Key Facts
- Hangul: 칫솔; Revised Romanization: chitsol; pronounced [chi-ssol]
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: mixed
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
- Hanja: 齒 (tooth) + 솔 (native, brush)
Toothbrush in Korean: How Do You Pronounce 칫솔?
Two syllables, pronounced [chi-ssol]. The ㅅ written under 치 (a sai-siot, the linking ㅅ added between parts of a compound) is not heard as its own sound. Instead it makes the ㅅ of 솔 tense, so the second syllable sounds like ssol. The standard rules also allow [chit-ssol], with a short stop before the ss.
Example Sentences with 칫솔
새 칫솔이 필요해요.
Sae chisori piryohaeyo
I need a new toothbrush.
A shopping need: 새 means new, and 필요해요 means need.
칫솔을 화장실에 두었어요.
Chisoreul hwajangsire dueosseoyo
I left the toothbrush in the bathroom.
A placement sentence. 화장실에 gives the bathroom as the location, and 두었어요 is the past of leaving something.
여행 때 칫솔을 가져가요.
Yeohaeng ttae chisoreul gajyeogayo
I bring a toothbrush when I travel.
A travel habit. 여행 때 means when travelling, and 가져가요 means take along.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 칫솔질 | tooth brushing |
| 전동 칫솔 | electric toothbrush |
| 칫솔과 치약 | toothbrush and toothpaste |
| 칫솔을 바꾸다 | to replace a toothbrush |
칫솔질 names the act of brushing, 전동 칫솔 is the electric kind, and 칫솔과 치약 pairs the two items. 칫솔을 바꾸다 means to replace one.
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners write what they hear and drop the linking ㅅ.
- Wrong: 치솔
- Right: 칫솔
There is also no verb 칫솔하다.
- Wrong: 칫솔하다
- Right: 이를 닦다 or 양치질하다 (to brush your teeth)
칫솔 Compared with Similar Words
치약 is the toothpaste that goes on the brush. 양치질 is the action of brushing teeth, not the object.
| Word | Meaning | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|---|
| 칫솔 | toothbrush | This page's word |
| 치약 | toothpaste | Used with the toothbrush. |
| 양치질 | tooth brushing | The action of brushing teeth. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
칫솔 joins 齒 (치, tooth) with the native word 솔 (brush). That explains the mixed origin label and the extra ㅅ at the join.
At a Hotel: Asking for a Toothbrush
A guest has arrived without a toothbrush. The receptionist explains where to buy one. The exchange uses polite requests suitable for a hotel desk.
Guest
칫솔 안 가져왔어요.
Chitsol an gajyeowasseoyo.
I didn’t bring a toothbrush.
Receptionist
일 층 편의점에서 살 수 있어요.
Il cheung pyeonuijeomeseo sal su isseoyo.
You can buy one at the convenience store on the first floor.
Guest
치약도 있어요?
Chiyakdo isseoyo?
Do they have toothpaste too?
Receptionist
네, 칫솔하고 치약을 같이 팔아요.
Ne, chitsolhago chiyageul gachi parayo.
Yes, they sell toothbrushes and toothpaste together.
안 가져왔어요 explains that the guest did not bring the item. 치약도 adds “toothpaste too”, with 도 meaning “also”. The receptionist’s answer describes this particular hotel; asking is useful because a room does not necessarily include the toiletries you need. 칫솔하고 치약 names the two items separately; 하고 means “and” in this list.
Where Will You See 칫솔?
At a convenience store or supermarket, look for 칫솔 beside 치약, toothpaste. A travel set may combine them in one package. The word 칫솔 identifies the brush itself; it does not guarantee that toothpaste is included. A label or the visible package contents tells you whether you are buying one item or a set.
On a shopping page, 전동 칫솔 means an electric toothbrush. 어린이용 칫솔 means a toothbrush intended for children: 어린이 means child, and 용 labels its intended user or use. 휴대용 칫솔 means a portable toothbrush. These modifiers let you narrow the product without replacing the basic noun.
Hotel information may use 세면도구, “toiletries”, as a wider category. That category can include a toothbrush alongside washing items, but the category word does not specify every item supplied. Asking 칫솔 있어요? makes the particular need clear. With a staff member, the 요 ending keeps this short question polite.
What Verbs Go with a Toothbrush?
칫솔을 바꾸다 means “to replace a toothbrush”. 바꾸다 focuses on changing from one brush to another. 칫솔을 사다 means “to buy a toothbrush”, and 칫솔을 가져가다 means “to take a toothbrush along”. These phrases describe different actions involving the same object.
칫솔로 이를 닦다 means “to brush your teeth with a toothbrush”. The particle 로 marks the tool, while 를 marks what you clean: the teeth. Compare 칫솔을 씻다, “to wash a toothbrush”. In that phrase, the toothbrush itself is the object being washed. The particle choice changes the relationship between the objects and the action.
칫솔질 names brushing with a toothbrush. The ending 질 appears in words for repeated actions using a tool or body part. Learn 칫솔질 as a whole word here; it names the activity, while 칫솔 names the object you hold. 양치질 is another everyday word for brushing teeth.
How Do You Count and Describe 칫솔?
A toothbrush uses the general counter 개: 칫솔 한 개 is one toothbrush, and 칫솔 두 개 is two. If a package contains several brushes, the package count and the brush count can differ. Check how many individual brushes the label shows when asking for a quantity.
새 칫솔 means a new toothbrush, as in the first example. 제 칫솔 means “my toothbrush”, useful when distinguishing your own brush in a shared bathroom. 칫솔모 means the bristles: 모 refers to the hair-like material, so the compound identifies part of the brush rather than another bathroom item.
Related Bathroom Words
| Korean | Meaning | Useful connection |
|---|---|---|
| 치약 | toothpaste | The product used with the brush. |
| 컵 | cup | May hold water for rinsing. |
| 세면대 | washbasin | The fixture where you wash or brush. |
| 양치질 | brushing teeth | The activity rather than the tool. |
The bathroom vocabulary lesson teaches the surrounding objects. Keeping the object, product, and action separate helps when you need to ask for a missing item.
Quick Self-Test
- Which is the standard spelling: 치솔 or 칫솔?
- What does 로 mark in 칫솔로 이를 닦다?
- Does 칫솔 always include 치약?
Show answers
- 칫솔, with the linking ㅅ.
- The tool used for the action: the toothbrush.
- No. 칫솔 is the toothbrush and 치약 is toothpaste. Check whether a set includes both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "toothbrush" in Korean?
Say 칫솔 (chitsol).
How is 칫솔 pronounced?
It is pronounced [chi-ssol]. The ㅅ under 치 makes the next sound a tense ss.
What verb means to brush teeth?
Use 닦다 as in 이를 닦다, or 양치질하다.
Is 치솔 correct?
No. The standard spelling is 칫솔.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: bathroom word list. 칫솔 is listed beside the other washroom items.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Compare with the toothpaste page. 치약 is the partner item.