Korean Dictionary
How to say "Drain" in Korean
“Drain” in Korean is 물을 빼다 (pronounced "mul-eul bbaeda").
물을 빼다
mul-eul bbaeda
Usage & Context
Removing liquid from cooked food. Essential after boiling or blanching. Prevents excess moisture that can affect dish texture.
Example Sentence
국수를 물에서 빼요.
I drain noodles.
How to use 물을 빼다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Drain” is 물을 빼다, romanized as mul-eul bbaeda.
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 물을 빼다.
Pronunciation Guide
물 (mul) sounds like 'mool' in 'pool'. 을 (eul) is a particle, like the 'ul' in 'pudding'. 빼 (bbae) sounds like 'bbae' in 'bye-bye' but with a tense, sharp 'bb' sound. 다 (da) sounds like 'dah' in 'dah-ling'. Together: 'Mool-eul bbae-dah'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
물을 빼요
mul-eul bbaeyo
This is the standard polite form, widely used in daily conversations.
Casual (반말)
물을 빼
mul-eul bbae
This is the informal form, used with close friends or family.
More Example Sentences
Giving cooking instructions for pasta.
파스타 삶은 후에 물을 빼야 해요.
You need to drain the water after boiling pasta.
A tip for preparing kimchi or other fermented foods.
김치에서 물을 빼서 더 맛있게 만들어요.
Drain water from kimchi to make it tastier.
Describing the current state of a washing machine.
세탁기에서 물을 빼는 중이에요.
The washing machine is draining water now.
Cultural Context
물을 빼다 literally translates to 'to take out water,' and it's a very common phrase in cooking, especially when dealing with boiled noodles, blanched vegetables, or even preparing certain types of kimchi. The verb '빼다' itself means 'to remove,' 'to take out,' or 'to subtract,' making '물을 빼다' a straightforward and widely understood expression for draining liquids.
Editorial note
We review entries like 물을 빼다 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
국수 물을 빼다
to drain noodle water
야채 물을 빼다
to drain vegetable water
김치 물을 빼다
to drain kimchi water
Related Expressions
물기를 제거하다
mulgireul jegohada
to remove moisture
건지다
geonjida
to scoop out (solids from liquid)
짜다
jjada
to squeeze out (liquid)
붓다
butda
to pour (antonym in a sense of adding liquid)
More Cooking Words
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