Doing chores might not be fun, but learning how to talk about them in Korean definitely is! Whether you're living in Korea, watching K-dramas, or just want to boost your daily vocabulary, learning how to say “I cleaned the bathroom” or “Did you vacuum?” in Korean helps you sound more natural and ready for real-life situations.
This guide will teach you essential Korean cleaning vocabulary, polite phrases, and action verbs related to daily chores. You’ll also learn common patterns and real-life expressions used in Korean homes.
Each section includes Korean expressions, Romanized pronunciation, and English meanings—so you can not only memorize, but also speak and understand Korean like a local.
🧹 1. Korean Verbs for Cleaning Tasks
Learning verbs related to cleaning in Korean helps you describe what you're doing around the house. These action verbs are used daily by native speakers and are perfect for creating full sentences when talking about chores.
For example, when you're mopping the floor, you would say 바닥을 닦아요 (Badageul dakkayo), which means "I'm wiping the floor." Notice that the verb 닦다 (dakkda) means "to wipe or clean," and the sentence structure is subject + object + verb.
Many cleaning-related verbs in Korean are regular verbs, so once you learn the dictionary form and how to conjugate them, you can apply them across many situations. Below is a table of common cleaning verbs with pronunciation and meaning.
🧽 Common Cleaning Verbs in Korean
| Korean Verb | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 청소하다 | cheongsohada | to clean |
| 닦다 | dakkda | to wipe |
| 쓸다 | sseulda | to sweep |
| 정리하다 | jeongrihada | to organize/tidy up |
| 빨래하다 | ppallaehada | to do laundry |
| 청소기를 돌리다 | cheongsogireul dollida | to vacuum |
Use these verbs in your daily routine. For example: 오늘 청소했어요 (Oneul cheongsohaesseoyo) means “I cleaned today.” Practicing with these common verbs will make your Korean more natural, and you’ll be able to follow daily conversations or even help your host family with chores!
🪣 2. Essential Chores Vocabulary in Korean
When learning how to talk about cleaning, knowing just the verbs isn't enough. You also need the right nouns and vocabulary to describe the tasks you’re doing. This section introduces the most useful Korean words related to household chores.
Let’s say you want to say “I washed the dishes.” You’d use the phrase 설거지했어요 (seolgeoji haesseoyo). Here, 설거지 means “the act of washing dishes.” It’s a noun turned into a verb phrase, which is very common in Korean.
These chore-related words are used by both adults and kids in Korean households. You might hear parents telling their children to take out the trash or students in dorms sharing chores with roommates. The more words you know, the more natural your Korean will sound.
🧼 Daily Chores Vocabulary List
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 청소 | cheongso | cleaning |
| 빨래 | ppallae | laundry |
| 설거지 | seolgeoji | doing the dishes |
| 쓰레기 | sseuregi | trash/garbage |
| 걸레 | geolle | rag/cloth |
| 빗자루 | bitjaru | broom |
A helpful tip is to pair nouns with the right verbs. For example: 빗자루로 쓸었어요 (Bitjaruro sseureosseoyo) means “I swept with a broom.” Notice the use of 로 (ro), which means “with” or “using.” Learning how these words connect will help you express yourself better.
These words are not only helpful for speaking, but also when watching Korean TV shows or reading instructions for cleaning products. You’ll start recognizing them everywhere!
🧼 3. Common Cleaning Phrases Used at Home
In this section, we’ll learn full Korean phrases you can use while cleaning or asking someone else to help. These expressions are frequently used by roommates, families, and even in workplace settings where cleaning is part of the routine.
Korean cleaning phrases often use the polite form, especially when you're talking with family, guests, or coworkers. Understanding the cultural context is important too—many Korean households value tidiness and group cleaning is a common event, especially in schools and offices.
Let’s start with a simple phrase: 방 청소했어요? (Bang cheongsohaesseoyo?) means “Did you clean your room?” You might hear this from a parent or roommate. To answer, you could say 네, 다 했어요. (Ne, da haesseoyo) meaning “Yes, I did everything.”
🗣️ Everyday Cleaning Phrases in Korean
| Korean Phrase | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 청소했어요? | cheongsohaesseoyo? | Did you clean? |
| 방 치웠어요? | bang chiwosseoyo? | Did you tidy your room? |
| 빨래 널었어요? | ppallae neoreosseoyo? | Did you hang the laundry? |
| 걸레질 좀 해주세요. | geollejil jom haejuseyo | Please mop the floor. |
| 쓰레기 버렸어요? | sseuregi beoryeosseoyo? | Did you take out the trash? |
| 창문 좀 닦아줄래요? | changmun jom dakkajullaeyo? | Can you wipe the windows? |
You’ll hear these kinds of phrases during group cleaning days at school (대청소, daecheongso) or even at your company’s office. It’s common in Korea to clean together, and using polite language shows teamwork and respect.
Next time you're staying with a Korean host family, or living in Korea long-term, these phrases will definitely come in handy. You can even impress your friends or coworkers by knowing how to say things like “Let’s clean together!” – which in Korean is 같이 청소해요! (Gachi cheongsohaeyo!)
