Learn Hardcore Dutch: Letterlijk schoonmaken is één ding; figuurlijk opruimen vind ik moeilijker. - Cleaning literally is one thing; tidying up figuratively I find harder.

letterlijk means “literally” – doing something in the most direct, concrete sense (e.g. actually cleaning dust and dirt).
figuurlijk means “figuratively” – in a metaphorical or non-literal sense (e.g. mentally sorting out thoughts or feelings).
The sentence contrasts the ease of physical cleaning with the difficulty of psychological or emotional “tidying up.”

Why is één written with an accent in één ding, and how is that different from een?

The accent on één marks the numeral “one.”
• één = the number “one” (as in “one thing”)
• een = the indefinite article “a” or “an”
Here één ding literally means “one thing,” emphasizing that literal cleaning is one distinct matter.

Why is there a semicolon between the two clauses instead of a comma or conjunction?

A semicolon links two closely related independent clauses, showing parallel structure and contrast without adding a conjunction.
• A comma would be too weak for two full clauses.
• Using a conjunction like maar (“but”) would change the style and rhythm.

Why is the word order in the second part figuurlijk opruimen vind ik moeilijker instead of ik vind figuurlijk opruimen moeilijker?

Dutch uses V2 word order (verb-second). When you front figuurlijk opruimen (the infinitive phrase) into the first position, the finite verb vind comes second and the subject ik follows. This inversion emphasizes the contrast and maintains a balanced rhythm.

Why isn’t there an article like het before letterlijk schoonmaken?

Infinitive phrases in Dutch can stand alone as abstract noun-like subjects without a definite article. Here Letterlijk schoonmaken functions generically (“literally cleaning”), so het is omitted.

What’s the difference between schoonmaken and opruimen?

• schoonmaken = “to clean” (remove dirt, wash, scrub)
• opruimen = “to tidy up” or “to clear away” (put things in order, organize)
Hence, letterlijk schoonmaken focuses on washing and scrubbing, while figuurlijk opruimen suggests sorting out or organizing internally.

Why is the comparative moeilijker used without dan to compare the two actions?

When the two items being compared are explicit and clear from context (here: letterlijk schoonmaken vs. figuurlijk opruimen), Dutch allows dropping dan. moeilijker alone conveys “more difficult” because the comparison is already understood.