Key Facts
- Hangul: 화장하다 (hwajanghada, 4 syllables)
- Meaning: to put on makeup
- Level: B1
- Stem: 화장하
- Conjugation class: 하다 type
- What it takes: It usually stands alone; the noun phrase 화장을 하다 is equally common.
What Does 화장하다 Mean?
화장하다 means to apply cosmetics, as in 화장하고 나가다. It usually stands alone, and the noun phrase 화장을 하다 is equally common. A separate word spelled the same way, written 火葬 in Chinese characters, means to cremate; context keeps the two apart.
Koreans mostly say it about women, but it is not restricted. For a specific cosmetic, other verbs take over: 립스틱을 바르다 spreads lipstick on.
- to put on makeup: Apply cosmetics, as in 화장하고 나가다.
How Do You Pronounce 화장하다?
Four syllables, said as written. The past 화장했어요 is [화장해써요]; the formal 화장합니다 is [화장함니다]. Revised Romanization is hwajanghada.
Use the audio above to compare the dictionary form with its polite, formal, and casual forms.
How Do You Use 화장하다 in a Sentence?
저는 보통 약속이 있을 때 화장해요.
I usually put on makeup when I have plans.
A habit tied to an occasion: makeup on when plans are made.
오늘은 시간이 없어서 화장하지 않아요.
I have no time today, so I am not putting on makeup.
The long negative 화장하지 않아요 explains why makeup is skipped today.
화장한 얼굴이 달라 보여요.
Her face looks different with makeup on.
The past modifier 화장한 describes a face already made up.
How Does Hwajanghada Conjugation Work?
화장하다 is a regular 하다 verb: 화장하 plus 여 gives 해, so 화장해요, 화장했어요 and 화장해서. The short negative is 화장 안 해요. Plain written style, as in a diary, uses 화장한다 for the present and 화장했다 for the past.
The pattern behind 화장하다 is taught step by step in 하다 to 해요.
화장하다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 화장해요 | ||
| Polite past | 화장했어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 화장할 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (guess) | 화장하겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 화장합니다 | ||
| Formal past | 화장했습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 화장할 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 화장해 | ||
| Casual past | 화장했어 | ||
| Casual future | 화장할 거야 | ||
| Want to (polite) | 화장하고 싶어요 | ||
| Honorific polite | 화장하세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 화장해서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 화장하면 | ||
| Present modifier | 화장하는 | ||
| Past modifier | 화장한 | ||
| Future modifier | 화장할 | ||
| Short negative | 화장 안 해요 | ||
| Long negative | 화장하지 않아요 |
| Form | Korean | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 화장해요 | as written |
| Polite past | 화장했어요 | [화장해써요] |
| Polite future (plan) | 화장할 거예요 | [화장할꺼예요] |
| Polite future (guess) | 화장하겠어요 | [화장하게써요] |
| Formal present | 화장합니다 | [화장함니다] |
| Formal past | 화장했습니다 | [화장핻씀니다] |
| Formal future | 화장할 것입니다 | [화장할꺼심니다] |
| Casual present | 화장해 | as written |
| Casual past | 화장했어 | [화장해써] |
| Casual future | 화장할 거야 | [화장할꺼야] |
| Want to (polite) | 화장하고 싶어요 | [화장하고 시퍼요] |
| Honorific polite | 화장하세요 | as written |
| Because / and then | 화장해서 | as written |
| If (conditional) | 화장하면 | as written |
| Present modifier | 화장하는 | as written |
| Past modifier | 화장한 | as written |
| Future modifier | 화장할 | as written |
| Short negative | 화장 안 해요 | as written |
| Long negative | 화장하지 않아요 | [화장하지 아나요] |
Common Mistake
Wrong: ✗ 화장을 입어요
Correct: ✓ 화장을 해요
Why: Makeup is not worn with 입다; use 화장하다 or 화장을 하다.
How Does 화장하다 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | How to tell it from 화장하다 |
|---|---|
| 화장을 지우다 | To remove makeup. 화장하다 is putting it on. |
| 씻다 | To wash your face or hands. Washing usually comes before 화장하다 in a morning routine. |
Getting Ready for a Birthday Dinner
Two housemates are preparing to leave for a birthday dinner. They use polite speech. One has finished getting ready; the other still needs a few minutes.
Mina
벌써 화장했어요?
Beolsseo hwajanghaesseoyo?
Have you already put on your makeup?
Alex
네. 오늘은 가볍게 화장했어요.
Ne. Oneureun gabyeopge hwajanghaesseoyo.
Yes. I put on light makeup today.
Mina
저는 지금 화장해요. 조금만 기다려 주세요.
Jeoneun jigeum hwajanghaeyo. Jogeumman gidaryeo juseyo.
I’m putting on my makeup now. Please wait a little.
Alex
네. 다음에는 같이 화장해요.
Ne. Daeumeneun gachi hwajanghaeyo.
Okay. Let’s do our makeup together next time.
