세수
The act of washing one's face and hands. It is a core part of the morning and evening personal hygiene routine in Korean culture.
Examples
3 of 5식사 전에 꼭 세수를 하세요.
Please make sure to wash your face and hands before eating.
세수를 하신 후 회의에 참석해 주십시오.
Please wash up and then attend the meeting.
나 세수하고 올게.
I'm going to wash my face and I'll be back.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'S'e-su as 'S'oap and 'S'plash on your face.
Quick Quiz
아침에 화장실에서 ___를 해요.
Correct!
The correct answer is: 세수
Examples
식사 전에 꼭 세수를 하세요.
everydayPlease make sure to wash your face and hands before eating.
세수를 하신 후 회의에 참석해 주십시오.
formalPlease wash up and then attend the meeting.
나 세수하고 올게.
informalI'm going to wash my face and I'll be back.
위생 교육에서 세수의 중요성을 강조한다.
academicHygiene education emphasizes the importance of washing up.
근무 시작 전 세수로 정신을 맑게 합니다.
businessI clear my mind by washing my face before starting work.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
세수했어?
Did you wash your face?
세수하고 올게요
I'll go wash my face and come back
어푸어푸 세수
Splashing face wash (onomatopoeia)
Often Confused With
세수 is specifically for the face/hands, while 샤워 is for the whole body.
Usage Notes
Use this specifically for face washing; it is not used for washing dishes or clothes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use '씻다' for everything, but '세수' is the natural choice for the morning face routine.
Memory Tip
Think of 'S'e-su as 'S'oap and 'S'plash on your face.
Word Origin
Derived from the Sino-Korean characters '洗' (wash) and '手' (hand).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Korea, washing your face and hands immediately after returning home is a common health habit.
Quick Quiz
아침에 화장실에서 ___를 해요.
Correct!
The correct answer is: 세수
Related Vocabulary
More daily life words
쉬다
A1To take a rest, relax, or stop working/moving to regain energy. It can also mean to breathe.
아침
A1The early part of the day; also commonly used to mean breakfast.
숙제하다
A1To do schoolwork or assignments assigned by a teacher to be done at home.
점심
A1The middle part of the day (noon/afternoon) or the meal eaten during that time (lunch).
저녁
A1The time between afternoon and night (evening) or the meal eaten during that time (dinner).
만나다
A1To come together with someone at a specific place or time. It is used for both planned appointments and accidental encounters.
기다리다
A1To stay in one place or delay action until a particular time or event occurs. It is commonly used for transport, people, or news.
이야기하다
A1To speak or converse with others to exchange information or feelings. It is often shortened to '얘기하다' in casual speech.
듣다
A1To perceive sound through the ears or to pay attention to what someone is saying. It also means to take a course or listen to music.
보다
A1To perceive with the eyes or watch something like a movie or TV. It can also mean to take an exam or to meet someone.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free