Key Facts
- Hangul: 청소; Revised Romanization: cheongso
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Register: Neutral; as a noun it is usually used with 하다 (청소하다) as a verb.
Cleaning in Korean: What Does 청소 Mean?
청소 means cleaning or tidying up. It is neutral, and the verb form 청소하다 is the way most people use it.
How Do You Pronounce 청소?
Say cheong-so. The ch is aspirated, with a clear puff of air, and the first syllable ends in ng.
Example Sentences with 청소
주말에 방을 청소해요.
jumare bangeul cheongsohaeyo.
I clean my room on weekends.
방을 is the room being cleaned, and 청소해요 fuses the noun with 해요.
청소는 힘들어요.
cheongsoneun himdeureoyo.
Cleaning is tiring.
청소는 힘들어요 treats the chore as a topic, with 힘들어요 saying it is tiring.
엄마와 같이 청소했어요.
eommawa gachi cheongsohaesseoyo.
I cleaned together with my mom.
와 means with, so 엄마와 같이 shows who shared the chore.
How the Examples Work
The collocation list explains how Korean builds chore words. 청소하다 is the verb, 청소를 하다 splits the noun and 하다 with an object marker between them, and 청소기 and 대청소 extend the stem into a machine and an event. In the examples the first and third use 청소해요 and 청소했어요 as verbs, while the second keeps 청소 as a plain noun topic.
Phrases Built on 청소
The verb form, the machine and the big clean-up show the word's range.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 청소하다 | to clean |
| 청소기 | vacuum cleaner |
| 대청소 | big clean-up |
| 청소를 하다 | to do cleaning |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners use the noun as if it were already a verb.
- Wrong: 청소 on its own as the verb of the sentence
- Right: 청소하다, or 청소해요 in polite speech
청소 is a noun. Add 하다 to turn it into "to clean".
청소 Compared with Similar Words
정리 is putting things in order, not cleaning dirt. 빨래 is laundry, a separate chore.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 정리 | tidying up | Putting things in order, not cleaning dirt. |
| 빨래 | laundry | A separate household chore. |
Where Does 청소 Come From?
청소 is Sino-Korean, written 淸掃 in hanja: 淸 clean and 掃 sweep.
Sharing the Chores before a Guest Arrives
Two housemates are getting their apartment ready for a visitor. They name the rooms so that each person knows which job to take.
Mina
오늘 같이 청소해요.
Oneul gachi cheongsohaeyo.
Let’s clean together today.
Alex
좋아요. 제가 화장실을 청소할게요.
Joayo. Jega hwajangsireul cheongsohalgeyo.
Sounds good. I’ll clean the bathroom.
Mina
그럼 저는 부엌을 청소할게요.
Geureom jeoneun bueokeul cheongsohalgeyo.
Then I’ll clean the kitchen.
Alex
청소기는 어디에 있어요?
Cheongsogineun eodie isseoyo?
Where is the vacuum cleaner?
제가 means “I” with the subject marker. The ending in 청소할게요 offers to take responsibility for a job. It suits dividing chores: the speaker volunteers rather than assigning work to the other person. Both speakers use polite speech, which works well with a housemate you do not know closely yet.
Which Cleaning Phrases Describe the Actual Job?
청소를 하다 and 청소하다 describe the same activity. The longer version keeps 청소 as a separate noun with 를; the shorter version is one verb. Both are natural, so you can recognize either without imagining two different kinds of cleaning.
청소기를 돌리다 means to run the vacuum cleaner. 돌리다 has a basic sense of turning or making something run; here the whole phrase means using the appliance. It does not ask you to rotate the vacuum by hand. You can clean a room without a vacuum, so 청소하다 is broader than this phrase.
대청소 is a thorough clean-up. It fits moving furniture, clearing neglected corners and cleaning several rooms. A quick wipe of one table would usually just be described as cleaning or wiping that table. The prefix 대 adds the idea of a large-scale task; it does not name a particular annual holiday.
Where Will You See 청소 outside the Home?
청소 중 means “cleaning in progress”. You may see it at a public restroom or beside a cleaner’s equipment. 중 tells you the activity is happening now. The notice describes the work; any separate instruction about access tells you whether you can enter.
A school or workplace may have a 청소 당번, the person whose turn it is to clean. 당번 identifies a duty or rota assignment. It is different from 청소 직원, cleaning staff, whose job is cleaning rather than taking a shared turn.
The noun 청소 is neutral. A short label such as 청소 중 has no polite sentence ending because it is a sign. In a spoken request, the ending matters: 청소해 주세요 means “please clean”. Naming the room or area makes the request clearer than leaving the listener to guess the task.
청소 도구 means cleaning tools, while 청소 용품 covers cleaning supplies more broadly. In a shop, these labels can lead you to brushes, cloths and other equipment. 세제 means detergent or cleaning agent. If you need a product rather than someone to do the chore, naming the tool or supply is more useful than asking only about 청소.
Words for Dividing Household Work
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 먼지 | dust | What you remove from shelves and floors. |
| 걸레 | cleaning rag | Used for wiping surfaces or floors. |
| 빗자루 | broom | A tool for sweeping rather than vacuuming. |
| 설거지 | washing dishes | A separate chore from general room cleaning. |
Use the cleaning and laundry lesson for the wider household set. Putting books back is 정리, washing clothes is 빨래, and removing dust from the room is 청소. A busy cleaning day can include all three, but each word helps you name the job more precisely.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 청소 중 tell you on a sign?
- Which word names washing clothes: 청소 or 빨래?
- Does 청소기를 돌리다 mean turning a vacuum around by hand?
Show answers
- Cleaning is in progress.
- 빨래 names laundry.
- No. It means running or using the vacuum cleaner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say cleaning in Korean?
Say 청소 (cheongso).
How do you say to clean?
Say 청소하다, or 청소해요 in polite speech.
What is 청소기?
It is a vacuum cleaner.
What is 대청소?
It is a big clean-up.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Cleaning and laundry words places 청소 among its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.