Japanese word

洗剤

Pronunciation

Romajisenzai

Meaning

  • noundetergent

Example

洗剤で皿を洗います。sen zai de sara o ara i ma su

I wash dishes with detergent.

Illustration for 洗剤 (detergent)

More examples

この洗剤は少ない水でもよく泡立ちます。ko no sen zai wa suku na i mizu de mo yo ku awa da chi ma su

This detergent lathers well even with a small amount of water.

Core concept

It is a cleaning substance that helps water remove dirt from a surface or object.

Common phrases

  • 洗剤で洗うsen zai de ara u

    wash with detergent

  • 洗剤を使うsen zai o tsuka u

    use detergent

  • 洗剤を入れるsen zai o i re ru

    add detergent

Similar words

石鹸sekken: A substance used with water to clean the body or objects, usually in solid or liquid form.
洗浄剤senjōzai: A cleaning substance designed for a particular surface, object, or type of dirt.

Definition in Japanese

水だけでは落としにくい汚れを落とすために使う物質。mizu da ke de wa o to shi ni ku i yogo re o o to su ta me ni tsuka u bus shitsu

Word origin

洗剤 (senzai) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 洗 (sen, "wash") and 剤 (zai, "agent"), meaning an agent used for washing.

Usage tips

  • In English, detergent often covers both laundry and dish products, so the object being cleaned is usually specified by a phrase such as "laundry detergent."

Other meanings

  • cleaning agentnoun

Word lists with this word