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
More daily life words
불편하다
B1To be inconvenient, uncomfortable, or causing physical/mental unease. It is a key word for expressing dissatisfaction in IELTS complaint letters.
보관하다
B1To keep or store something safely in a specific place for future use.
배달하다
B1To take goods, letters, or parcels to people's houses or places of work.
생활
B1The state of living or leading a life in a specific way, encompassing daily activities and social existence. It refers to how one spends time and maintains their well-being.
일상생활
B1The activities and experiences that constitute a person's normal daily life.
대여하다
B2To lend or rent something out to someone, or to borrow something for a fee/temporarily from a service.
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).
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