洗剤

• Reading: せんざい
• Romaji: senzai
• Kanji breakdown: 洗 (sen) — wash; 剤 (zai) — agent, preparation, medicine
• Pronunciation: /se.n.za.i/

Meaning

Detergent; cleaning agent. A chemical product used for washing and cleaning.

A noun referring to any cleaning product, including laundry detergent, dish soap, and household cleaners. Common compounds include 食器用洗剤 (shokki-you senzai, dish detergent) and 洗濯洗剤 (sentaku senzai, laundry detergent). A practical everyday word.

Examples

1. 洗剤を切らしたから買いに行かなきゃ。 We're out of detergent, so I need to go buy some.
2. この洗剤は肌に優しいのでおすすめです。 This detergent is gentle on the skin, so I recommend it.
3. 食器用洗剤と洗濯洗剤を間違えないで。 Don't mix up the dish soap and the laundry detergent.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, cleaning, shopping

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 洗 (sen, wash) and 剤 (zai, agent/preparation). The combination literally means 'washing agent,' describing its function directly.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal