Chinese Chores Vocabulary

Learn everyday housework words in simplified Chinese: 家务词汇 (jiāwù cíhuì).

Nobody wakes up thrilled to mop a floor. Still, chores come up in real life, and they come up fast. If you want to talk about cleaning, cooking, laundry, and the general chaos of home life, these are the words you actually need.

This guide teaches common chores in simplified Chinese with pinyin, clear meanings, and example sentences that sound natural. You will see the high-frequency verbs first, then a bigger bank of useful words you can steal for daily conversation.

Quick-Start Chore Cards

扫地

sǎo dì

sweep the floor

拖地

tuō dì

mop the floor

洗碗

xǐ wǎn

wash the dishes

做饭

zuòfàn

cook a meal

洗衣服

xǐ yīfu

do the laundry

倒垃圾

dào lājī

take out the trash

整理衣柜

zhěnglǐ yīguì

organize the closet

给植物浇水

gěi zhíwù jiāoshuǐ

water the plants

Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences

做家务 (zuò jiāwù) — do chores.
Example: 我周六上午做家务。 (Wǒ zhōuliù shàngwǔ zuò jiāwù.) — I do chores on Saturday morning.
大扫除 (dàsǎochú) — deep clean; big clean.
Example: 春节前很多家庭会大扫除。 (Chūnjié qián hěn duō jiātíng huì dàsǎochú.) — Many families do a big clean before Spring Festival.
轮流做家务 (lúnliú zuò jiāwù) — take turns doing chores.
Example: 我们在家轮流做家务。 (Wǒmen zài jiā lúnliú zuò jiāwù.) — We take turns doing chores at home.
该你洗碗了 (gāi nǐ xǐ wǎn le) — it is your turn to wash the dishes.
Example: 妈妈说：“该你洗碗了。” (Māma shuō: “Gāi nǐ xǐ wǎn le.”) — Mom said, “It’s your turn to wash the dishes.”
我先扫地，再拖地 (wǒ xiān sǎo dì, zài tuō dì) — I will sweep first, then mop.
Example: 今天我先扫地，再拖地。 (Jīntiān wǒ xiān sǎo dì, zài tuō dì.) — Today I’ll sweep first, then mop.
把垃圾倒一下 (bǎ lājī dào yíxià) — take out the trash for a moment; go empty the trash.
Example: 出门前把垃圾倒一下。 (Chūmén qián bǎ lājī dào yíxià.) — Take out the trash before you leave.
今天谁做饭 (jīntiān shéi zuòfàn) — who is cooking today?
Example: 回家以后我先问：“今天谁做饭？” (Huí jiā yǐhòu wǒ xiān wèn: “Jīntiān shéi zuòfàn?”) — When I get home, I first ask, “Who’s cooking today?”
房间太乱了，该收拾了 (fángjiān tài luàn le, gāi shōushi le) — the room is too messy; it is time to tidy up.
Example: 看见满地的衣服，我说：“房间太乱了，该收拾了。” (Kànjiàn mǎn dì de yīfu, wǒ shuō: “Fángjiān tài luàn le, gāi shōushi le.”) — Seeing clothes all over the floor, I said, “The room is too messy. Time to tidy up.”
衣服洗好了，可以晾了 (yīfu xǐ hǎo le, kěyǐ liàng le) — the clothes are washed and ready to hang.
Example: 洗衣机停了以后，衣服洗好了，可以晾了。 (Xǐyījī tíng le yǐhòu, yīfu xǐ hǎo le, kěyǐ liàng le.) — After the washing machine stopped, the clothes were ready to hang.
记得擦桌子 (jìde cā zhuōzi) — remember to wipe the table.
Example: 吃完饭以后，记得擦桌子。 (Chī wán fàn yǐhòu, jìde cā zhuōzi.) — Remember to wipe the table after eating.
我来刷马桶，你来清理洗手台 (wǒ lái shuā mǎtǒng, nǐ lái qīnglǐ xǐshǒutái) — I’ll scrub the toilet, and you clean the sink area.
Example: 为了快一点，我说：“我来刷马桶，你来清理洗手台。” (Wèile kuài yìdiǎn, wǒ shuō: “Wǒ lái shuā mǎtǒng, nǐ lái qīnglǐ xǐshǒutái.”) — To finish faster, I said, “I’ll scrub the toilet, and you clean the sink area.”
先整理，再打扫 (xiān zhěnglǐ, zài dǎsǎo) — organize first, then clean.
Example: 桌上太乱了，先整理，再打扫。 (Zhuō shàng tài luàn le, xiān zhěnglǐ, zài dǎsǎo.) — The desk is too messy, so organize first, then clean.

