Korean Dictionary
How to say "Rinse" in Korean
“Rinse” in Korean is 헹굴다 (pronounced "henggeulda").
헹굴다
henggeulda
Usage & Context
Washing food with water to remove dirt and impurities. Essential for rice, vegetables, and seafood. Quick process that improves cleanliness.
Example Sentence
쌀을 헹궈요.
I rinse rice.
How to use 헹굴다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Rinse” is 헹굴다, romanized as henggeulda.
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 헹굴다.
Pronunciation Guide
For '헹구다' (hengguda), 'heng' sounds like 'hang' (but with an 'e' sound, like 'heh-ng'), 'gu' like 'goo' (as in 'goose'), and 'da' like 'dah'. The 'ng' sound is like in 'sing'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
헹궈요
henggweoyo
This is the common polite form used in daily conversation. (Base verb: 헹구다)
Casual (반말)
헹궈
henggweo
Used with close friends or people younger than you. (Base verb: 헹구다)
More Example Sentences
Giving a basic cooking instruction for rice.
쌀은 깨끗한 물에 여러 번 헹궈야 해요.
Rice needs to be rinsed several times in clean water.
Advising on food hygiene for fresh produce.
야채는 흐르는 물에 꼼꼼히 헹궈서 드세요.
Please rinse vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating.
Giving advice on personal hygiene (shampooing).
머리를 감고 나서 샴푸 거품이 없어질 때까지 헹궈야 해.
After washing your hair, you need to rinse until all the shampoo foam is gone.
Cultural Context
'헹구다' is a daily verb used not only for food preparation but also for personal hygiene and cleaning. Rinsing rice multiple times until the water runs clear is a common practice in Korean households, believed to remove excess starch and impurities, leading to fluffier, better-tasting rice. This meticulousness extends to washing vegetables and even rinsing dishes thoroughly.
Editorial note
We review entries like 헹굴다 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
쌀을 헹구다
to rinse rice
그릇을 헹구다
to rinse dishes
입을 헹구다
to rinse one's mouth
Related Expressions
씻다
ssitda
to wash (more general, can include scrubbing)
물에 씻다
mur-e ssitda
to wash with water
깨끗이 하다
kkaekkeusi hada
to clean thoroughly
물기 빼다
mulgi ppaeda
to drain water
More Cooking Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Rinse and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
