片付く vs 片付ける
JLPT N4 vocabulary · what is the difference?
片付ける is the tidying you do, with を: 部屋を片付ける. 片付く is the room ending up tidy, with が: 部屋が片付く. Beyond cleaning, both also mean getting a task or problem settled — 仕事が片付く, 仕事を片付ける.
When to use each
片付く
かたづく
The room, desk, or job is the subject with が, and you are reporting the finished state. Often with やっと or ようやく, because it is the relief of something finally being done.
やっと部屋が片付いた。
やっとへやがかたづいた。
The room is finally tidy.
今日中に仕事が片付きそうです。
きょうじゅうにしごとがかたづきそうです。
It looks like the work will be wrapped up today.
片付ける
かたづける
You are the one tidying, and the mess takes を. Also used for disposing of a task: 宿題を片付ける means to get the homework out of the way. Requests and orders are nearly always 片付ける.
使った皿を片付けてください。
つかったさらをかたづけてください。
Please clear away the dishes you used.
面倒な仕事を先に片付けます。
めんどうなしごとをさきにかたづけます。
I'll get the annoying job out of the way first.
Sentences where only one works
部屋を片付けなさい。
へやをかたづけなさい。
Tidy your room.
An order aimed at a person. Only the transitive 片付ける can be commanded.
部屋が片付いていて気持ちいい。
へやがかたづいていてきもちいい。
The room is tidy and it feels good.
No doer in view, just the pleasant state, so 片付いている.
その問題はもう片付きました。
そのもんだいはもうかたづきました。
That problem has already been settled.
Reporting that the matter is closed, without pointing at who closed it.
その問題は私が片付けます。
そのもんだいはわたしがかたづけます。
I'll take care of that problem.
Naming yourself as the one who will handle it forces 片付ける.
Common mistakes
部屋を片付きました。
部屋を片付けました。
片付く never takes を. If you did the tidying, it has to be 片付けました.
机の上が片付けています。
机の上が片付いています。
With が describing a state, use 片付いている. 片付けている with を means someone is in the middle of tidying.
Frequently asked questions
Can 片付ける mean throwing things away?
Not exactly — it is putting things where they belong. If you mean discarding, 捨てる is the word. 片付ける often involves some throwing away, but it does not say so.
Why do I hear 仕事を片付ける when nothing is being cleaned?
Both verbs extend naturally from clearing a space to clearing a workload. 仕事を片付ける is everyday office Japanese for getting a task finished and off your plate.
Is 片付けておく different?
It adds the sense of doing it in advance for later. 客が来る前に片付けておく means tidying ahead of time so things are ready when the guests arrive.