The Verbs That Cause The Most Trouble

做 (zuò) is the broad verb for doing a task. That is why 做家务 (zuò jiāwù) means “do chores” and 做饭 (zuòfàn) means “cook.”

打扫 (dǎsǎo) is actual cleaning. Think sweeping, mopping, wiping, and removing dirt. It is more “clean” than “tidy.”

收拾 (shōushi) usually means tidy up or put things back in order. The room is messy, you fix the mess. Nothing glamorous. Very useful.

整理 (zhěnglǐ) leans toward organize, sort, or arrange neatly. Use it for desks, closets, and fridges when chaos has fully moved in.

Tables Of Words

Everyday Cleaning

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
打扫	dǎsǎo	clean up	我下班后先打扫客厅。	Wǒ xiàbān hòu xiān dǎsǎo kètīng.	After work, I clean the living room first.
扫地	sǎo dì	sweep the floor	她每天早上扫地。	Tā měitiān zǎoshang sǎo dì.	She sweeps the floor every morning.
拖地	tuō dì	mop the floor	我吃完饭以后拖地。	Wǒ chī wán fàn yǐhòu tuō dì.	I mop the floor after eating.
吸尘	xī chén	vacuum	周末我们会吸尘。	Zhōumò wǒmen huì xī chén.	We vacuum on weekends.
擦桌子	cā zhuōzi	wipe the table	请先擦桌子。	Qǐng xiān cā zhuōzi.	Please wipe the table first.
擦窗户	cā chuānghu	wipe the windows	春天我会擦窗户。	Chūntiān wǒ huì cā chuānghu.	I wipe the windows in spring.
除灰尘	chú huīchén	dust; remove dust	这个书架需要除灰尘。	Zhège shūjià xūyào chú huīchén.	This bookshelf needs dusting.
铺床	pū chuáng	make the bed	他起床后马上铺床。	Tā qǐchuáng hòu mǎshàng pū chuáng.	He makes the bed right after getting up.
换床单	huàn chuángdān	change the bedsheets	我两周换一次床单。	Wǒ liǎng zhōu huàn yí cì chuángdān.	I change the bedsheets every two weeks.
收拾客厅	shōushi kètīng	tidy the living room	晚上我们一起收拾客厅。	Wǎnshang wǒmen yìqǐ shōushi kètīng.	We tidy the living room together at night.

Kitchen Chores

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
做饭	zuòfàn	cook a meal	今天我做饭。	Jīntiān wǒ zuòfàn.	I am cooking today.
洗菜	xǐ cài	wash vegetables	做饭前别忘了洗菜。	Zuòfàn qián bié wàng le xǐ cài.	Do not forget to wash the vegetables before cooking.
切菜	qiē cài	chop vegetables	爸爸正在切菜。	Bàba zhèngzài qiē cài.	Dad is chopping vegetables.
炒菜	chǎo cài	stir-fry dishes	她晚上常常炒菜。	Tā wǎnshang chángcháng chǎo cài.	She often stir-fries dishes in the evening.
摆桌子	bǎi zhuōzi	set the table	你能帮我摆桌子吗？	Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎi zhuōzi ma?	Can you help me set the table?
收桌子	shōu zhuōzi	clear the table	吃完以后谁收桌子？	Chī wán yǐhòu shéi shōu zhuōzi?	Who clears the table after eating?
洗碗	xǐ wǎn	wash the dishes	晚饭后我负责洗碗。	Wǎnfàn hòu wǒ fùzé xǐ wǎn.	I am in charge of washing the dishes after dinner.
刷锅	shuā guō	scrub the pot	这个锅很油，得刷锅。	Zhège guō hěn yóu, děi shuā guō.	This pot is greasy, so it needs a scrub.
擦灶台	cā zàotái	wipe the stovetop	做完饭记得擦灶台。	Zuò wán fàn jìde cā zàotái.	Remember to wipe the stovetop after cooking.
整理冰箱	zhěnglǐ bīngxiāng	organize the fridge	周日我会整理冰箱。	Zhōurì wǒ huì zhěnglǐ bīngxiāng.	I organize the fridge on Sunday.

