掃 — Sweep, Brush, Clean

Meaning

This section explores the kanji 掃 (haku, sou), whose primary meanings include 'sweeping,' 'brushing,' and 'cleaning.' This versatile character can describe anything from tidying a room or clearing leaves from a garden to making a 'clean sweep' of a situation, covering both literal and figurative actions.

Its visual shape offers a wonderful clue to its meaning. The left-hand side, 扌 (tehen), is the 'hand' radical, always indicating an action performed with the hands. The right-hand side, 帚 (houki), is actually the ancient character for 'broom.' When you put 'hand' and 'broom' together, what do you get? That's right, the action of 'to sweep'! This beautifully logical combination makes 掃 an ideogrammatic or semantic-phonetic compound, where the individual parts clearly convey the character's overall meaning.

This kanji is an important part of everyday vocabulary related to cleanliness and order. With 11 strokes, it's a Joyo Kanji, meaning it's designated for general use. You'll typically encounter it in junior high school or higher, corresponding to its N2 JLPT level, and becoming proficient with it is crucial for advanced Japanese.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The On'yomi, or Chinese-derived reading, for 掃 is ソウ (SOU). This reading often appears in more formal compound words, frequently related to cleaning, sanitation, or even the figurative 'clearing' or 'eradication' of something.

清掃せいそう (seisou) — This means 'cleaning' or 'sanitation,' often used in a public or professional context, like 'street cleaning' or 'building maintenance.'
掃討そうとう (soutou) — This compound means 'mopping up,' 'suppression,' or 'round-up.' It's often used in a military or police context, referring to clearing out criminals or rebels.
一掃いっそう (issou) — Meaning 'clean sweep,' 'thorough clean-up,' or 'eradication.' It implies getting rid of something completely, like bad practices or an old system.

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The Kun'yomi, or native Japanese reading, for 掃 is は.く (ha.ku). This is the more common reading you'll use in everyday conversation, primarily when referring to the verb 'to sweep' or 'to brush.'

掃はく (haku) — This is the standalone verb, meaning 'to sweep,' 'to brush,' or 'to clean (with a broom).' It's a direct and common action verb.
部屋へやを掃はく (heya o haku) — A common phrase meaning 'to sweep a room.'
落おち葉ばを掃はく (ochiba o haku) — This means 'to sweep fallen leaves,' a familiar autumn chore in Japan!

Common Words & Compounds

Here are some common words and compounds using 掃, grouped by theme for easier memorization:

Everyday Cleaning & Actions:
掃除そうじ (souji) — This is the most common word for 'cleaning' in general. While it often implies vacuuming or wiping, it traditionally included sweeping.
清掃せいそう (seisou) — As mentioned, 'cleaning' or 'sanitation,' usually in a public or formal setting.
掃はき捨すてる (hakisuteru) — To sweep away, to discard, to get rid of by sweeping.
掃はき清きよめる (hakikiyomeru) — To sweep and purify; to cleanse by sweeping.
Figurative & Stronger Actions:
一掃いっそう (issou) — A complete clean sweep; eradication or getting rid of something entirely (e.g., crime, old habits).
掃討そうとう (soutou) — Mopping up; suppression (e.g., of an enemy or an illegal group).
Places & Tools:
掃はき溜だめ (hakidame) — A rubbish dump or garbage pile, literally a place where things are swept and accumulate.
掃はき出だし窓まど (hakidashi-mado) — A French window or a sliding glass door. The name literally means a 'sweeping-out window,' as it's large enough to easily sweep dirt out through.
掃除機そうじき (soujiki) — A vacuum cleaner. While it doesn't use 掃 directly, its purpose is closely related to the actions implied by 掃.

Example Sentences

毎日まいにち、部屋へやを綺麗きれいに掃はきます。

Mainichi, heya o kirei ni hakimasu.

I sweep my room cleanly every day.

店みせの前まえを掃はいて、お客様おきゃくさまを迎むかえます。

Mise no mae o haite, okyakusama o mukaemasu.

I sweep in front of the shop and welcome customers.

庭にわの落おち葉ばを掃はくのは秋あきの日課にっかです。

Niwa no ochiba o haku no wa aki no nikka desu.

Sweeping the fallen leaves in the garden is an autumn routine.

新あたらしいシステムで非効率ひこうりつな手続てつづきを一掃いっそうする予定よていです。

Atarashii shisutemu de hikouritsu na tetsuzuki o issou suru yotei desu.

We plan to make a clean sweep of inefficient procedures with the new system.

自治体じちたいは街まちの清掃せいそう活動かつどうを強化きょうかしました。

Jichitai wa machi no seisou katsudou o kyouka shimashita.

The local government strengthened the city's cleaning activities.

警察けいさつは犯罪はんざい組織そしきの掃討そうとう作戦さくせんを開始かいししました。

Keisatsu wa hanzai soshiki no soutou sakusen o kaishi shimashita.

The police launched a suppression operation against the criminal organization.

古ふるい埃ほこりを掃はき捨すてて新あたらしい年としを迎むかえましょう。

Furui hokori o hakisutete atarashii toshi o mukaemashou.

Let's sweep away the old dust and welcome the new year.

陽ひの光ひかりが掃はき出だし窓まどから差さし込こむ明あかるい部屋へやです。

Hi no hikari ga hakidashi-mado kara sashikomu akarui heya desu.

It's a bright room with sunlight streaming in through the sliding glass door.

Memory Tip

Remembering 掃 becomes quite simple when you break it down! On the left, you'll find 扌, the 'hand' radical, always indicating an action performed with your hands. To the right is 帚, an older, more complex form of the kanji for 'broom.' Picture yourself holding a broom (扌) and using it to sweep (帚) away all the dirt. Notice how the top of 帚 even resembles broom bristles, while the bottom forms the handle. This means 'hand + broom = to sweep!' Keeping this vivid image in mind will help you remember its meaning effortlessly.