to clean
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to clean
To clean something thoroughly and remove dirt, rubbish, or unwanted elements from it. It often implies a more careful and complete cleaning than 'putzen' (to clean).
Die Freiwilligen halfen dabei, den Strand vom Müll zu säubern.
The volunteers helped clean the beach of trash.
The verb 'säubern' (to clean) is derived directly from the adjective 'sauber' (clean). It literally means 'to make clean'. This derivation is a common way to form verbs in German.
Nach dem Kochen muss die Küche wieder sauber sein.
After cooking, the kitchen has to be clean again.
If you want to say exactly what something is being cleaned of, you use the preposition 'von' with the dative. The structure is: etwas (accusative) von etwas (dative) säubern.
Der Arzt säuberte die Wunde von Schmutz und kleinen Steinen.
The doctor cleaned the wound of dirt and small stones.
The figurative meaning 'to remove people' can be recognized from the context. It is used almost only in political, military, or criminal contexts. The object being purged is then an organization or an area, not a dirty object.
In dem Film will der Diktator die Armee von unloyalen Offizieren säubern.
In the film, the dictator wants to purge the army of disloyal officers.
In this figurative sense, 'säubern' (to purge) is a very negatively charged word. It is often used as a euphemism for violent persecution, expulsion, or even killing. The related noun is 'die Säuberung' (the purge).
Historiker beschreiben die politischen Säuberungen in der Diktatur.
Historians describe the political purges in the dictatorship.
to remove
'entfernen' and 'säubern' can both have to do with dirt or unwanted things. 'entfernen' mainly means: to take something away or get rid of it. The focus is on the specific thing that is supposed to go away. 'säubern' means: to clean something thoroughly. In doing so, you may remove dirt, but the goal is the clean surface or the clean object. Learners may confuse the words because when cleaning something, you often also remove something. If you are saying what should be removed, use 'entfernen'. If you are saying what should become clean, use 'säubern'.
Nach dem Grillen säubert Tom den Tisch im Garten.
After the barbecue, Tom cleans the table in the garden.
Im Bad entferne ich den Schimmel an der Wand.
In the bathroom, I remove the mold from the wall.