片付ける

• Reading: かたづける
• Romaji: katazukeru
• Kanji breakdown: 片 (kata) — one side, fragment; 付 (zuke) — attach, put
• Pronunciation: /ka.ta.zɯ.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To tidy up; to put in order; to clean up; to put away. To organize things into their proper places.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb conjugated by dropping る. Used for cleaning rooms, putting away dishes, organizing desks, and more. The intransitive form is 片付く (to be tidied up). The compound 後片付け means cleanup after an event or meal.

Examples

1. 食べたら食器を片付けてください。 After eating, please put the dishes away.
2. 部屋を片付けないとお客さんが来られない。 I need to tidy up the room before my guests arrive.
3. 引っ越しの荷物をやっと片付けました。 I finally put away all the boxes from the move.

Usage Guide

Context: home, daily life, workplace

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 片 (one side, fragment) and 付ける (to attach, to put). The image is of putting scattered fragments back where they belong.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal