手早い答え
lavar は水で洗うこと、limpar は物をきれいにする一般的な動詞です。
確実な見分け方は、英語から訳す前に、その単語の働きを見きわめることです。
それぞれの単語の働き
lavar
to wash
Use lavar for cleaning with water, often with soap.
limpar
to clean
Use limpar for removing dirt by any method, with or without water.
選び方
- lavar: Choose lavar if the sentence points to cleaning with water, often with soap.
- limpar: Choose limpar if the sentence points to removing dirt by any method, with or without water.
例文
Vou lavar as mãos.
I am going to wash my hands.
Preciso limpar a mesa.
I need to clean the table.
よくある落とし穴
You can limpar a stain without washing the whole object. Use lavar when the washing process itself matters.
文脈の中で練習する
自分の実生活から文を一つ選び、二回書いてみましょう。一度はlavarで、もう一度はlimparで。どちらも成り立ちそうなら、意味の違いを言葉にしてみましょう。