clean
Colloquial for the state of not using illegal drugs anymore.
EXAMPLE
Nach einem schweren Entzug ist er jetzt seit drei Jahren clean.
After a difficult withdrawal, he has now been clean for three years.
clean
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Meanings
clean
In relation to design or style: simple, minimalist, and without unnecessary decoration.
EXAMPLE
Das neue Smartphone hat ein sehr cleanes Design ohne sichtbare Tasten.
The new smartphone has a very clean design with no visible buttons.
Usage tips
Usually unchanged
The adjective 'clean' is usually used predicatively, meaning after a noun with verbs like 'sein' (to be) or 'bleiben' (to remain). It is not declined. Attributive use before the noun is rare and is more likely in a design context.
EXAMPLE
Er ist stolz darauf, seit zwei Jahren clean zu sein.
He is proud to have been clean for two years.
Anglicism with a special meaning
'Clean' is a word from English that is used in German only for the specific meanings 'drug-free' or 'minimalist'. It is not a general replacement for 'sauber' (clean).
EXAMPLE
Ich mag den cleanen Look von skandinavischen Möbeln.
I like the clean look of Scandinavian furniture.
Person or design?
The context makes the meaning clear. If 'clean' refers to a person, it is about abstaining from drugs. If it refers to an object, a room, or a style, the meaning is 'simple' or 'minimalist'.
EXAMPLE
Es ist ein langer Weg, clean zu werden und zu bleiben.
It is a long road to become and stay clean.
Compare with
clean vs trocken
dry
Here, both words refer to abstaining from an addictive substance. Trocken is used for a person who previously had alcohol dependence and no longer drinks alcohol. Clean is colloquial and refers to abstaining from illegal drugs.
clean
Nach der Behandlung ist er seit zwei Jahren clean und nimmt keine illegalen Drogen mehr.
After treatment, he has been clean for two years and no longer uses illegal drugs.
trocken
Nach der Behandlung ist er seit zwei Jahren trocken und trinkt keinen Alkohol mehr.
After treatment, he has been sober for two years and no longer drinks alcohol.
In real life
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