Key Facts
- Hangul: 화장품; Revised Romanization: hwajangpum
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 化粧品 (化 change + 粧 make up + 品 goods)
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Cosmetics in Korean: What Does 화장품 Mean?
화장품 means cosmetics or makeup products, and it also reaches skincare items, since shops that sell one usually sell the other. It names the products, not the act of putting them on. The tone is neutral and everyday, fine in a shop, a recommendation or a news item.
How Do You Pronounce 화장품?
화장품 has three syllables: hwa-jang-pum. The last syllable ends in ㅁ and starts with the aspirated ㅍ, written p in Revised Romanization. Keep the three beats even rather than stressing the middle one.
Example Sentences with 화장품
화장품을 사고 싶어요.
Hwajangpumeul sago sipeoyo.
I want to buy cosmetics.
사고 싶어요 is "want to buy"; 화장품을 marks cosmetics as the thing being bought.
이 화장품은 피부에 좋아요.
I hwajangpumeun pibue joayo.
These cosmetics are good for the skin.
좋아요 means "good", and 피부에 means "for the skin", so this is how you praise a product.
한국 화장품이 인기가 많아요.
Hanguk hwajangpumi ingiga manayo.
Korean cosmetics are very popular.
인기가 많아요 means "very popular"; 한국 화장품 (Korean cosmetics) is the subject.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 화장품을 바르다 | to apply cosmetics |
| 화장품 가게 | cosmetics shop |
| 기초 화장품 | basic skincare products |
| 화장품 세트 | cosmetics set |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 화장품 for the act of putting on makeup
Correct: ✓ 화장을 하다
Why: 화장 is the act of wearing makeup, and you do it with 화장을 하다. 화장품 is only the products, which you buy or apply with 화장품을 바르다.
화장품 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 화장품 | cosmetics | The word on this page. |
| 화장 | makeup (applying) | The act or the finished look of being made up. |
| 로션 | lotion | One specific skincare product, which counts as 화장품. |
Think of 화장 as the activity and 화장품 as the items on the shelf.
Where Does the Word Come From?
화장품 is Sino-Korean, written 化粧品 in hanja: 化 (change), 粧 (make up) and 品 (goods), so literally "makeup goods".
Choosing Skincare in a Cosmetics Shop
You are buying a gift and need help finding the right shelf. The customer asks about a product category, then narrows the request to lotion.
Customer
기초 화장품은 어디에 있어요?
Gicho hwajangpumeun eodie isseoyo?
Where are the skincare products?
Assistant
이쪽에 있어요. 어떤 제품을 찾으세요?
Ijjoge isseoyo. Eotteon jepumeul chajeuseyo?
They are over here. What kind of product are you looking for?
Customer
선물할 로션을 찾고 있어요.
Seonmulhal rosyeoneul chatgo isseoyo.
I am looking for lotion to give as a gift.
Assistant
이 화장품 세트는 어때요?
I hwajangpum seteuneun eottaeyo?
How about this cosmetics set?
기초 화장품 literally means “basic cosmetics”. In shops, it refers to skincare products such as lotion and cream. “Basic” identifies the kind of product; it does not mean that the product is cheap or intended only for beginners. 색조 화장품 means color cosmetics, such as lipstick and eye shadow. This distinction helps when you know whether you want skincare or makeup but do not yet know a brand name.
In the dialogue, 어디에 있어요 asks where something is. 로션을 찾고 있어요 means “I am looking for lotion”. Naming the product after the broader category gives the assistant something specific to help you find. Both customers and shop assistants can use 화장품; there is no special respectful replacement for the noun.
Phrases That Help You Discuss Products
화장품을 바르다 describes applying a product to the skin. 바르다 is also used with cream and sunscreen. 화장을 하다 describes putting on makeup or wearing it. Someone can apply skincare every day without wearing color makeup, so these two actions do not always happen together.
화장품이 잘 맞다 means that a cosmetic product suits you. Here 맞다 expresses suitability, rather than a correct answer or the size of clothing. In a skincare conversation, the focus is how the product works for your skin. It is a personal description, so a product that suits one speaker may not suit someone else.
화장품 세트 is a set of cosmetics sold together. A set may include several full products or smaller bottles; the word 세트 alone does not tell you the size. 선물용 means “for a gift”, which is useful beside 세트 when discussing a present. You can ask about a gift set without needing to describe every item inside it.
Where You Will See 화장품
Look for 화장품 on department-store floor guides, shop signs and online shopping categories. 한국 화장품 names Korean cosmetics broadly. It does not identify one product type: the next words or the shelf label tell you whether the conversation concerns skincare, lip products or something else.
Packaging often gives a more specific product name than 화장품. A bottle may say 로션, while the shop groups it under 기초 화장품. Learn both levels: the broad word helps you find the department, and the product word helps you choose the item. In conversation, 이 화장품 can refer to one cosmetic product; Korean does not require a plural ending just because English “cosmetics” looks plural.
Words for the Skincare Shelf
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 피부 | skin | The body surface a skincare product is applied to. |
| 로션 | lotion | A specific product within the broader 화장품 category. |
| 크림 | cream | A product name you may see beside lotion. |
| 선크림 | sunscreen | A common everyday label for sun protection products. |
| 립스틱 | lipstick | A color cosmetic rather than a basic skincare item. |
The daily routines vocabulary lesson connects these product names with getting ready and personal care.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 기초 화장품 mean only cheap cosmetics?
- Which phrase describes the act of putting on makeup: 화장을 하다 or 화장품 세트?
- Does 이 화장품 have to refer to several products?
Show answers
- No. It names basic skincare as a product category.
- 화장을 하다. 화장품 세트 is a set of products.
- No. It can mean “this cosmetic product”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "cosmetics" in Korean?
Cosmetics in Korean is 화장품 (hwajangpum), a neutral noun for makeup and skincare products.
How do I say "cosmetics shop"?
Say 화장품 가게. Basic skincare is 기초 화장품, and a gift box is a 화장품 세트.
How do I say "to apply cosmetics"?
Use 화장품을 바르다. For the act of wearing makeup, say 화장을 하다 instead.
What is the difference between 화장 and 화장품?
화장 is the act of wearing makeup, while 화장품 is the products you use for it.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Daily Routines groups 화장품 with its neighbours.
- Index: find cosmetics beside every other single-word entry in Korean words A to Z.
- See also makeup.