(ふけつ)

ふけつ
na-adjective, noun
unclean, dirty, unsanitary
1. unclean, dirty, unsanitary, filthy
The state of being dirty or unhygienic, either physically or morally.
An unsanitary environment can cause illness.
If your hands are unclean, you're more likely to get food poisoning.
His room is always dirty.

不潔(ふけつ) is a na-adjective meaning unclean or unsanitary. It emphasizes a lack of hygiene rather than just being visually dirty.

WORD FORMATION:
() (not, un-) + (けつ) (clean, pure)

GRAMMAR:

  • 不潔(ふけつ)な + noun: unsanitary [noun]
  • [noun]は不潔(ふけつ)だ: [noun] is unclean

CONTRAST:

  • 不潔(ふけつ) (unhygienic, formal/clinical) ↔ 清潔(せいけつ) (clean, hygienic)
  • (きたな)い (dirty, colloquial, broader) vs. 不潔(ふけつ) (unhygienic, more specific to hygiene)

(きたな)い can describe anything dirty (a messy room, muddy shoes), while 不潔(ふけつ) specifically implies poor hygiene or sanitation.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 不潔(ふけつ)環境(かんきょう): unsanitary environment
  • 不潔(ふけつ)(): unclean hands
  • 不潔(ふけつ)印象(いんしょう): an impression of uncleanliness

REGISTER:
More formal/clinical than (きたな)い. Often used in health, medical, and hygiene contexts.

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