화장했어요 asks about or reports a completed action. 지금 화장해요 places the action at the moment of speaking. In the final line, 같이 화장해요 suggests doing makeup together next time. The dialogue uses the same verb for the overall routine; it never needs an object meaning “makeup” because that meaning is already in 화장하다.
가볍게 means “lightly”. With 화장하다, it describes applying light makeup rather than how much the cosmetics weigh. The contrast could be a fuller look for a special event, so the adverb helps the listener picture the result.
Common Phrases for Makeup Routines
가볍게 화장하다 means to apply light makeup. 진하게 화장하다 means to apply heavy or strong makeup. The difference concerns the strength or intensity of the look. Neither phrase names a particular product, so a conversation about lipstick or foundation needs a more specific noun.
화장을 고치다 literally means to fix the makeup and naturally means to touch it up. A person who has already applied makeup may adjust it after a meal or before a photo. 화장을 지우다 means to remove makeup. These phrases identify different stages: applying it, touching it up, and taking it off.
화장이 잘 먹다 is a familiar expression meaning that makeup applies or sits well on the skin. 먹다 here does not refer to eating. You may hear it in a beauty discussion about how products work with the skin on a particular day. It describes the application result rather than someone's skill at eating or using cosmetics.
화장한 얼굴 means a face with makeup on. The modifier 화장한 presents the application as completed. A description using 화장하는 instead would point to the act of putting makeup on, as in a scene or video showing the process.
Where Will You Hear 화장하다?
At home, 화장하다 fits a routine before going out. In a makeup tutorial, the speaker may first name the overall activity and then switch to product-specific verbs. 립스틱을 바르다 means to apply lipstick. 바르다 describes spreading or applying a substance, so it can also work with skin products that are not makeup.
In shop signs and product categories, 화장품 means cosmetics. The shared 화장 connects the products to the activity, but the noun is not a conjugation of the verb. A product label naming 화장품 does not tell you whether someone is currently putting makeup on.
The word itself does not specify gender or age. It names applying cosmetics. In conversation, questions or comments about someone's makeup can feel personal, especially outside an established friendship. Describing your own routine is a straightforward way to use the verb without making assumptions about another person.
Applying Makeup Versus Wearing It
English “wear makeup” often describes a person's usual appearance or current state. Korean 화장하다 names the activity, but a habitual sentence can naturally describe someone who regularly wears makeup. The existing example with 보통 and 약속이 있을 때 describes that routine: applying makeup when there are plans.
For a specific product, keep the product as the object of its own verb. The whole routine can be 화장하다 or 화장을 하다. Clothes use 입다, but the makeup noun does not combine with 입다 in the same way. The common-mistake pair above shows the change needed when translating directly from English.
Spacing and the 하다 Contraction
Write 화장하다 as one verb. In 화장을 하다, the object marker 을 attaches to 화장 and the separate verb 하다 follows. Both are natural structures, so the space depends on which structure you choose. The polite noun phrase is 화장을 해요.
The short negative 화장 안 해요 places 안 before 해요. The long negative 화장하지 않아요 attaches 지 to 화장하. The noun 화장 remains unchanged in both. For a completed action, 화장했어요 is a single word: the past marking belongs to the verb, rather than becoming a separate word after 화장.
Words for the Makeup Table
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 화장품 | cosmetics | Products used in the makeup routine. |
| 거울 | mirror | A common object when applying or touching up makeup. |
| 립스틱 | lipstick | Commonly used with 바르다 for application. |
| 민낯 | bare face | Describes a face without makeup. |
See the makeup vocabulary lesson for the product set. The related personal care lesson puts makeup alongside washing, shaving, and other grooming activities.
Mini Drill: Action and Spelling
- Give the polite past of 화장하다.
- Complete the noun phrase: 화장을 ____.
- Give the short negative with 안.
- Choose the completed modifier: 화장하는 or 화장한?
Show drill answers
- 화장했어요.
- 화장을 해요, for the polite present.
- 화장 안 해요.
- 화장한, as in 화장한 얼굴.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 화장을 고치다 mean in a makeup routine?
- Which phrase means removing makeup?
- Does 가볍게 화장하다 describe the physical weight of cosmetics?
Show answers
- To touch up makeup.
- 화장을 지우다.
- No. It means applying light makeup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 화장을 하다 the Same as 화장하다?
Yes. Both mean to put on makeup, and the noun phrase is equally common.
Can I Say 화장을 입다?
No. 입다 is for clothes; say 화장을 해요.
How Do I Talk about One Product?
Use another verb, such as 립스틱을 바르다.
What Is the Polite Past?
It is 화장했어요.
Which Words Are Related to 화장하다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Read 씻다, 샤워하다 and 면도하다 for the rest of a morning routine, and 빗다 for hair. To test another form of 화장하다 ('to put on makeup'), open the Korean verb conjugator, or browse the Korean verb dictionary. Where 안 goes in the negative of 화장하다 is covered in negating 하다 verbs.