Korean Dictionary
How to say "Car Wash" in Korean
“Car Wash” in Korean is 세차 (pronounced "secha").
세차
secha
Usage & Context
세차 is a common car maintenance activity in Korea especially after yellow dust (황사) seasons when vehicles become heavily coated. Automatic 세차 machines are available at most Korean gas stations at affordable prices. Hand 세차 services using special wax and detailing are popular among Korean car enthusiasts.
Example Sentence
황사가 지나고 나서 세차를 했어요.
I washed the car after the yellow dust passed.
How to use 세차 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Car Wash” is 세차, romanized as secha.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 세차.
Pronunciation Guide
세 (se) sounds like 'say' in 'say hello'. 차 (cha) sounds like 'cha' in 'chai tea'. Put it together as 'say-cha'.
More Example Sentences
Planning a weekend activity based on the weather.
주말에 날씨 좋으면 세차하러 가야겠어요.
If the weather's good this weekend, I should go wash the car.
Discussing preferences for car washing methods.
자동 세차는 편하지만 손 세차가 더 깨끗해요.
Automatic car washes are convenient, but hand washes are cleaner.
Expressing satisfaction after a thorough car wash.
세차하고 나니 차가 새 차 같아요.
After washing the car, it feels like a new car.
Cultural Context
Car cleanliness is quite important in Korea, especially for those who take pride in their vehicles. While automatic car washes (자동 세차) are common at gas stations, many car enthusiasts prefer '손 세차' (son secha - hand car wash) or utilize self-service car wash facilities, which are plentiful. The period after '황사' (hwangsa - yellow dust) season sees a significant increase in 세차 activity as cars get covered in fine dust.
Editorial note
We review entries like 세차 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
세차하다
To wash a car
세차 비용
Car wash cost
셀프 세차
Self-service car wash
Related Expressions
손 세차
son secha
Hand car wash
자동 세차
jadong secha
Automatic car wash
세차장
sechajang
Car wash (place)
차 닦다
cha dakda
To wipe/clean the car
More Transportation Words
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