씻다
In Korean, the verb 씻다 means "to wash." You will use this verb multiple times a day when talking about your daily routine.
High-Frequency Combinations
손을 씻다 : to wash hands
얼굴을 씻다 : to wash one's face
발을 씻다 : to wash feet
Note: When talking about washing your hair, Korean uses a specific verb: 머리를 감다 . Do not use 씻다 for hair!
You can easily build sentences by adding when or how you wash:
밥을 먹기 전에 손을 씻어요.
따뜻한 물로 씻고 싶어요.
입다 and 신다
Some languages use a single verb for putting on clothes, shoes, and hats. Korean uses different verbs depending on where the item goes on your body.
입다: For Clothes
Use 입다 for items worn on the main body (shirts, pants, coats, dresses).
옷을 입다 : to put on clothes
바지를 입다 : to put on pants
외투를 입다 : to put on a coat
신다: For Footwear
Use 신다 for items worn on your feet.
신발을 신다 : to put on shoes
양말을 신다 : to put on socks
Example: 바지를 입고 운동화를 신어요.
벗다
While Korean has different verbs for putting on items, taking them off is much simpler. You can use 벗다 for almost everything.
Common Uses for 벗다
옷을 벗다 : to take off clothes
외투를 벗다 : to take off a coat
신발을 벗다 : to take off shoes
양말을 벗다 : to take off socks
Taking off shoes is a very common action in Korea since shoes are typically not worn inside the home. You will often hear sentences like: 한국에서는 집 안에서 신발을 벗어요.
Actions in Order
By connecting these verbs, you can describe your daily actions in the order they happen. This is exactly how native speakers talk about getting ready or coming home.