Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the idea of 'putting things in order' in Japanese, including physical tidying, arranging items in a sequence, and organizing abstract things like thoughts or schedules.
The physical act of cleaning up a space, putting objects back where they belong, or making a room neat.
The most common verb for tidying up a room, desk, or belongings. It implies putting things back in their proper places.
部屋を片付けてください。
Please tidy up your room.
おもちゃを片付けなさい。
Put away your toys.
Means to organize or sort things, often with the nuance of discarding unnecessary items. Used for both physical and abstract things.
机の上を整理した。
I organized my desk.
書類を整理する必要がある。
I need to organize the documents.
Specifically means to arrange things neatly and in order, often used for tools, shelves, or desks. More formal than 片付ける.
道具を整頓してください。
Please arrange the tools neatly.
Putting items in a specific order, such as alphabetical, numerical, or chronological.
To line up or arrange things in a row or order. Can be used for physical objects or abstract sequences.
本を大きさ順に並べた。
I arranged the books in order of size.
名前を五十音順に並べてください。
Please put the names in order of the Japanese syllabary.
Explicitly means to arrange in order or sequence. Often used when the order is important.
カードを順番に並べてください。
Please put the cards in order.
To line up or form a queue. Used for people or things in a strict line. Often used in formal or technical contexts.
生徒を身長順に整列させた。
I had the students line up in order of height.
Putting ideas, information, or schedules into a logical or structured order.
The go-to verb for organizing thoughts, data, or plans. It implies sorting out and making sense of something.
頭の中を整理したい。
I want to organize my thoughts.
情報を整理してから報告します。
I'll organize the information and then report.
To bring together, summarize, or consolidate. Often used when gathering scattered ideas or items into a coherent whole.
To put in a logical order or sequence. Used for arguments, procedures, or explanations.
Arranging tasks, goals, or items based on their urgency or significance.
To prioritize; literally 'attach priority order'. Common in business and daily life.
タスクに優先順位をつけてください。
Please prioritize the tasks.
To give priority to something. Often used when one thing is more important than others.
安全を優先して行動してください。
Please act with safety as the priority.
片付ける is for general tidying up (putting things away). 整理する is for organizing and sorting, often with discarding. 整頓する is for arranging neatly in a specific order, often used in formal contexts like workplace organization.
部屋を片付ける（日常的な掃除）
Tidy up the room (daily cleaning)
書類を整理する（不要なものを捨てる）
Organize documents (discard unnecessary ones)
棚を整頓する（きちんと並べる）
Arrange the shelf neatly
There is no verb '順番する'. Use '順番に並べる' or '順番をつける' instead.
部屋を片付けないといけない。
I need to put my room in order.
彼女はファイルをアルファベット順に並べた。
She put the files in alphabetical order.
会議の前に考えを整理しましょう。
Let's put our ideas in order before the meeting.
意見をまとめてください。
Please put the opinions together (in order).
レポートをまとめるのに時間がかかった。
It took time to put the report together.
手順を順序立てて説明してください。
Please explain the procedure in order.