sweep

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 掃 has 11 strokes, the on-reading そう, and the kun-reading はく. 掃く (はく) and 掃除 (そうじ) mean sweeping and cleaning.
• Basic usage: 掃く describes sweeping with something such as a broom; 掃除 covers cleaning a room or an area more broadly.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The act of sweeping and when cleaning occurs
  • 葉をほうきで掃いた means swept leaves with a broom. 床を掃く係を交代で担当する means taking turns being responsible for sweeping the floor.
  • 朝ご飯の後で places cleaning the room after breakfast. 週末の掃除で identifies weekend cleaning as the occasion when an old letter was found under the desk.