整理 and 收拾 （To sort out/tidy up)

[songwen]

I'm just wondering if both words can be used as substitutes when talking about tidying up a room/shelf/car etc or what's the difference, if any. (I am aware that 收拾 can also mean to punish or to repair).

 

Thanks in advance.

[dwq]

To me, 整理 is closer to "sort out", that is, "turning chaos into order"

whereas 收拾 is closer to "tidy up", "put things back where they belong (and possibly freeing up the space for other uses)"

[Guest Yongjiang]

In my experience, "整理" is kind of formal, while "收拾“ is colloquial. 

As to tidying up, they are interchangeable in most cases.

 

Cheers

[abcdefg]

Packing one's luggage = 收拾行李