물을 보다

You use this phrase when you are in the middle of a social situation. You might be eating or talking and need a quick break. You can say 물 좀 보고 올게요 to your companions. The 좀 makes it sound even more natural and polite. It functions as a verb phrase in your sentence. You do not need to specify what kind of 'business' you are doing. The phrase covers everything discreetly.

Use it when you are with friends or family at home. It is perfect for long car rides when you need a pit stop. You can use it at a casual restaurant with colleagues you know well. It is great for texting a friend if you are running late because of a bathroom break. It feels natural and not overly stiff. It is the 'goldilocks' of bathroom phrases—not too blunt, not too formal.

Do not use this in a very formal business presentation. In a job interview, just say you need to use the 화장실 (restroom). Avoid using it with people you are meeting for the very first time. It might feel a bit too 'earthy' or personal for a first impression. Also, do not use it if you are actually just looking at a lake or a river. That would be confusing! Context is everything here.

Korean culture values indirectness when it comes to bodily functions. Historically, talking openly about the bathroom was considered unrefined. 물을 보다 emerged as a way to stay polite while being clear. It reflects a culture that prefers 'soft' language over 'hard' facts. Interestingly, older generations use this more frequently than Gen Z. Young people might just say 화장실 가다, but they still understand this perfectly.

You will often hear 볼일을 보다 which means 'to see to business.' This is the slightly more 'adult' or formal version of the phrase. Another common one is 큰 일을 보다 (to see a big matter) for number two. On the flip side, 작은 일을 보다 (to see a small matter) is for number one. If you want to be very cute or childish, you might hear 쉬하다. But for you, 물을 보다 is the perfect middle ground.