【年末の大掃除】掃除にまつわる英語表現【13例】断捨離を英語で言うと？「declutter」

年末になると、日本では慣例的に「大掃除」が行われますね。一年を締めくくる（wrap up the past year）にはよい習慣と思います！

この「大掃除」ですが、どのように英語で表現するでしょうか。そう言われたとき、とっさに思い浮かばない人も多いと思います。

この記事では、「年末の大掃除」に関連するフレーズをご紹介します。

年末の大掃除を英語で表現する

「年末の大掃除」を英語で表現するには、"year-end cleaning "や "end-of-year cleaning "などのフレーズを使用します。掃除そのものを表す言葉としては、"cleaning "や "housekeeping "がよく使われますね。例えば、次のような言い方ができます。

• "I'm going to do some year-end cleaning before the new year starts."
  "新しい年が始まる前に、年末の大掃除をしようと思っています"

「throw away」（捨てる）や「put away」（片付ける）、「dust」（ほこりを払う）、「vacuum」（掃除機で吸う）、「mop」（モップで拭く）などの英語表現も一般的です。例えば、以下のような表現になります。

• "I'm going to throw away all the old newspapers and magazines."
  "古い新聞や雑誌は全部捨てよう"
  
  
• "I need to put away all the clothes I haven't worn this year."
  "今年着ていない服は全部捨てる必要があるなあ"

その他、年末の大掃除で役立つ英語表現として、「declutter」（片付ける）や「organize」（整理する）、「wash」（洗う）や「wipe」（拭く）があります。例えば、こんな感じです。

• "I'm going to declutter my closet and get rid of clothes that I don't wear anymore."
  "クローゼット(の中身)を断捨離して、着ない服を処分します。"
  
  
• "I need to organize my desk before the new year starts."
  "新年が始まる前に机の上を整理したい"
  
  
• ”I'm going to wash all the windows and mirrors."
  "すべての窓や鏡を洗うつもりです。"
  
  
• "I need to wipe down all the surfaces in the kitchen."
  キッチンの全面を拭かなきゃ。

家の中と外を掃除する

家の中の掃除だけでなく、外や庭の片付けも忘れないようにしましょう。英語では、「rake」（熊手で庭を掃く）や「shovel the snow 」（雪かき）、「sweep」（掃く）、「trim」（はさみで切る）、「weed」（雑草を抜く）などの表現があります。

• "I'm going to rake the leaves in the yard."
  "庭の葉っぱをかき集めたい"
  
  
• "I need to shovel the snow off the driveway."
  "車道の雪かきをします"

また、ガレージや地下室、家の中の掃除も忘れないようにしましょう。これは、"deep cleaning "と呼ばれることもあります。英語表現として、「clean out」（片付ける）や「sort through」（整理する）もよく使われます。例えば

• "I'm going to clean out the garage and get rid of stuff that I don't need anymore."
  "ガレージを掃除して、もういらないものを捨てようと思う。"
  
  
• "I need to sort through all the boxes in the basement and see what I can throw away."
  "地下室の箱を全部整理して、何を捨てられるか確認したい。"

掃除用具

年末大掃除をするときには、お掃除グッズを揃えておくことも大切です。このときに使われる英語表現として、「broom」（ほうき）や「mop」（モップ）、「vacuum cleaner」（掃除機）、「duster」（ほこり取り）、「cleaning supplies」（お掃除グッズ）などがあります。例えば次の例があります。

• "I need to buy a new broom because the old one is falling apart."
  "古いほうきがボロボロになったから新しいほうきを買わなきゃ"
  
  
• "I'm going to stock up on cleaning supplies before the year-end cleaning."
  "年末の大掃除の前に、掃除用具を買いだめしておこうと思う"　*stock up on で買いだめの意味です。

まとめ

年末の大掃除は、この1年を締めくくり、心身ともにリフレッシュし、新しい年を迎えるための日本の伝統的な習慣ですね。大掃除には、家やオフィスの片付け、断捨離、整理整頓が含まれます。この記事では、これらの状況で使える英語表現をご紹介しました。年末の大掃除は、自宅やオフィスの環境を整え、新年へのエネルギーをチャージする絶好の機会です。この年末の大掃除を利用して英語力も鍛えましょう！

英語解説

Year-End Cleaning in Japan and English

As the year comes to a close, it is customary in Japan to perform a "year-end cleaning," which involves tidying up one's home or office. This practice allows you to wrap up the past year, refresh your mind and body, and get a head start on the new year.

Expressing Year-End Cleaning

To express "year-end cleaning" in English, you can use phrases such as "year-end cleaning" or "end-of-year cleaning." The words "cleaning" or "housekeeping" are often used to describe the act of cleaning. For example, you could say:

• "I'm going to do some year-end cleaning before the new year starts."

Common English Expressions During Year-End Cleaning

During year-end cleaning, common English expressions include "throw away," "put away," "dust," "vacuum," and "mop." For example:

• "I'm going to throw away all the old newspapers and magazines."
• "I must put away all the clothes I haven't worn this year."

Other useful English expressions during year-end cleaning include "declutter," "organize," "wash," and "wipe." For example:

• "I'm going to declutter my closet and get rid of clothes that I don't wear anymore."
• "I need to organize my desk before the new year starts."

Cleaning the Inside and Outside of Your Home

In addition to cleaning the inside of your home, remember to tidy up the outside and yard. English expressions for this include "rake," "shovel," "sweep," "trim," and "weed." For example:

• "I'm going to rake the leaves in the yard."
• "I need to shovel the snow off the driveway."

Also, remember to clean the garage, basement, and inside of your home. This is sometimes referred to as "deep cleaning." Expressions for this include "clean out" and "sort through." For example:

• "I'm going to clean out the garage and get rid of stuff that I don't need anymore."
• "I need to sort through all the boxes in the basement and see what I can throw away."

Cleaning Supplies

Ensure all the necessary cleaning supplies are on hand when performing year-end cleaning. These include "brooms," "mops," "vacuum cleaners," "dusters," and "cleaning supplies." For example:

• "I need to buy a new broom because the old one is falling apart."
• "I'm going to stock up on cleaning supplies before the year-end cleaning."

Conclusion

Year-end cleaning is a traditional practice in Japan that helps to wrap up the past year, refresh the mind and body, and get a head start on the new year. It involves tidying up the home or office, decluttering, organizing, and deep cleaning. Remember to have all the necessary cleaning supplies, such as brooms, mops, vacuum cleaners, dusters, and cleaning supplies. Year-end cleaning is an excellent opportunity to improve the environment of your home or office and recharge your energy for the new year. So, take this chance to practice your English skills and have a successful year-end cleaning.