Japanese word

整える

Pronunciation

Romajitotonoeru

Meaning

  • verbtidy up

Example

毎朝、部屋を整えます。mai asa heya o totono e ma su

I tidy up the room every morning.

Illustration for 整える (tidy up)

More examples

出かける前に、服装を整えます。de ka ke ru mae ni fuku sō o totono e ma su

I straighten my clothes before going out.

Core concept

Brings scattered or disordered things into a neat, orderly state.

Common phrases

  • 身なりを整えるmi na ri o totono e ru

    tidy one's appearance

  • 机の上を整えるtsukue no ue o totono e ru

    tidy the desk

  • 準備を整えるjun bi o totono e ru

    make preparations

Similar words

片付けるkatazukeru: To put things away and remove clutter from a space.
整理するseirisuru: To arrange things by sorting or grouping them into an orderly form.
直すnaosu: To adjust something so that it looks neat, fits properly, or is in the right condition.

Definition in Japanese

物や状態の乱れを直し、きちんとした状態にする。mono ya jō tai no mida re o nao shi ki chi n to shi ta jō tai ni su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 整える (totonoeru) is formed from 整う (totonō, "be in order") through a lexical -eru formation that changes the meaning to "make orderly."

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 整える (totonoeru) applies to hair, clothing, and personal appearance as well as rooms and objects.

Other meanings

  • arrangeverb
  • straightenverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 整え方totonoekataway of arrangingnoun

Word lists with this word