Meaning
To clean one's hair with shampoo and water.
Cultural Background
The 'No-Wash' Exam Superstition: Many students avoid washing their hair the morning of a big exam (like the Suneung) because they fear the water will wash away the knowledge they've memorized. Public Bathhouses (Jjimjilbang): In Korean bathhouses, there are specific areas for '머리 감기'. It is considered polite to wash your hair thoroughly before entering the communal tubs. Dano Festival: Traditionally, women washed their hair in water boiled with sweet flag (iris) to make it shiny and ward off evil spirits. Morning vs. Night: There is a strong modern cultural preference for washing hair at night to remove 'fine dust' (미세먼지) collected throughout the day.
The 'Hair' Rule
Whenever you talk about hair on your head, use '감다'. For any other body part, use '씻다'.
Don't say 'Wash Head'
Even though '머리' means head, translating 'wash head' literally as '머리를 씻다' sounds like you are washing the skin of your skull, not your hair.
Meaning
To clean one's hair with shampoo and water.
The 'Hair' Rule
Whenever you talk about hair on your head, use '감다'. For any other body part, use '씻다'.
Don't say 'Wash Head'
Even though '머리' means head, translating 'wash head' literally as '머리를 씻다' sounds like you are washing the skin of your skull, not your hair.
Natural Shortening
In casual speech, Koreans often drop the particle '를' and just say '머리 감았어?'
Complimenting
If someone's hair looks nice, you can say '머리 감고 왔어? 향기 좋다!' (Did you just wash your hair? It smells great!)
Test Yourself
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: '아침에 ____.'
아침에 ( )
'감다' is only used for hair (머리). Hands (손), clothes (옷), and face (얼굴) use different verbs.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '감다'.
어제 너무 피곤해서 머리를 안 ( ).
The sentence is in the past tense ('어제'), so '감다' becomes '감았어요'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 왜 아직 안 나갔어? B: 미안, 지금 막 ( ) 나오느라 늦었어.
'머리 감고 나오다' is a very common expression for just finishing a hair wash.
Match the verb to the object.
1. 머리 2. 손 3. 옷 4. 이(치아)
머리-감다 (hair), 손-씻다 (hands), 옷-빨다 (clothes), 이-닦다 (teeth).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Korean Washing Verbs
감다
- • 머리 (Hair)
- • 눈 (Eyes)
씻다
- • 손 (Hands)
- • 발 (Feet)
- • 몸 (Body)
빨다
- • 옷 (Clothes)
- • 양말 (Socks)
닦다
- • 이 (Teeth)
- • 창문 (Windows)
Practice Bank
4 exercises아침에 ( )
'감다' is only used for hair (머리). Hands (손), clothes (옷), and face (얼굴) use different verbs.
어제 너무 피곤해서 머리를 안 ( ).
The sentence is in the past tense ('어제'), so '감다' becomes '감았어요'.
A: 왜 아직 안 나갔어? B: 미안, 지금 막 ( ) 나오느라 늦었어.
'머리 감고 나오다' is a very common expression for just finishing a hair wash.
1. 머리 2. 손 3. 옷 4. 이(치아)
머리-감다 (hair), 손-씻다 (hands), 옷-빨다 (clothes), 이-닦다 (teeth).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsUsually, for pets, we use '목욕시키다' (to give a bath). '머리를 감다' is very human-centric.
No, they are equally polite. '샴푸하다' just sounds a bit more modern or 'city-like'.
It is still '머리를 감다'. The verb refers to the act of washing with water, regardless of soap.
It's a linguistic quirk. Korean categorizes washing by the texture and importance of the object. Hair has a different 'category' than skin.
You can, but it's redundant. '머리를 감다' already implies the hair (머리카락).
You say '머리 감아야 돼요' or '머리 감아야겠어요'.
Yes, '눈을 감다' means to close your eyes. They are homonyms.
There isn't a direct opposite verb, but you could say '머리를 안 감다' (not washing) or '머리가 떡지다' (hair getting oily/clumped).
Yes, it's the gerund form. '머리 감기가 힘들어요' (Washing hair is hard).
No, for a beard, you would use '씻다' because it's part of washing your face.
Related Phrases
샴푸하다
similarTo shampoo one's hair
머리를 말리다
builds onTo dry one's hair
머리를 빗다
similarTo brush/comb hair
세발하다
specialized formTo wash hair (Hanja)
머리를 헹구다
specialized formTo rinse hair
