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一干二净 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
一干二净yìgānèrjìngthoroughly (idiom)HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #14142, Very Hard
一干二净yìgānèrjìngcompletelyHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #14142, Very Hard
一干二净yìgānèrjìngone and allHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #14142, Very Hard
一干二净yìgānèrjìngvery cleanHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #14142, Very Hard
yìgānèrjìng(yi4gan1er4jing4)yi gan er jing T1
  1. 1thoroughly (idiom)
  2. 2completely
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March 24, 2026

一干二净(一乾二淨)yìgānèrjìng(yi4gan1er4jing4)

一干二净 is an idiom meaning 'thoroughly' or 'completely.' It is often used to describe something that is utterly clean, without any trace left, or to express that something has been entirely taken care of or resolved. Common contexts include cleaning, finishing tasks, or eliminating problems.

Strokes14Frequency#14142DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, cleanliness and thoroughness are highly valued, often reflecting a person's character. The idiom embodies the traditional belief in meticulousness, especially in domestic and professional settings.

Memory tip

Imagine a completely clean room where every item is perfectly organized. The phrase 一干二净 can be visualized as wiping away every speck of dust (一干) and leaving no mess behind (二净), representing thoroughness in cleanliness and resolution.

Meanings of 一干二净

yìgānèrjìng(yi4gan1er4jing4)
1thoroughly (idiom)
2completely
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About 一干二净

一干二净Simplified
一乾二淨Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 一干二净

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AI study notes for 一干二净

Quick Contrast

一清二楚 (yīqīngèrchǔ) - use 一干二净 for a sense of thoroughness in cleanliness or resolution, while 一清二楚 emphasizes clarity and understanding.

Usage Notes

This phrase is more informal, often used in spoken language. A common mistake is to use it with a negative connotation; however, it is typically positive, indicating a job well done. Be cautious with tone: 一 (yi1) should be pronounced with a high level tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 一干二净 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it aligns with HSK 4 concepts of expressing completeness. Students should focus on understanding idiomatic expressions and how they enhance language fluency.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse it with similar phrases, mistakenly saying '一干二净地' (yi1 gan1 er4 jing4 de) when '地' is unnecessary. The correct usage is simply 一干二净 without the particle.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 一干二净

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Idiom spotlight: 一干二净

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:one dry two clean

Component characters

一yīone
HSK 11 strokes一
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干gāndry
HSK 33 strokes十
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二èrtwo
HSK 12 strokes二
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净jìngclean
HSK 68 strokes冫
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How to say thoroughly (idiom) in Chinese

“thoroughly (idiom)” in Chinese is一干二净yìgānèrjìng

一干二净 is an idiom meaning 'thoroughly' or 'completely.' It is often used to describe something that is utterly clean, without any trace left, or to express that something has been entirely taken care of or resolved. Common contexts include cleaning, finishing tasks, or eliminating problems.

When to use 一干二净

This phrase is more informal, often used in spoken language. A common mistake is to use it with a negative connotation; however, it is typically positive, indicating a job well done. Be cautious with tone: 一 (yi1) should be pronounced with a high level tone.

一干二净 or something close to it

一清二楚 (yīqīngèrchǔ) - use 一干二净 for a sense of thoroughness in cleanliness or resolution, while 一清二楚 emphasizes clarity and understanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse it with similar phrases, mistakenly saying '一干二净地' (yi1 gan1 er4 jing4 de) when '地' is unnecessary. The correct usage is simply 一干二净 without the particle.

Write 一干二净

一
干
二
净

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Frequently asked questions about 一干二净

It is generally more suitable for informal contexts and spoken language, so it's best to avoid it in very formal writing.

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