Key Facts
- Hangul: 비누; Revised Romanization: binu
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Native (no hanja)
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Soap in Korean: What Does 비누 Mean?
비누 is the everyday word for a bar of soap. It is neutral. Related phrases include 비누 거품 for lather, 빨래비누 for laundry soap and the verb 비누칠하다, "to soap up".
How Do You Pronounce 비누?
Say bi-nu. Both vowels are clear and short. The b is a gentle, unaspirated sound, between English b and p.
Example Sentences with 비누
비누로 손을 씻어요.
Binuro soneul ssiseoyo.
I wash my hands with soap.
비누로 손을 씻어요 names the tool with 로. 씻어요 is "wash".
비누가 다 떨어졌어요.
Binuga da tteoreojyeosseoyo.
The soap has run out.
비누가 다 떨어졌어요 says the soap ran out. 다 means "all" and 떨어졌어요 means "has run out".
새 비누를 샀어요.
Sae binureul sasseoyo.
I bought a new bar of soap.
새 비누를 샀어요 uses 새 for "new" and 샀어요 as the past of "buy".
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 비누로 씻다 | to wash with soap |
| 비누 거품 | soap lather |
| 빨래비누 | laundry soap |
| 비누칠하다 | to soap up |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners mark the soap as the object.
- Wrong: 비누를 씻어요 (this means "I wash the soap")
- Right: 비누로 씻어요 (I wash with soap)
The soap is the tool, so it takes 로, "with".
비누 Compared with Similar Words
Two nearby products: 세제 is detergent for laundry or dishes. 샴푸 is shampoo, the soap for hair.
| Word | Meaning | Versus soap |
|---|---|---|
| 비누 | soap | This page's word |
| 세제 | detergent | Cleaning agent for laundry or dishes. |
| 샴푸 | shampoo | Soap for the hair. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
비누 is a native Korean word, so it has no hanja.
At a Guesthouse: Asking for More Soap
A guest has used up the bathroom soap and asks the host for a replacement. Naming the missing item makes the request clear without describing every bathroom supply.
Guest
화장실에 비누가 없어요.
Hwajangsire binuga eopseoyo.
There is no soap in the bathroom.
Host
새 비누를 드릴까요?
Sae binureul deurilkkayo?
Would you like a new bar of soap?
Guest
네, 하나 주세요.
Ne, hana juseyo.
Yes, please give me one.
Host
여기 있어요. 수건도 필요하세요?
Yeogi isseoyo. Sugeondo piryohaseyo?
Here you are. Do you need a towel too?
비누가 없어요 reports that there is no soap available. The existing example 비누가 다 떨어졌어요 is more specific: the supply has run out. The host offers 새 비누, a new bar, and the guest can answer 하나, “one”, because the item is already understood. 수건도 adds another bathroom item with 도, “too”.
Soap, Lather and Washing: Useful Combinations
비누로 씻다 means to wash with soap. 로 identifies the soap as what you use. Adding 손을 gives the body part being washed: 비누로 손을 씻어요. This is a compact pattern with two different roles: 손을 is the object, and 비누로 is the means of cleaning it.
비누 거품 means soap lather or soap bubbles. 거품 names the foam, so it can describe the bubbles on your hands while washing. 비누 거품을 내다 means to work up a lather, literally to produce soap foam. The phrase describes one stage of washing rather than the entire routine.
비누칠하다 means to soap up or apply soap. It names applying the soap, so a later step can still be needed to rinse it away. 비누로 씻다 describes washing using soap more broadly. These expressions help you understand why instructions may mention both applying soap and rinsing.
빨래비누 is laundry soap, commonly used when washing clothes by hand. The compound is written together. 빨래 identifies laundry, which makes the product's intended job clear. A package containing 빨래비누 is different from a bar meant for washing your hands, even though both names contain 비누.
How Do You Ask for or Buy Soap?
비누 주세요 is a short polite request for soap. 비누 하나 주세요 adds the amount: one. If you need to count bars explicitly, 비누 한 개 uses 개, the general counter for individual items. A count of bars and a count of bottles refer to different packaging, so first identify which product you are pointing to.
액체 비누 means liquid soap. 비누 can therefore refer to soap beyond a solid bar. A pump by a sink may instead be labeled 핸드워시, “hand wash”, an English loanword used for the hand-cleaning product. In a guesthouse, saying 비누 is usually enough to identify the missing washing supply; describe the form if it matters.
새 비누 means new soap. 향이 좋은 비누 means soap with a pleasant scent. The first expression tells you about its condition, while the second describes its smell. Neither expression tells you that it is suitable for every use, so look for the product name as well as the description.
Where Will You See or Hear 비누?
Bathroom conversations use 비누 when a bar is missing, has run out or needs replacing. On a shopping list, 비누 names the product without a sentence ending. Store shelves can place it near other toiletries, but nearby 세제 belongs to the detergent category rather than automatically meaning hand soap.
At a sink, an instruction containing 비누로 tells you to use soap as part of washing. The noun itself is neutral. The guesthouse dialogue stays polite through 주세요 and the host's respectful forms; 비누 needs no special honorific replacement.
Bathroom Words to Learn Next
| Korean | Meaning | Why it helps beside 비누 |
|---|---|---|
| 손 | hand | Names what you wash in the main example. |
| 물 | water | Needed for washing and rinsing. |
| 수건 | towel | Names what you use for drying afterward. |
| 샴푸 | shampoo | Identifies the separate hair-washing product. |
| 세제 | detergent | Used for jobs such as laundry or dishwashing. |
The bathroom vocabulary lesson teaches the surrounding objects. The word 비누 tells someone what cleaning product you mean; adding the missing item, like 수건, helps finish a practical request for bathroom supplies.
Quick Self-Test
- Which means “wash with soap”: 비누를 씻다 or 비누로 씻다?
- What does 빨래 add to 빨래비누?
- Is 액체 비누 a bar or liquid soap?
Show answers
- 비누로 씻다. 비누를 씻다 means to wash the soap itself.
- It identifies the soap as laundry soap.
- 액체 비누 means liquid soap.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "soap" in Korean?
Say 비누 (binu).
How do I say wash with soap?
Say 비누로 씻다.
What is laundry soap?
It is 빨래비누.
Is 세제 the same as 비누?
No. 세제 is a detergent for laundry or dishes.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: daily life home bathroom vocabulary places soap among related words.
- Index: more words after soap are in Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: save soap in the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next to read: the page for toothbrush.
- Compare with the page for shampoo.