Laundry And Bathroom Chores

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
洗衣服	xǐ yīfu	do the laundry	我今晚要洗衣服。	Wǒ jīnwǎn yào xǐ yīfu.	I need to do the laundry tonight.
手洗	shǒuxǐ	hand-wash	这件毛衣只能手洗。	Zhè jiàn máoyī zhǐ néng shǒuxǐ.	This sweater can only be hand-washed.
晾衣服	liàng yīfu	hang clothes to dry	天气好，我去晾衣服。	Tiānqì hǎo, wǒ qù liàng yīfu.	The weather is nice, so I am going to hang the clothes to dry.
收衣服	shōu yīfu	bring in the clothes	下雨了，快去收衣服。	Xiàyǔ le, kuài qù shōu yīfu.	It is raining, so hurry and bring in the clothes.
折衣服	zhé yīfu	fold clothes	她一边看电视一边折衣服。	Tā yìbiān kàn diànshì yìbiān zhé yīfu.	She folds clothes while watching TV.
熨衣服	yùn yīfu	iron clothes	明天开会前我要熨衣服。	Míngtiān kāihuì qián wǒ yào yùn yīfu.	I need to iron clothes before tomorrow’s meeting.
换毛巾	huàn máojīn	change the towels	我们每周换毛巾。	Wǒmen měi zhōu huàn máojīn.	We change the towels every week.
刷马桶	shuā mǎtǒng	scrub the toilet	今天轮到你刷马桶。	Jīntiān lúndào nǐ shuā mǎtǒng.	Today it is your turn to scrub the toilet.
擦镜子	cā jìngzi	wipe the mirror	她正在擦镜子。	Tā zhèngzài cā jìngzi.	She is wiping the mirror.
清理洗手台	qīnglǐ xǐshǒutái	clean the sink area	早上我顺手清理洗手台。	Zǎoshang wǒ shùnshǒu qīnglǐ xǐshǒutái.	I clean the sink area while I am at it in the morning.

Organizing And Household Extras

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
倒垃圾	dào lājī	take out the trash	谁去倒垃圾？	Shéi qù dào lājī?	Who is taking out the trash?
换垃圾袋	huàn lājīdài	change the trash bag	倒完垃圾别忘了换垃圾袋。	Dào wán lājī bié wàng le huàn lājīdài.	Do not forget to change the trash bag after taking out the trash.
分类回收	fēnlèi huíshōu	sort recycling	纸和瓶子要分类回收。	Zhǐ hé píngzi yào fēnlèi huíshōu.	Paper and bottles should be sorted for recycling.
整理书桌	zhěnglǐ shūzhuō	organize the desk	我每天晚上整理书桌。	Wǒ měitiān wǎnshang zhěnglǐ shūzhuō.	I organize my desk every evening.
整理衣柜	zhěnglǐ yīguì	organize the closet	她周末想整理衣柜。	Tā zhōumò xiǎng zhěnglǐ yīguì.	She wants to organize the closet this weekend.
收拾玩具	shōushi wánjù	tidy the toys	小朋友要自己收拾玩具。	Xiǎo péngyou yào zìjǐ shōushi wánjù.	Children should tidy their own toys.
给植物浇水	gěi zhíwù jiāoshuǐ	water the plants	记得给植物浇水。	Jìde gěi zhíwù jiāoshuǐ.	Remember to water the plants.
喂宠物	wèi chǒngwù	feed the pets	早上是我喂宠物。	Zǎoshang shì wǒ wèi chǒngwù.	I feed the pets in the morning.
取快递	qǔ kuàidì	pick up a package	下班路上我去取快递。	Xiàbān lùshang wǒ qù qǔ kuàidì.	I pick up a package on the way home from work.
开窗通风	kāi chuāng tōngfēng	open the windows to air out the room	每天早上先开窗通风。	Měitiān zǎoshang xiān kāi chuāng tōngfēng.	Open the windows every morning to let fresh air in.

Yak Tip For Remembering Chores Faster

Learn the verb families first, and the rest gets much less annoying. 洗 (xǐ) often means wash, 擦 (cā) often means wipe, 刷 (shuā) often means scrub, 换 (huàn) means change or replace, 收拾 (shōushi) means tidy up, and 整理 (zhěnglǐ) means organize. Once those click, chores vocabulary stops feeling like random suffering and starts looking pleasantly predictable.