Correct
干净 vs 清洁
/ gānjìng vs qīngjié /
Strokes
Formula
1
干干净净
Definition
干净 and 清洁 both are Adjectives, which means [clearn; neat].
Example
干净 is colloquial., while 清洁 is literary.干净 can be reduplicated into 干干净净 while 清洁 cannot.
In examples ① and ②, the two words are interchangeable, but 干净 is more colloquial.
干干净净
1
Zhǔfù
主妇
hěn
很
qínkuài
勤快
,
fángjiān
房间
shí
十
fēn
分
gānjìng
干净
(
qīngjié
清洁
)
。
The housewife is very diligent and keeps the room very clean.
2
Jīnglǐ
经理
shuō
说
,
dàtáng
大堂
dìmiàn
地面
bù
不
tài
太
gānjìng
干净
(
qīngjié
清洁
)
,
yào
要
zài
再
dǎsǎo
打扫
yī
一
xià
下
。
The manager said that the lounge floor was not clean.It needs cleaning again.
3
Māma
妈妈
ràng
让
háizi
孩子
bǎshǒu
把手
xǐ
洗
gānjìng
干净
。
The mother asked her child to wash his hands clean.
In formal phrases,e.g.大搞清洁卫生 (do a thorough cleaning), 干净 is not used; while in everyday speech, 干净 is better.
4
Māma
妈妈
ràng
让
háizi
孩子
bǎshǒu
把手
xǐ
洗
gānjìng
干净
。
The mother asked her child to wash his hands clean.
清洁 sometimes can take an object, which is more literary; 干净 cannot.
5
Huánwèigōng
环卫工
zhèngzài
正在
qīngjié
清洁
shìróng
市容
。
Sanitation workers are cleaning the cityscape.
干净 also means "with nothing left over", and mostly functions as a complement.
6
Zhè
这
shǒujīn
手巾
shàng
上
de
的
hóng
红
yánsè
颜色
néng
能
xǐ
洗
gānjìng
干净
ma
吗
?
Can the red spot in the towel be washed out?
7
Bàba
爸爸
ràng
让
háizi
孩子
bǎ
把
wǎn
碗
lǐ
里
de
的
fàn
饭
chī
吃
gānjìng
干净
。
The father asked his child to eat up the food in his bowl.
8
Rén
人
sǐ
死
le
了
,
shénme
什么
dōu
都
dài
带
bù
不
zǒu
走
,
gàngānjìngjìng
干干净净
。
A man cannot take anything with him after he dies.
干净 also has a figurative meaning; when used in the negative, 不干净 means "having committed crime previously".
清洁 has no such meanings.
9
Tā
他
yǒu
有
qiánkē
前科
,
shǒushàng
手上
bù
不
gānjìng
干净
。
He committed crimes before.
干净 also has another figurative meaning, that is leaving no trace in doing evil.
清洁 has no such meanings.
10
Tā
他
yǐwéi
以为
zhècì
这次
zuòàn
作案
zuò
做
de
得
hěn
很
gānjìng
干净
,
qíshí
其实
zǎo
早
lùchūmǎjiǎo
露出马脚
le
了
。
He had thought he committed the crime unnoticeably, but in fact he was exposed early.