清洁工

• Pinyin: qīng jié gōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 清洁 = clean/cleaning; 工 = pictograph of a carpenter's square — worker

Meaning

Cleaner; janitor; sanitation worker. A person whose job is to clean buildings or public spaces.

The standard professional term for cleaning staff. Can refer to building cleaners, street sweepers, or any sanitation workers. In recent years, there has been more public appreciation for 清洁工 as essential workers who maintain urban cleanliness.

Examples

1. 清洁工每天凌晨四点就开始打扫街道了。 Cleaners start sweeping the streets at four in the morning every day.
2. 公司决定给清洁工涨工资，感谢他们的辛勤付出。 The company decided to raise the cleaners' wages to thank them for their hard work.
3. 她尊重每一个清洁工，总是主动跟他们打招呼。 She respects every cleaner and always greets them proactively.

Usage Guide

Context: occupation, services, respect

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 感谢清洁工的辛勤工作。(Thank the cleaners for their hard work.)
• 我们小区的清洁工很负责。(The cleaners in our community are very responsible.)

Don't Say

• 不要用带有歧视意味的称呼如'扫地的' (Don't use dismissive terms like 扫地的 sweeper — 清洁工 is respectful)

Origin & History

Compound of 清洁 (clean, to clean) and 工 (worker). Together they denote a person who works in cleaning.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal