diff --git a/docs/config/README.md b/docs/config/README.md
index 1479c86236..5c4c6e38ca 100644
--- a/docs/config/README.md
+++ b/docs/config/README.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ Deprecated since Vue CLI 3.3, please use [`publicPath`](#publicPath) instead.
 - Type: `string`
 - Default: `'dist'`
 
-  The directory where the production build files will be generated in when running `vue-cli-service build`. Note the target directory will be removed before building (this behavior can be disabled by passing `--no-clean` when building).
+  The directory where the production build files will be generated in when running `vue-cli-service build`. Note the target directory contents will be removed before building (this behavior can be disabled by passing `--no-clean` when building).
 
   ::: tip
   Always use `outputDir` instead of modifying webpack `output.path`.
diff --git a/docs/guide/cli-service.md b/docs/guide/cli-service.md
index 81dce4e23a..a5e3a90111 100644
--- a/docs/guide/cli-service.md
+++ b/docs/guide/cli-service.md
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ Options:
   --inline-vue   include the Vue module in the final bundle of library or web component target
   --name         name for lib or web-component mode (default: "name" in package.json or entry filename)
   --filename     file name for output, only usable for 'lib' target (default: value of --name),
-  --no-clean     do not remove the dist directory before building the project
+  --no-clean     do not remove the dist directory contents before building the project
   --report       generate report.html to help analyze bundle content
   --report-json  generate report.json to help analyze bundle content
   --skip-plugins comma-separated list of plugin names to skip for this run
diff --git a/docs/zh/config/README.md b/docs/zh/config/README.md
index 0a413a2881..752d3e5015 100644
--- a/docs/zh/config/README.md
+++ b/docs/zh/config/README.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ module.exports = {
 - Type: `string`
 - Default: `'dist'`
 
-  当运行 `vue-cli-service build` 时生成的生产环境构建文件的目录。注意目标目录在构建之前会被清除 (构建时传入 `--no-clean` 可关闭该行为)。
+  当运行 `vue-cli-service build` 时生成的生产环境构建文件的目录。注意目标目录的内容在构建之前会被清除 (构建时传入 `--no-clean` 可关闭该行为)。
 
   ::: tip 提示
   请始终使用 `outputDir` 而不要修改 webpack 的 `output.path`。
diff --git a/docs/zh/guide/cli-service.md b/docs/zh/guide/cli-service.md
index d1714578a8..f0e594ebfc 100644
--- a/docs/zh/guide/cli-service.md
+++ b/docs/zh/guide/cli-service.md
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ npx vue-cli-service serve
   --modern      面向现代浏览器带自动回退地构建应用
   --target      app | lib | wc | wc-async (默认值：app)
   --name        库或 Web Components 模式下的名字 (默认值：package.json 中的 "name" 字段或入口文件名)
-  --no-clean    在构建项目之前不清除目标目录
+  --no-clean    在构建项目之前不清除目标目录的内容
   --report      生成 report.html 以帮助分析包内容
   --report-json 生成 report.json 以帮助分析包内容
   --watch       监听文件变化
diff --git a/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/build/index.js b/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/build/index.js
index 7354731ec5..d749e7230d 100644
--- a/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/build/index.js
+++ b/packages/@vue/cli-service/lib/commands/build/index.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ module.exports = (api, options) => {
       '--formats': `list of output formats for library builds (default: ${defaults.formats})`,
       '--name': `name for lib or web-component mode (default: "name" in package.json or entry filename)`,
       '--filename': `file name for output, only usable for 'lib' target (default: value of --name)`,
-      '--no-clean': `do not remove the dist directory before building the project`,
+      '--no-clean': `do not remove the dist directory contents before building the project`,
       '--report': `generate report.html to help analyze bundle content`,
       '--report-json': 'generate report.json to help analyze bundle content',
       '--skip-plugins': `comma-separated list of plugin names to skip for this run`,
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ async function build (args, api, options) {
   }
 
   if (args.clean) {
-    await fs.remove(targetDir)
+    await fs.emptyDir(targetDir)
   }
 
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {