1.
cleaning staff; janitor; cleaner
A person whose job is to clean buildings, facilities, streets, or other areas. A formal occupational title.
清掃員が廊下を掃除している。
The janitor is cleaning the hallway.
ビルの清掃員を募集しています。
We are looking for building cleaning staff.
早朝から清掃員の方たちが駅前をきれいにしてくれている。
From early morning, the cleaning staff are keeping the area in front of the station clean for us.
Composed of 清掃 (cleaning) + 員 (member/staff). A formal and respectful occupational title for cleaners.
USAGE:
清掃員 is the standard, polite way to refer to cleaning workers. It is used in job listings, workplace settings, and official contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ビル清掃員: building cleaner
- 道路清掃員: street sweeper
- 清掃員を募集する: to recruit cleaning staff
- 清掃員として働く: to work as a janitor
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 掃除係: person in charge of cleaning — less formal, often used for assigned duties at school
- 用務員: school custodian — handles general maintenance and cleaning at schools
- 清掃業者: cleaning company/contractor — refers to the company rather than the individual
NOTE:
The suffix 員 is widely used in Japanese for occupational titles (会社員, 公務員, 駅員, etc.).