Level 1

씻다

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Meaning and Usage

The verb '씻다' means 'to wash' or 'to cleanse' and is commonly used in everyday Korean to describe cleaning parts of the body, clothes, or objects. It is a basic verb often taught at the beginner level (TOPIK 1).

Common Contexts

  • Washing hands or face: '손을 씻다', '얼굴을 씻다'
  • Washing mouth or teeth: '입을 씻다'
  • Washing clothes or dishes: '옷을 씻다', '그릇을 씻다'

Politeness and Form

The verb is conjugated according to the speech level. The examples use polite form '-세요'.

Common Collocations

  • 손을 씻다 (to wash hands): very common in hygiene contexts
  • 얼굴을 씻다 (to wash face): daily routine
  • 입을 씻다 (to rinse mouth): before or after meals
  • 옷을 씻다 (to wash clothes): cleaning clothes

Learner Tips

Be careful not to confuse '씻다' with '닦다' which means 'to wipe' or 'to clean by rubbing'. '씻다' implies using water to wash away dirt, while '닦다' is more about wiping or polishing surfaces.

Using '씻다' correctly will help you talk naturally about daily hygiene and cleaning activities.

Example Sentences

손을 깨끗이 씻으세요.

Soneul kkaekkeusi ssiseuseyo.

Please wash your hands thoroughly.

밥 먹기 전에 꼭 입을 씻어야 해요.

Bap meokgi jeone kkok ibeul ssiseoya haeyo.

You must wash your mouth before eating.

옷을 더럽히면 바로 씻어야 해요.

Oseul deoreophimyeon baro ssiseoya haeyo.

If your clothes get dirty, you should wash them immediately.