雑巾(ぞうきん)

ぞうきん
noun
cleaning rag, dust cloth
1. cleaning rag, dust cloth, floor cloth
A cloth used for cleaning floors, wiping surfaces, or general cleaning tasks.
雑巾(ぞうきん)で床(ゆか)を拭(ふ)いた。
I wiped the floor with a cloth.
雑巾(ぞうきん)がけをする。
To clean/wipe (the floor) with a rag.
雑巾(ぞうきん)がけ = floor wiping
古(ふる)いタオルを雑巾(ぞうきん)にして使(つか)っている。
I use old towels as cleaning rags.
雑巾(ぞうきん)を水(みず)でよく絞(しぼ)ってから使(つか)ってください。
Please wring out the cloth well with water before using it.
学校(がっこう)では毎日(まいにち)掃除(そうじ)の時間(じかん)があって、子供(こども)たちは雑巾(ぞうきん)で教室(きょうしつ)の床(ゆか)を拭(ふ)く。
At school there is a cleaning time every day, and the children wipe the classroom floor with cloths.

雑巾(ぞうきん) is a cloth used for cleaning, especially floors. In Japanese schools, students clean their own classrooms using 雑巾(ぞうきん).

Common expressions

  • 雑巾(ぞうきん)がけ: wiping floors with a rag
  • 雑巾(ぞうきん)を絞(しぼ)る: to wring out a rag
  • 雑巾(ぞうきん)掛(か)け: floor wiping, mopping

CULTURAL NOTE (school cleaning):
In Japanese schools, students participate in daily cleaning (掃除(そうじ)). Using 雑巾(ぞうきん) to wipe floors on hands and knees is a traditional cleaning method.

RELATED WORDS (cleaning tools):

Related Words

Related: 箒(ほうき) (broom)
Related: 塵取(ちりと)り (dustpan)
Related: モップ (mop)
Related: バケツ (bucket)
Related: 拭(ふ)く (to wipe)
Related: スポンジ (sponge)
Compare: 布切(ぬのき)れ (piece of cloth)
core
Added 2026.1.14 7:31 · Revised 2026.10.10 16:55
04000/04408_zoukin