A1 Collocation Neutral

설거지를 하다

seolgeojireul hada

to do dishes

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This phrase describes the act of cleaning dirty dishes, cutlery, and cookware after a meal.

  • Means: To wash dishes, cups, and utensils.
  • Used in: Daily household conversations and chore discussions.
  • Don't confuse: Do not use '닦다' (to wipe) alone; '설거지를 하다' is the standard collocation.
Dirty plate + Soap + Sponge = 설거지를 하다

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to wash plates and spoons after eating. You use it when you help in the kitchen.
It is a common collocation used to describe the daily chore of cleaning kitchenware. It is essential for daily communication about household tasks.
This phrase is a standard collocation in Korean. It functions as a transitive verb phrase where '설거지' acts as the object. It is used in both formal and informal contexts to denote the completion of a meal's cleanup process.
The term '설거지' functions as a noun within this collocation. It is highly frequent in domestic discourse. Mastery involves understanding the social implications of chore-sharing in Korean culture, often appearing in discussions regarding domestic labor division.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, '설거지하다' serves as a primary marker of domestic activity. Its usage is deeply embedded in the cultural expectation of maintaining communal living spaces. It demonstrates the Korean tendency to use specific 'noun + 하다' structures for routine actions.
The collocation '설거지를 하다' exemplifies the productive 'noun + 하다' morphological pattern in Korean. It reflects a semantic specialization where the noun '설거지' encapsulates a complex set of actions (washing, rinsing, drying). Its usage patterns are indicative of domestic power dynamics and social negotiation within the Korean household structure.

Meaning

To wash dirty plates, cups, and cutlery.

🌍

Cultural Background

In Korea, it is polite to offer to help with dishes after being a guest at someone's house.

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Practice

Say it while washing dishes!

Meaning

To wash dirty plates, cups, and cutlery.

💡

Practice

Say it while washing dishes!

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

저녁 식사 후에 ____를 해요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 설거지

You do dishes after a meal.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

It is neutral.

Related Phrases

🔗

청소를 하다

similar

To clean

Where to Use It

🏠

Roommate talk

A: 설거지 누가 할래?

B: 내가 할게.

informal
🍽️

Family dinner

Mom: 설거지 좀 도와줄래?

Son: 네, 지금 할게요.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Ssul-geo-ji' as 'Ssul' (spill) + 'Geo' (get) + 'Ji' (gee, it's dirty).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant pile of plates in a sink and you are scrubbing them with a bright yellow sponge.

Story

Min-su finished his dinner. He looked at the sink. It was full. He sighed, grabbed the soap, and started doing the dishes.

Word Web

그릇 (bowl)접시 (plate)수세미 (scrubber)세제 (detergent)싱크대 (sink)닦다 (to wipe)

Challenge

Label your kitchen items in Korean for 24 hours.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Lavar los platos

Korean uses a specific noun for the task itself.

French high

Faire la vaisselle

The noun 'vaisselle' refers to the dishes collectively.

German moderate

Abwaschen

Korean is a phrase, German is a single verb.

Japanese high

皿洗いをする

Japanese explicitly mentions 'plates' in the noun.

Arabic moderate

غسل الأطباق

Arabic focuses on the action of washing rather than 'doing' the task.

Easily Confused

설거지를 하다 vs 빨래를 하다

Both are chores.

빨래 is for clothes.

FAQ (1)

It is neutral.

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