Korean Dictionary
How to say "Soap" in Korean
“Soap” in Korean is 비누 (pronounced "binu").
비누
binu
Usage & Context
Soap is used for cleaning hands and body. In Korean culture, both bar soap and liquid soap are commonly used. The term 비누 is used in everyday conversation about personal hygiene.
Example Sentence
손을 비누로 씻어요.
I wash my hands with soap.
How to use 비누 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Soap” is 비누, romanized as binu.
Usage tip
Practice this word inside a full daily-life sentence, because particles and sentence endings make the Korean sound natural.
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 비누.
Pronunciation Guide
비 (bi) sounds like 'bee' (as in the insect). 누 (nu) sounds like 'noo' (as in 'noodle'). Put it together as 'bee-noo'.
More Example Sentences
Complimenting a product's scent and suggesting it as a gift.
이 비누는 향이 정말 좋아요. 선물용으로도 괜찮겠어요.
This soap smells really good. It would be nice as a gift too.
Expressing a personal preference for soap types.
액체 비누가 더 위생적이라고 생각해요.
I think liquid soap is more hygienic.
Describing a cleaning task.
세탁 비누로 옷에 묻은 얼룩을 지웠어요.
I removed the stain on my clothes with laundry soap.
Cultural Context
Both bar soap (고체 비누, goche binu) and liquid soap (액체 비누, aekche binu) are widely used in Korea. For handwashing, liquid hand soap is very common, especially in public restrooms. Many traditional Korean bathhouses (목욕탕, mokyoktang) still provide or sell simple bar soaps, often with a nostalgic scent.
Editorial note
We review entries like 비누 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
비누로 손을 씻다
to wash hands with soap
비누 거품
soap lather/foam
비누 냄새
soap smell
Related Expressions
세제
seje
detergent (general term for cleaning agents)
바디워시
badiwosi
body wash (loanword)
핸드워시
haendeuwosi
hand wash (liquid hand soap)
세안제
seanje
facial cleanser
More Daily Life Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Soap and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
