Long Zhiren Posted June 1, 2006 at 11:34 PM Report Posted June 1, 2006 at 11:34 PM Here's another English idiom that I'm having trouble with. It gets so different in Chinese. If I want to (1) "clean/wash" a car/window/hands/face/clothes, it's 洗 (2) "clean/organize" a room, it's 清 (3) "clean/brush" my teeth, it's 刷 (4) "clean/blow-out" a tube/pipe/etc, it's 沖 (5) "clean/scrub" a counter/etc, it's 擦 What about something more vague like "cleaning" oil stains off a garage floor? Any other verbs of good note here? Thanks. Quote
adrianlondon Posted June 1, 2006 at 11:53 PM Report Posted June 1, 2006 at 11:53 PM I think you're just cheating with lazy English 1) "clean/wash" a car/window/hands/face/clothes, it's 洗 I'd say wash (2) "clean/organize" a room, it's 清 I'd say tidy (3) "clean/brush" my teeth, it's 刷h I'd say brush (4) "clean/blow-out" a tube/pipe/etc, it's 沖 I'd say clear out (5) "clean/scrub" a counter/etc, it's 擦 I'd say scrub or wipe Quote
Quest Posted June 2, 2006 at 05:09 AM Report Posted June 2, 2006 at 05:09 AM (2) "clean/organize" a room, it's 清 清 is not used alone. 清洁 清理 整理 搞卫生 打扫 扫除 (3) "clean/brush" my teeth, it's 刷 刷牙 漱口 rinse mouth (4) "clean/blow-out" a tube/pipe/etc, it's 沖 冲洗 (5) "clean/scrub" a counter/etc, it's 擦 抹 What about something more vague like "cleaning" oil stains off a garage floor? 清除, 清洗, 洗, 洗掉, 弄干净, 洗刷 Quote
Long Zhiren Posted June 2, 2006 at 06:49 AM Author Report Posted June 2, 2006 at 06:49 AM The Chinese expressions seem so rigid on the actual technique that is in the cleaning operation. Yes. Simply saying "clean" in English might be lazy but it works. It might sound awkward, but it could also be absolutely correct in each case, even moreso prior to specifying the "how" of the cleaning. (3) "clean/brush" my teeth, it's 刷刷牙 漱口 rinse mouth The teeth example can get more exciting? How about when a dental hygienist cleans them. Do we wind up closer to the oil stain on the garage floor example? Can we use some variation of 清 just about everywhere? would it be awkward or just completely wrong? I'm beginning to see many poetic possibilities in the Chinese language much like a French roommate of mine once rolled over laughing when I asked him idiomatically in English if he'd been "hanging" about all day. He pictured monkeys swinging around in trees and tickled himself funny with the expression. Quote
Quest Posted June 2, 2006 at 07:03 AM Report Posted June 2, 2006 at 07:03 AM How about when a dental hygienist cleans them. 洗牙 Also 洁齿 for cleaning teeth. 清洁 works in most cases like "clean". 清洁房间，清洁牙齿，清洁管道，清洁台面，清洁地板 etc.. Quote
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