Key Facts
- Hangul: 화장; Revised Romanization: hwajang
- Part of speech: noun
- Syllables: 2 (hwa-jang)
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 化粧 (化 transform + 粧 adorn)
- Register: Neutral; used with 하다 (화장을 하다) and for cosmetics in general.
Makeup in Korean: What Does 화장 Mean?
화장 means makeup, and also the act of applying it. It is neutral and pairs with 하다: 화장을 하다 means to put on makeup. Cosmetic products are 화장품, and the loanword 메이크업 is often used for professional or styled makeup, such as in a salon or shoot.
How Do You Pronounce 화장?
화장 has two syllables, hwa and jang. The first begins with the glide hw and the second ends in the ng sound. Revised Romanization writes hwajang. The word is only two syllables, while the restroom word adds a third, so listen for the extra syllable.
Example Sentences with 화장
저는 매일 화장을 해요.
Jeoneun maeil hwajangeul haeyo.
I put on makeup every day.
저는 매일 화장을 해요 means "I put on makeup every day". 매일 is "every day" and 해요 is the polite form of 하다.
오늘은 화장을 안 했어요.
Oneureun hwajangeul an haesseoyo.
I did not wear makeup today.
오늘은 화장을 안 했어요 negates it with 안 before the verb, so it is "I did not wear makeup today".
화장을 지우고 잤어요.
Hwajangeul jiugo jasseoyo.
I removed my makeup and went to sleep.
화장을 지우고 잤어요 links two actions: 지우고 is "removed and", 잤어요 is "slept". It shows the normal order, wipe it off and then sleep.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 화장을 하다 | to put on makeup |
| 화장을 지우다 | to remove makeup |
| 화장품 | cosmetics |
| 화장이 진하다 | for makeup to be heavy |
화장을 하다 is to put on makeup and 화장을 지우다 is to remove it. 화장품 is cosmetics, and 화장이 진하다 says the makeup is heavy.
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 화장 for the restroom, as in "Where is the 화장?"
Correct: ✓ 화장실 for the restroom; 화장 for makeup.
Why: The 실 (room) makes it a restroom. Without it, 화장 asks about makeup.
화장 Compared with Related Words
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 화장 | makeup | The word on this page. |
| 화장실 | restroom | The 화장 in 화장실 is the same character. |
| 메이크업 | makeup (loanword) | Often used for professional or styled makeup. |
| 화장품 | cosmetics | The products, not the act. |
화장 is the act, 화장품 is the stuff you buy, 메이크업 is the styled look and 화장실 is the room.
Where Does the Word Come From?
화장 is Sino-Korean, written 化粧 in hanja: 化 means transform and 粧 means adorn. The same 화장 appears inside 화장실 and 화장품, which makes it easy to recognise in related words.
Getting Ready before a Photo
Two friends are about to leave for a photo studio. One needs a moment to finish her makeup.
Jisu
준비 다 했어요?
Junbi da haesseoyo?
Are you all ready?
Mina
잠깐만요. 아직 화장하고 있어요.
Jamkkanmanyo. Ajik hwajanghago isseoyo.
Just a moment. I’m still putting on makeup.
Jisu
립스틱은 어디 있어요?
Ripseutigeun eodi isseoyo?
Where is the lipstick?
Mina
거울 옆에 있어요.
Geoul yeope isseoyo.
It’s beside the mirror.
화장하고 있어요 describes applying makeup right now. It comes from 화장하다, the verb built from the noun and 하다. The earlier 화장을 해요 uses an object marker and a separate verb; both are natural ways to describe the activity. 립스틱 names one product, so it is something the friend can locate beside the mirror.
Which Phrases Describe a Makeup Look?
화장이 진하다 means the makeup is heavy or strong. The literal idea of 진하다 is intensity: here it describes how noticeable the makeup looks. 화장이 연하다 describes lighter makeup. These phrases concern appearance rather than the weight of a product or how many items someone owns.
화장을 고치다 means “to touch up makeup”. 고치다 often means fixing something, but here the person may simply be refreshing lipstick or tidying a look after lunch. 수정 화장 is the noun phrase for a makeup touch-up. You may hear it when someone takes a small makeup bag to the restroom.
화장이 잘 받다 means makeup looks good on someone or goes on well. It is not about receiving a gift of cosmetics. The subject is the makeup, and the expression describes the result on the person’s face. Because it comments on appearance, use it where beauty talk is already welcome.
Where Will You See 화장 and 메이크업?
화장 appears in everyday talk about getting ready, removing makeup and choosing a look. 메이크업 is common in beauty tutorials and salon service names. The two overlap: 메이크업 is not a separate product category that excludes ordinary 화장. A tutorial may use either word while teaching the same technique.
When shopping, 화장품 points to products for sale. A question about 화장 could concern someone’s finished look or their routine, while a question about 화장품 concerns the items they use. This distinction helps you avoid answering “lipstick and foundation” when someone is asking whether you have finished getting ready.
Words for a Makeup Bag
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 립스틱 | lipstick | A specific lip product, not makeup as a whole. |
| 거울 | mirror | Useful for locating where someone is getting ready. |
| 화장솜 | cotton pad | Used for applying or removing beauty products. |
| 클렌징 | cleansing | Common on products and services for cleaning the skin. |
The makeup vocabulary lesson teaches the wider product set. The cosmetics entry explains 화장품, which includes more than the single finished look described by 화장.
Quick Self-Test
- Which means removing makeup: 화장을 하다 or 화장을 지우다?
- Does 화장이 진하다 describe physical weight?
- You want to buy beauty products. Is 화장품 or 화장실 the useful word?
Show answers
- 화장을 지우다 means removing makeup.
- No. It describes a strong or heavy makeup look.
- 화장품 means cosmetics. 화장실 means restroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "makeup" in Korean?
Makeup in Korean is 화장 (hwajang), a noun for makeup or applying it.
How do I say "put on makeup"?
Say 화장을 하다.
How do I say "remove makeup"?
Say 화장을 지우다.
Is 화장 the same as 화장실?
No. 화장실 is the restroom.
What are cosmetics called?
Cosmetics are 화장품.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean makeup vocabulary groups 화장 with other beauty words.
- Index: Korean words A to Z lists every single-word entry.
- See also: lipstick is one specific product.
- Compare: cosmetics are the products.
- Compare: bathroom is the room it is confused with.
- Practice: vocabulary flashcard decks lets you add 화장 to a spaced-repetition set.