The Meaning of fuketsu [不潔] In Japanese

不潔
ふけつ
Romaji: fuketsu N4

What does 不潔 mean?

Translation and Meaning

unclean, dirty, filthy

Definition

What does 不潔 mean? It denotes uncleanliness or dirtiness; something not clean, hygienically dirty, can apply to a person, place, or object; it often carries a negative or moral overtone when describing behavior.

Type

na-adjective (形容動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Physical dirtiness or lack of cleanliness in a person, place, or object
  • Unsanitary conditions or hygiene failures
  • Figurative impurity or indecency in conduct or character

Etymology

不 means not, and 潔 means clean; together they form 不潔 meaning not clean; the reading fuketsu is established in modern Japanese.

Composition

  • 不: negation prefix, ‘not’
  • 潔: clean, purity; the act of being clean

Usage

In Japanese, 不潔 is used to describe physical dirt or unsanitary conditions, and can describe people or behavior as morally or ethically impure or indecent. It appears in both spoken and written language, with casual and formal registers; common constructions include 不潔だ and 不潔な場所.
💡 Tips
Visualize a no-entry sign blocking a shining faucet labeled 潔; the sign shows 不 in front, reminding you that it means not clean

Variations

  • 汚い (kitanai) — dirty
  • 不浄 (fujou) — uncleanliness, impurity
  • 清潔 (seiketsu) — clean (antonym)

Example Phrases

  • この机は不潔だから、拭いてきれいにしよう。
    Kono tsukue wa fuketsu dakara, fuite kirei ni shiyou.
    This desk is dirty, so let’s wipe it clean.
    Lista:
    • この (kono) – this
    • 机 (tsukue) – desk
    • は (wa) – (topic marker)
    • 不潔 (fuketsu) – unclean
    • だから (dakara) – therefore
    • 拭いて (fuite) – wipe
    • きれい (kirei) – clean
    • に (ni) – to
    • しよう (shiyou) – let’s do
    The word 「不潔」 is a na-adjective meaning ‘unclean’; here it appears in 「不潔だから」 to give a reason.
不潔