components 干 (gan) suggest 'to do' or 'to work', implying effort put into keeping things clean.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 干净 (gān jìng), as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings. It is often used in both formal and informal settings, but avoid using it in overly poetic or literary contexts. Common collocations include 干净的房间 (clean room) and 干净的衣服 (clean clothes).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 干净 connects with other adjectives describing states or qualities, such as 漂亮 (piàoliang - beautiful) and 安静 (ānjìng - quiet). Students should focus on using 干净 in sentences to describe their surroundings or personal items.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with respect and good fortune. For example, during traditional festivals, people clean their homes thoroughly to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 干净 with 整齐 (zhěngqí), which means 'tidy' but emphasizes order rather than cleanliness. For example, saying '这个房间整齐' (zhège fángjiān zhěngqí) instead of '这个房间干净' (zhège fángjiān gānjìng) when referring to cleanliness is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 干净
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Grammar Patterns of 干净
干净 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
My room is always neat because I clean it every day.
12
餐馆的桌子擦得很干净，让人感觉很舒服。
Cānguǎn de zhuōzi cā de hěn gānjìng, ràng rén gǎnjué hěn shūfú.
The restaurant tables are wiped neat, making people feel comfortable.
13
请把你的书桌整理干净，这样你可以更好地学习。
Qǐng bǎ nǐ de shūzhuō zhěnglǐ gānjìng, zhèyàng nǐ kěyǐ gèng hǎo de xuéxí.
Please tidy your desk neatly so you can study better.
Cultural Notes for 干净
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is often associated with respect and good fortune. For example, during traditional festivals, people clean their homes thoroughly to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Frequently Asked Questions about 干净
You can say '这个房间很干净' (zhège fángjiān hěn gānjìng) which means 'This room is very clean.'
干净 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile in everyday conversation.