🫧 4. How to Politely Ask Others to Help with Cleaning
In Korean culture, politeness is key—especially when you're asking someone to help you with something like cleaning. Whether you're living with a roommate, a host family, or just working in a shared office space, knowing how to ask nicely will make your life easier and your relationships smoother.
For example, instead of saying "Clean this" directly, it's more polite to use a soft request like 이거 좀 청소해줄래요? (igeo jom cheongsohaejullaeyo?) which means "Could you clean this for me?" The word 좀 adds softness and makes the request sound less demanding.
Let’s look at different levels of politeness. There’s a difference between how you speak to a friend and how you speak to your boss or elders. In this section, we’ll break down useful phrases and expressions with correct formality.
🧼 Polite Cleaning Request Phrases
| Korean Phrase | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이거 좀 청소해줄래요? | igeo jom cheongsohaejullaeyo? | Can you clean this, please? |
| 방 좀 치워주세요. | bang jom chiwoujuseyo | Please tidy the room. |
| 빨래 좀 도와줄 수 있어요? | ppallae jom dowajul su isseoyo? | Can you help with the laundry? |
| 창문 닦는 거 도와줄래요? | changmun dakkneun geo dowajullaeyo? | Could you help wipe the window? |
| 같이 청소할까요? | gachi cheongsohalkkayo? | Shall we clean together? |
Koreans often use softeners like 좀 and end sentences with 주세요 or ~줄래요 to avoid sounding rude. It shows that you're not commanding but kindly asking. This difference can really affect how people respond to your requests.
If you're in a formal situation, like with your boss or a new acquaintance, always use the highest politeness level. But with close friends, you can drop down to casual like 이거 치워줄래? (igeo chiwojullae?) which still sounds kind, but more relaxed.
Understanding these phrases can make your daily life much smoother in Korea—whether you're in a homestay, school, or just sharing a kitchen with your flatmates!
🧹 5. Cultural Notes About Cleaning in Korea
When learning Korean, it's not just about grammar and vocabulary. Understanding the culture behind the language makes your learning much more effective and meaningful. In Korea, cleanliness is deeply tied to respect, community, and responsibility—especially in shared spaces like homes, schools, and offices.
One of the most noticeable practices is the concept of 대청소 (daecheongso), or “big clean-up day.” Many Korean families or organizations will set aside time regularly (e.g., once a month) to thoroughly clean the home or office. It’s not just about tidying; it’s about restoring harmony in the space.
At Korean schools, especially elementary and middle schools, it’s common for students to be assigned cleaning duties. These include sweeping, wiping desks, and taking out the trash. This system teaches students responsibility and the value of maintaining a shared environment.
In the workplace, especially in smaller companies, employees often participate in morning clean-ups before starting the day. This is viewed as a team-building activity, reinforcing group harmony and pride in one's environment.
🧼 When Do Koreans Usually Clean?
| Situation | Korean Term | Romanization | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunar New Year Cleaning | 설날 대청소 | Seollal daecheongso | Thorough cleaning before the new year begins |
| Spring Cleaning | 봄맞이 청소 | bommaji cheongso | Seasonal clean-up to welcome spring |
| Moving Day Cleaning | 이사 청소 | isa cheongso | Cleaning before or after moving |
| Company Cleaning Time | 사무실 청소 | samusil cheongso | Team cleaning before work hours |
| School Duty Rotation | 청소 당번 | cheongso dangbeon | Student cleaning duty system |
Another fun aspect of Korean cleaning culture is cleaning music. Koreans love turning on upbeat songs while cleaning, especially K-pop. It energizes the process and makes it more fun. Try adding your favorite Korean playlist while you sweep or vacuum!
So next time you’re in Korea and someone mentions “오늘 대청소해요” (Oneul daecheongso haeyo), you’ll know they’re gearing up for a big group clean-up. It’s not just a task—it’s a team ritual!
🧴 6. Bonus Expressions for Talking About Cleaning Supplies
When shopping or organizing cleaning chores, you’ll often need to talk about tools and supplies. In Korean, there’s specific vocabulary for each cleaning item, and some can be tricky since they’re not directly taught in beginner textbooks. Let’s make sure you know how to talk about brooms, mops, trash bags, and more—in real Korean!
Knowing the names of cleaning tools will help you follow directions better, ask for help, or understand what's needed when cleaning. For example, if your host mom says “걸레 좀 가져와” (geolle jom gajyeowa), she’s asking you to bring a mop or rag.
You can also use these words when you go shopping. Let’s say you’re in a Korean supermarket looking for bleach or sponges. Instead of guessing, you’ll confidently say, “표백제 어디 있어요?” (pyobaekje eodi isseoyo?) meaning “Where is the bleach?”
