Korean Dictionary
How to say "Towel" in Korean
“Towel” in Korean is 수건 (pronounced "sugeon").
수건
sugeon
Usage & Context
A towel is used for drying the body after bathing. In Korea, towels are often hung on heated racks in bathrooms. The word 수건 is used for all types of towels.
Example Sentence
목욕 후에 수건으로 몸을 닦아요.
I dry my body with a towel after bathing.
How to use 수건 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Towel” is 수건, romanized as sugeon.
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 수건.
Pronunciation Guide
수 (su) sounds like 'soo' (as in 'soon'). 건 (geon) sounds like 'gun' (as in the weapon), but with a softer 'g' sound, almost like a voiced 'k'. Put it together as 'soo-gun'.
More Example Sentences
Describing a daily hygiene routine.
세수하고 나서 깨끗한 수건으로 얼굴을 닦았어요.
After washing my face, I wiped it with a clean towel.
Giving advice for preparing for a workout.
헬스장에 갈 때 작은 수건 하나 챙겨가야 해요.
You should bring a small towel when you go to the gym.
Discussing the characteristics of new products.
새 수건은 처음 쓸 때 물 흡수가 잘 안 될 수도 있어요.
New towels might not absorb water well the first time you use them.
Cultural Context
Korean towels are often smaller than Western bath towels, typically hand-towel sized, and people might use several for a full body dry. They are frequently white or light-colored and often given as gifts, especially for housewarmings or as promotional items with company logos. It's common to see them neatly folded or rolled in Korean bathrooms.
Editorial note
We review entries like 수건 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
수건으로 닦다
to wipe with a towel
수건을 널다
to hang out a towel (to dry)
젖은 수건
wet towel
Related Expressions
타월
tawol
towel (loanword, often used for larger beach/bath towels)
걸레
geolle
rag, cleaning cloth
손수건
sonsugeon
handkerchief
샤워 가운
shyawo gaun
shower gown/robe
More Daily Life Words
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