Household chores
Vocabulary
- 掃除するto clean
- 洗濯するto do laundry
- 料理するto cook
- ゴミ出しtaking out trash
- 片付けるto tidy up
- 皿洗いdishwashing
- 干すto hang / dry
- 掃除機vacuum cleaner
- 洗剤detergent
- 毎日every day
Requesting and Obligating: て-form Commands
To ask someone to do something, use て-form + ください: 掃除してください (Please clean). 片付けてください (Please tidy up). This is a polite request.
To express obligation ("must"), use なくてはいけません: 洗濯しなくてはいけません (I have to do laundry). This is similar to なければなりません but slightly more conversational. The casual form is なくちゃ: 掃除しなくちゃ (I gotta clean).
For household routines, combine with frequency: 毎日料理しなくてはいけません (I have to cook every day). 週に一回掃除します (I clean once a week). To divide chores: 私が皿洗いをします (I'll do the dishes). Use てくれますか to ask nicely: ゴミ出ししてくれますか (Could you take out the trash?).
Expressions
- 掃除してくださいPolitely requesting cleaning
- 洗濯しなくてはいけませんExpressing obligation
- ゴミ出ししてくれますかAsking someone to do a chore
- 毎日料理しますDescribing a daily routine
- 部屋を片付けなくちゃCasual obligation
- 皿洗いは私がしますVolunteering for a chore
Common mistakes
洗濯をしないなくてはいけません洗濯しなくてはいけませんDon't double the negative
毎日に料理します毎日料理します毎日 is already an adverb; no に
片付けるてください片付けてくださいUse て-form 片付けて, not dictionary + て
Quick quiz
Question 1 of 5
How do you say “to hang / dry” in Japanese?
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