Japanese word

整理

Pronunciation

Romajiseiri

Meaning

  • nountidying

Example

机の上を整理します。tsukue no ue o sei ri shi ma su

I tidy my desk.

Illustration for 整理 (tidying)

More examples

部屋の整理をします。heya no sei ri o shi ma su

I tidy my room.

仕事を始める前に、頭の中を整理します。shi goto o haji me ru mae ni atama no naka o sei ri shi ma su

I organize my thoughts before starting work.

Core concept

Covers making a space or set of things orderly by arranging, grouping, or removing what is unnecessary.

Common phrases

  • 整理整頓sei ri sei ton

    tidying up

  • 荷物の整理ni motsu no sei ri

    organizing luggage

Similar words

片付けkatazuke: The act of putting things away and making a place tidy.

Definition in Japanese

物や情報を分類したり配置を整えたりして、扱いやすい状態にすること。mono ya jō hō o bun rui shi ta ri hai chi o totono e ta ri shi te atsuka i ya su i jō tai ni su ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun combines 整 (sei, "make orderly") with 理 (ri, "order"), linking the word to the idea of creating order from an untidy state.

Usage tips

  • On some Japanese buses, passengers take a 整理券 (seiriken) when boarding, and its number helps identify the fare zone when they get off.

Other meanings

  • organizationnoun
  • sortingnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 整理するseirisuruorganizeverb

Word lists with this word