Looking up...
洗濯
sentaku
laundry
洗濯物を干す。
I hang the laundry.
formal
The act of washing clothes, linens, or fabrics.
今日、洗濯をする。
I will do the laundry today.
洗濯機が故障した。
The washing machine broke down.
洗濯 refers to the entire process of washing, including rinsing and drying, though drying is often implied by context.
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 乾燥
洗濯 includes washing and rinsing, while 乾燥 specifically means 'drying.' For example, 洗濯物を干す (sentakumono o hosu) means 'to hang laundry to dry,' combining both washing and drying.
Gold Rule
Use 洗濯 for the entire process
When referring to the act of washing clothes, linens, or fabrics, use 洗濯. For drying alone, use 乾燥 or specify the method (e.g., 干す 'to hang dry').
Word Origin
From 洗う (ara-u, 'to wash') + 濯ぐ (sogu, 'to rinse'), forming a compound verb meaning 'to wash and rinse fabrics.' The noun form emerged as a nominalization of the verb.
Usage Notes
洗濯 is a formal term used in everyday contexts. In casual speech, people often use the verb form 洗濯する (sentaku suru, 'to do laundry'). The term encompasses both the washing and drying processes in Japanese, though drying is sometimes specified separately as 乾燥 (kansō).
Word Breakdown
洗
to wash
root濯
to rinse
root和英辞典