🧹 Common Cleaning Supplies Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 빗자루 | bitjaru | broom |
| 걸레 | geolle | rag / mop |
| 청소기 | cheongsogi | vacuum cleaner |
| 쓰레기봉투 | sseuregibongtu | trash bag |
| 고무장갑 | gomu-janggap | rubber gloves |
| 표백제 | pyobaekje | bleach |
| 세제 | seje | detergent |
It’s helpful to memorize these terms not only for conversation but also for reading labels. Many Korean cleaning products are written in Hangul only, so recognizing the term 세제 (detergent) or 표백제 (bleach) will make shopping much easier.
Try to use these words in full phrases. For example, “We need more sponges” becomes 수세미 더 필요해요 (susemi deo piryohaeyo). Practicing full expressions with vocabulary makes your Korean sound more natural and complete!
🧼 FAQ – Cleaning in Korean
Q1. How do you say "I cleaned my room" in Korean?
A1. You can say: 방 청소했어요 (bang cheongsohaesseoyo).
Q2. What’s the polite way to ask someone to clean with you?
A2. Use: 같이 청소할까요? (gachi cheongsohalkkayo?)
Q3. How do I ask where cleaning tools are in Korean?
A3. Say: 청소 도구 어디 있어요? (cheongso dogu eodi isseoyo?)
Q4. Is there a word for “clean-up day” in Korean?
A4. Yes, it's 대청소 (daecheongso).
Q5. How do I say “trash bag” in Korean?
A5. The term is: 쓰레기봉투 (sseuregibongtu).
Q6. What does 걸레 mean?
A6. It means rag or mop cloth. (geolle)
Q7. Is it rude to ask someone to clean in Korean?
A7. No, as long as you use polite forms like 주세요 or 줄래요, it’s fine.
Q8. What’s the difference between 청소하다 and 닦다?
A8. 청소하다 means "to clean" in general; 닦다 is "to wipe."
Q9. What’s a casual way to say “Help me clean” to a friend?
A9. Use: 청소 도와줘! (cheongso dowajwo!)
Q10. How do I say “Where is the vacuum cleaner?”
A10. Say: 청소기 어디 있어요? (cheongsogi eodi isseoyo?)
Q11. What is 세제 in Korean?
A11. It means detergent (seje).
Q12. How do I say “I need bleach” in Korean?
A12. Say: 표백제 필요해요. (pyobaekje piryohaeyo)
Q13. What’s the verb for “to mop” in Korean?
A13. 걸레질하다 (geollejilhada) is often used colloquially.
Q14. Can I use 청소하다 for washing dishes?
A14. Not usually. Use 설거지하다 (seolgeoji-hada) for washing dishes.
Q15. What’s the term for “cleaning gloves” in Korean?
A15. 고무장갑 (gomu-janggap) means rubber gloves.
Q16. Is there a word for “clean freak” in Korean?
A16. You might hear 결벽증이 있어요 (gyeolbyeokjeung-i isseoyo) — "has obsessive cleanliness."
Q17. How do you say “It’s dirty” in Korean?
A17. 더러워요 (deoreowoyo) means "It’s dirty."
Q18. What does 청소기 sound like to Koreans?
A18. It directly refers to a vacuum cleaner.
Q19. How do you say “cleaner” as a profession?
A19. 청소부 (cheongsobu) means cleaner or janitor.
Q20. Is 청소하다 used in both homes and workplaces?
A20. Yes, it’s a general verb used in both settings.
Q21. How do I say “Let’s clean together” politely?
A21. Use: 같이 청소해요 (gachi cheongsohaeyo).
Q22. What’s a natural way to say “I’m done cleaning”?
A22. Use: 청소 끝났어요! (cheongso kkeunnasseoyo!)
Q23. How do Koreans talk about cleaning before guests arrive?
A23. They often say: 손님 오기 전에 청소해야 돼요 (sonnim ogi jeone cheongsohaeya dwaeyo).
Q24. How do I say “I forgot to take out the trash”?
A24. Say: 쓰레기 버리는 거 까먹었어요 (sseuregi beorineun geo kkam-eogeosseoyo).
Q25. What’s the phrase for “It smells bad” in Korean?
A25. Use: 냄새 나요 (naemsae nayo) or 지독한 냄새예요 (jidokhan naemsaeyeyo).
Q26. What do I say if I want someone to throw it away?
A26. Use: 그거 버려 주세요 (geugeo beoryeo juseyo).
Q27. Can 청소하다 be used for organizing, not just cleaning dirt?
A27. Yes! Koreans use 청소하다 for both physical cleaning and tidying up.
Q28. Is there a difference between 정리하다 and 청소하다?
A28. Yes. 정리하다 (jeongrihada) means to organize or arrange neatly. 청소하다 is about removing dirt or cleaning.
Q29. What’s the Korean phrase for “clean it properly”?
A29. Say: 제대로 청소해요 (jedero cheongsohaeyo).
Q30. Can I say 청소 완료 to mean “cleaning completed”?
A30. Yes! 청소 완료 (cheongso wanryo) is often used in written messages or signs.
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, this content should not be considered as professional medical advice. For medical concerns or emergencies, please consult a licensed healthcare provider or seek local emergency assistance.
