손을 씻다
Go straight
Literally: To wash one's hands
Use it when someone permanently quits a negative lifestyle or a 'dirty' business to start fresh.
In 15 Seconds
- To quit a bad habit or shady business for good.
- Literally means 'washing hands' to symbolize a clean start.
- Commonly used in movies regarding gangsters or gamblers.
Meaning
This phrase is used when someone decides to quit a bad habit, leave a shady business, or stop doing something illegal or immoral. It's like saying you're washing your hands of a dirty past to start fresh.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking about a friend who quit gambling
그 친구는 이제 도박에서 완전히 손을 씻었어.
That friend has completely washed his hands of gambling.
A former gang member explaining his new life
어두운 과거에서 손을 씻고 새 삶을 살고 있습니다.
I have washed my hands of my dark past and am living a new life.
Joking with a friend who finally quit a mobile game
드디어 그 게임에서 손을 씻은 거야?
Did you finally wash your hands of that game?
Cultural Background
The phrase is heavily influenced by Buddhist and Shamanistic traditions of purification through water. In modern times, it is the quintessential 'reformed character' trope in Korean dramas and movies. It reflects a societal value on the possibility of starting over if one truly repents.
Don't use for 'quitting a job'
If you just quit a normal office job, use `퇴사하다`. Using `손을 씻다` makes it sound like your company was a criminal organization!
The 'Noir' Connection
This phrase is the #1 line in Korean gangster movies (K-Noir). If you use it, you might sound like a cool movie protagonist.
In 15 Seconds
- To quit a bad habit or shady business for good.
- Literally means 'washing hands' to symbolize a clean start.
- Commonly used in movies regarding gangsters or gamblers.
What It Means
Imagine you’ve been doing something you aren't proud of. Maybe it’s gambling, hanging out with a bad crowd, or even just a toxic habit. 손을 씻다 means you are officially done with that life. You are 'washing' the dirt of those actions away. It implies a clean break and a firm resolution to never go back. It’s not just about quitting; it's about purifying your reputation.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a verb. You can say 손 씻었어 (I washed my hands) to tell someone you've quit a bad path. It usually follows a noun indicating the activity you left behind. For example, 도박에서 손을 씻다 means to quit gambling. It sounds very decisive and serious. Use it when you want to show you've changed for the better.
When To Use It
This is perfect for dramatic life changes. Use it when a friend finally leaves a pyramid scheme. Use it when a character in a movie leaves a gang. You can even use it jokingly when you quit a video game you were addicted to. It fits well in deep conversations about life choices or past mistakes. It's great for heart-to-heart moments over a drink.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for healthy habits. You wouldn't 'wash your hands' of yoga or eating salads. Also, don't use it for literal hygiene. If you just finished eating fried chicken, just say 손 닦다. Using 손을 씻다 in a bathroom might make people think you just retired from the mafia. It’s too heavy for simple daily chores.
Cultural Background
This expression has deep roots in the idea of ritual purification. In many Asian cultures, washing hands before a ceremony symbolizes clearing away worldly impurities. In modern Korea, it became a staple in 'Noir' cinema. Gangsters in movies always talk about 'washing their hands' to live a normal life. It carries a sense of 'redemption' that is very respected in Korean society.
Common Variations
A common variation is 손을 떼다 (to take one's hands off). While 손을 씻다 implies the activity was bad or shameful, 손을 떼다 is more neutral. You can 손을 떼다 from a business project just because you're busy. But if you 손을 씻다, people will assume there was some 'dirt' involved. Choose wisely based on how much drama you want!
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral in formality but heavy in nuance. It strongly implies that the previous activity was unethical or illegal. Use it carefully to avoid accidentally insulting someone's previous career.
Don't use for 'quitting a job'
If you just quit a normal office job, use `퇴사하다`. Using `손을 씻다` makes it sound like your company was a criminal organization!
The 'Noir' Connection
This phrase is the #1 line in Korean gangster movies (K-Noir). If you use it, you might sound like a cool movie protagonist.
Hand vs. Foot
There is a similar phrase `발을 끊다` (to cut off one's foot). This means to stop visiting a place, while `손을 씻다` means to stop an activity.
Examples
6그 친구는 이제 도박에서 완전히 손을 씻었어.
That friend has completely washed his hands of gambling.
Using 'completely' emphasizes the total break from the habit.
어두운 과거에서 손을 씻고 새 삶을 살고 있습니다.
I have washed my hands of my dark past and am living a new life.
Very formal and sincere tone used in a confession or interview.
드디어 그 게임에서 손을 씻은 거야?
Did you finally wash your hands of that game?
Using a serious idiom for a trivial thing creates humor.
그 정치인은 정계에서 손을 씻겠다고 발표했습니다.
That politician announced he would wash his hands of politics.
Implies the politics he was involved in were 'dirty'.
나 이제 그 무리에서 손 씻으려고.
I'm planning to wash my hands of that group now.
Shortened form '손 씻다' is common in texting.
이 일에서 손 씻고 다시는 나타나지 마라.
Wash your hands of this business and never show your face again.
Classic cinematic usage for dramatic effect.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form to say someone quit a bad business.
그는 나쁜 일에서 ___ 고향으로 내려갔다.
`손을 씻고` is the correct idiom for quitting a bad path.
Which particle is most natural here?
도박___ 손을 씻는 것은 쉽지 않아요.
The particle `에서` (from) is used to show what you are washing your hands 'from'.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of '손을 씻다'
Used with close friends about habits.
나 이제 게임에서 손 씻었어.
Standard way to describe someone's change.
그는 과거에서 손을 씻었습니다.
Used in news or dramatic literature.
범죄 세계에서 손을 씻기로 맹세했다.
When to use '손을 씻다'
Quitting Gambling
Leaving the casino for good.
Leaving a Gang
Starting a fresh, legal life.
Breaking a bad habit
Quitting a social media addiction.
Ending shady deals
Stopping illegal business practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsTechnically yes, but it sounds very dramatic. Usually, people just say 담배를 끊다. Use 손을 씻다 if smoking was part of a 'darker' lifestyle for you.
Yes! 손을 떼다 (to take hands off) is neutral and just means stopping an involvement. 손을 씻다 implies the involvement was shameful or bad.
Yes, especially when reporting on criminals or politicians leaving controversial careers. You will see headlines like 범죄에서 손 씻은 청년들 (Youths who washed hands of crime).
Yes, but context is everything. If you are in a bathroom, 손 씻어 is literal. If you are talking about your life, it's the idiom.
There isn't a direct opposite like 'dirtying hands,' but you might use 발을 들이밀다 (to put one's foot in) to mean starting something, often something risky.
It implies the person *wants* to be clean. Whether society forgives them is another story, but the phrase focuses on the individual's choice to stop.
No, it's a standard idiomatic expression. It's safe to use in most settings, though it carries a heavy, serious weight.
Only if the relationship was 'toxic' or 'bad' like a crime. If it's just a normal breakup, it sounds very strange and overly dramatic.
It literally means 'to wash hands.' 손 (hand), 을 (object marker), 씻다 (to wash).
You can say 손 씻고 싶어 (I want to wash my hands [of this]). It sounds like you are tired of a bad situation.
Related Phrases
손을 떼다 (To pull out/stop involvement)
발을 끊다 (To stop going somewhere)
새사람이 되다 (To become a new person)
청산하다 (To clear up/liquidate the past)
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