What is the difference between 衛生的 and 清潔?


I already knew the adjective 清潔 that means "clean, hygienic", but I recently
came across the word 衛生的 which also means "hygienic" and I don't understand in
what situations should I use each of them.

So far, I've come across an [entry in
HiNative](https://ja.hinative.com/questions/17256147) that states that

> 衛生 is a noun while 清潔 is a Na-adjective.

which makes me think that the adjectivized form 衛生的 must be really close to 清潔
because the only difference they point out is grammatical, but not in terms of
meaning.

I've also made a Google Image search to understand the concepts, and it looks
like 清潔 returns images related to "cleaning" in general (such as 掃除) while 衛生
returns more "sanitizing" images so to speak, but I think that I'm hitting
many pages in the Chinese usage of 衛生 so I am not so sure this is the actual
difference between both terms in Japanese.

Also note that this [answer](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/62292/32952)
suggests that 清潔

> 清潔 is being free from dirt, dust, blot, **bacteria** , etc.

So I can see how 清潔 could mean hygienic in a sanitary sense as well.

Finally, looking at their 漢字 spelling

> [衛生](https://jisho.org/search/%20%E8%A1%9B%E7%94%9F%20%23kanji): 衛 defense,
> protection + 生 life

> [清潔](https://jisho.org/search/%E6%B8%85%E6%BD%94%20%23kanji): 清 pure,
> purify, cleanse + 潔 undefiled, unsullied, pure

reinforces the idea that 衛生, i.e. "protecting life", is closer to "sanitized"
in a medical sense, as opposed to just 清潔, i.e. "clean" or "pure", but it's
just my speculation.

All in all, I figured out the difference is that 衛生 is more for clean as in
"not dirty", whereas 衛生 is closer to "sanitized" as in "without pathogens,
bacteria, viruses, etc." but **I'm not sure about this conclusion and I still
don't know how to use these terms.** Can you explain in what situations should
I use each word, please?




衛生 is more about the concept of hygiene. 衛生的 mostly means _in terms of
hygiene_ and normally does not replace 清潔だ.

清潔 usually means physical bacteria-freeness.

* * *

  * 部屋を清潔に保つ keep the room clean
  * 部屋を衛生的に保つ

The latter may be passable, but is at least less idiomatic than the former.

  * 清潔な手 clean hands
  * ??衛生的な手

The latter is hardly possible. On the other hand, 清潔な食器 would be _dishes that
are clean now_ ; 衛生的な食器 means _bacteria-proof_ (?), with some coating, for
example. That is, 衛生的な食器 does not talk about whether or not it's clean now
rather about the way it is made.

衛生的 is more often used as in 衛生的によくない (bad in terms of hygiene).

  * 外から帰ってきて手を洗わないのは衛生的によくない
  * (Literally) not washing your hands when coming home from outside is not good in terms of hygiene.




衛生 is more about the concept of hygiene. 衛生的 mostly means _in terms of
hygiene_ and normally does not replace 清潔だ.

清潔 usually means physical bacteria-freeness.

* * *

  * 部屋を清潔に保つ keep the room clean
  * 部屋を衛生的に保つ

The latter may be passable, but is at least less idiomatic than the former.

  * 清潔な手 clean hands
  * ??衛生的な手

The latter is hardly possible. On the other hand, 清潔な食器 would be _dishes that
are clean now_ ; 衛生的な食器 means _bacteria-proof_ (?), with some coating, for
example. That is, 衛生的な食器 does not talk about whether or not it's clean now
rather about the way it is made.

衛生的 is more often used as in 衛生的によくない (bad in terms of hygiene).

  * 外から帰ってきて手を洗わないのは衛生的によくない
  * (Literally) not washing your hands when coming home from outside is not good in terms of hygiene.

