片付け

• Reading: かたづけ
• Romaji: katazuke
• Kanji breakdown: 片 (kata) — one-sided, piece; 付 (zuke/tsuke) — attach, put
• Pronunciation: /ka.ta.dzɯ.ke/

Meaning

Tidying up; cleaning up; finishing off. The act of putting things in order or completing a task.

A noun derived from the verb 片付ける (to tidy up, to settle). Used both for physical cleaning and organizing, and for finishing off tasks or resolving matters. Gained international attention through Marie Kondo's tidying movement. Common in daily household language.

Examples

1. 食事の後は片付けを手伝ってね。 Please help with the cleanup after the meal.
2. 部屋の片付けがなかなか終わらない。 I can never seem to finish tidying up my room.
3. 仕事の片付けをしてから帰ります。 I'll head home after I finish wrapping things up at work.

Usage Guide

Context: household, work, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from 片付ける, which combines 片 (one-sided, partial) and 付ける (to attach/put). The sense is of putting things in their proper place, one by one.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal