clean意思是“使洁净”、“把...去垢”（to make clean by washing，dusting，sweeping or brushing）。如：to clean a dress，room，hand，shoe，watch等。
cleanse意思是“清洗干净”，“使...纯洁”（to make thoroughly clean or make pure）。为此，cleanse含有“彻底洗清”之意味，语义比clean强得多。clean和cleanse的另一区别是前者为一般用语；后者是正式的（formal）或古旧的用语，有时它还能用于比喻意义，例如to cleanse one's soul洗涤心灵；to cleanse the heart of sin 洗心革面；ethnic cleansing 种族清洗/灭绝。
I'll let you use my bike on condition that you keep it clean. 如果你能保持车子干净,我就让你用我的自行车。
Mickey is a clean mouse right from the beginning. 米老鼠从一开始就是一只纯洁的老鼠。
President Bush writes a personal letter to Kim, in essence entreating him to come clean on his nuclear program so we can proceed to full normalization. 布什总统给金正日写了一封私人信件，主要是要求他澄清核项目，这样我们可以和他们继续推进完全的正常化关系。
We want you to be a good boy, and live a clean, righteous life. 我们希望你是个好孩子，过纯洁而正当的生活。
用作副词 (adv.)
I clean forgot about it. 我完全忘记了这件事。
用作名词 (n.)
The housewife always keeps the sink clean. 主妇总是保持水槽的清洁。
Clean clothes and good manners are prepossessing. 清洁的衣服和良好的举止能给人以好感。
用作动词 (v.)
Please clean the window as I can hardly see out. 请把窗子弄干净，我几乎看不到外面。
The mayor is determined to clean up the city. 市长决心清除市内的不良现象。
