Key Facts
- Hangul: 세수 (sesu)
- Meaning: washing one's face, face washing
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean
- Hanja: 洗手 (洗 wash + 手 hand)
- Syllables: two (se-su)
- Register: Neutral everyday word; usually used as 세수하다.
- Level: A2
Face Washing in Korean: What Does 세수 Mean?
세수 is a Sino-Korean noun for washing your face, and in practice you almost always use it as the verb 세수하다. The characters 洗手 mean wash and hand; dictionaries define 세수 as washing the hands or face, but in everyday use it means washing your face. It is a neutral everyday word, the first thing that comes to mind when you describe the morning routine.
How Do You Pronounce 세수?
Two open syllables: se-su. Both are short and light, with no final consonant to close either one. RR writes sesu. A marker attaches directly, so 세수를 is said sesureul.
How Do You Use 세수 in a Sentence?
아침에 세수를 해요.
I wash my face in the morning.
achime sesureul haeyo. 아침에 gives the time, morning, and 를 marks 세수 as the object of 해요. The pair 세수를 해요 is the noun-plus-do form of the verb.
세수하고 이를 닦아요.
I wash my face and brush my teeth.
sesuhago ireul dakkayo. 하고 links two actions in order: wash the face, then brush the teeth. 세수하고 is the verb with 고 attached, meaning wash and then, and 이를 닦아요 means brush my teeth.
찬물로 세수했어요.
I washed my face with cold water.
chanmullo sesuhaesseoyo. 로 marks the thing used, and 찬물 means cold water. 세수했어요 is the past tense of 세수하다, which RR writes sesuhaesseoyo.
Common Word Combinations
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 세수를 하다 | to wash one's face |
| 세수하다 | to wash one's face |
| 세면대 | wash basin |
| 세숫비누 | face soap |
세수를 하다 and 세수하다 mean the same, and the second is more common in speech. 세면대 is the wash basin and 세숫비누 is face soap. 세숫비누 builds on 세수 itself, while 세면대 shares only the first syllable, 세 (wash).
Common Mistake
Wrong: 얼굴을 세수해요, which names the face twice.
Correct: 세수해요, or 얼굴을 씻어요 if you want to name the face.
세수 already means washing the face, so adding 얼굴을 repeats the object.
How Does 세수 Differ from Similar Words?
| Word | Meaning | How to tell it from 세수 |
|---|---|---|
| 씻다 | to wash | A general verb for washing body parts or objects. 세수 is only the face. |
| 샤워 | shower | Washing the whole body, not only the face. |
Sharing the Bathroom in the Morning
Two roommates are getting ready to leave. One asks about face washing before using the shared bathroom.
Mina
세수했어요?
Sesuhaesseoyo?
Have you washed your face?
Alex
아니요, 아직 안 했어요.
Aniyo, ajik an haesseoyo.
No, I haven’t yet.
Mina
그럼 먼저 하세요.
Geureom meonjeo haseyo.
Then go ahead first.
Alex
네, 금방 할게요.
Ne, geumbang halgeyo.
Okay, I’ll be quick.
The last three lines leave out 세수 because the first question establishes the activity. 안 했어요 means “haven’t done it” here, and 할게요 is a promise about what the speaker will do. Repeating the full noun in every reply would make this short exchange less natural.
Useful Phrases around 세수
세수하고 나서 means “after washing your face”. The longer ending makes the order explicit: face washing finishes before the next action. 세수하고 이를 닦아요 in the earlier example also connects the two actions, while 하고 나서 puts more emphasis on “after”.
세수부터 하다 means to wash your face first. 부터 attaches to 세수 and marks the starting activity. In a morning routine, it can put face washing before breakfast, getting dressed or checking a phone. The phrase does not mean washing only part of the face.
물로 세수하다 means to wash your face with water. 찬물로 adds the detail “with cold water”, as in the existing example. The marker 로 tells you what is used. A sentence about water alone does not automatically describe removing makeup or using a particular cleanser.
세수하다 is written as one verb. 세수를 하다 is a noun with an object marker followed by 하다, so it has a space. Both patterns let you describe the same activity. Keep that difference when adding endings: 세수하고 is joined, whereas 세수를 하고 keeps the noun separate.
Where Will You Hear or See 세수?
세수 is common at home when people discuss getting up, going to bed or taking a turn in the bathroom. A parent may ask a child about it as part of getting ready for school. In a household conversation, the face is understood, so speakers rarely need a separate word meaning “my” or “your”.
In skincare descriptions, 세안 is another word for cleansing the face. It often appears in product directions and beauty writing. 세수 is the ordinary household word; 세안 is useful when reading about a cleanser or a skincare routine. Neither word alone specifies a product or washing technique.
On a bathroom sign, 세면대 names the basin rather than the action. A basin can be used for washing hands as well as faces, so its label does not mean everyone using it is doing 세수. The shared 세 syllable carries the idea of washing, but the complete words have different jobs.
For hand washing, 손을 씻다 is the clear everyday phrase. This is especially helpful because the Hanja for 세수 includes 手, “hand”. Learn the current everyday meaning from its use in routines rather than guessing the activity from the characters alone.
Things around the Wash Basin
| Related word | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 수건 | towel | Used for drying after washing. |
| 비누 | soap | A general soap word; 세숫비누 specifies face soap. |
| 세면대 | wash basin | The fixture where washing takes place. |
| 양치질 | toothbrushing | A separate activity often paired with 세수. |
Build a complete morning description with the daily routines vocabulary lesson.
Quick Self-Test
- Which is written as one verb: 세수하다 or 세수를 하다?
- What does 세수부터 하다 put first?
- Does 세수 by itself mean taking a full shower?
Show answers
- 세수하다. The noun-plus-marker version is spaced: 세수를 하다.
- Washing your face, before the other activities.
- No. It means washing the face; 샤워 refers to a shower.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 세수 a Noun or a Verb?
It is a noun, but you use it with 하다 as the verb 세수하다.
How Do I Say I Wash My Face in the Morning?
Say 아침에 세수를 해요.
Can I Say 얼굴을 세수해요?
It sounds wrong because 세수 already means face washing. Say 세수해요 or 얼굴을 씻어요.
What Is the Difference between 세수 and 샤워?
세수 is the face. 샤워 is the whole body.
Where to Go Next
Daily routine words are on the daily life routines vocabulary page. Continue with cosmetics in Korean. To practise, try the vocabulary flashcard decks or return to Korean words A to Z.