clean · purify

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 浄 has 9 strokes and appears in words for making things clean or removing impurities.
• Basic usage: 浄化 is read じょうか, and 洗浄 is read せんじょう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Purification and washing
  • 汚れた水を浄化してから means after purifying dirty water.
  • 器具を温水で洗浄した means washing instruments with warm water, focusing on the act of washing.
• A comparison describing a feeling
  • 心まで浄化されるように感じた means feeling as though even one's mind were cleansed.