Vocab: Laundry Care

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🎧 Iru Helper Note — Open

Korean Helper Widgets and type any Korean word or sentence from this lesson into the widget to hear it read aloud. Laundry vocabulary sounds ordinary, but the real magic is hearing chunks like 빨래를 널어 두다 (to hang the laundry and leave it that way) until they feel automatic. 🧦

🌈 The Big Picture

🎨 The Core Laundry Care Family

🧼 Washing and machine words

• 빨래 → laundry; clothes that need washing.

• 빨래하다 → to do laundry as a household task.

• 빨다 → to wash clothes or fabric; often more action-specific than 빨래하다.

• 세탁하다 → to launder/wash; slightly more formal or label-like.

• 세탁기 → washing machine.

• 세탁기를 돌리다 → to run the washing machine. Here, 돌리다 means to operate a machine, not literally “spin by hand.”

• 세제 → detergent; the thing that cleans.

• 섬유유연제 → fabric softener; the thing that softens fabric and may add scent.

🌤️ Drying and hanging words

• 널다 → to hang laundry or bedding so it can dry.

• 빨랫줄 → clothesline.

• 건조대 → drying rack.

• 건조기 → dryer machine.

• 말리다 → to dry something: a person causes an item to dry.

• 마르다 → to become dry: the item dries by itself.

• 자연 건조하다 → to air-dry/naturally dry.

👕 After-drying and texture words

• 개다 → to fold clothes or bedding.

• 다리다 → to iron.

• 다리미 → iron.

• 젖다 → to get wet.

• 축축하다 → to be damp.

• 빳빳하다 → to be stiff; often uncomfortable if used about clothes or towels.

• 보송보송하다 → pleasantly soft, fluffy, and dry.

• 구겨지다 → to become wrinkled.

• 줄어들다 → to shrink or decrease.

• 냄새가 나다 → to smell; often negative unless context says otherwise.

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

1. N에 N을/를 넣다 — put something into a place/container 🧺

• 세탁기에 밝은 옷을 넣고 세제를 조금 넣었어요. (I put light-colored clothes into the washing machine and added a little detergent.) 👕
• 세탁기에 = into the washing machine; 밝은 옷 = light-colored clothes; 세제 = detergent.

• 건조기에 니트를 넣으면 줄어들 수 있어요. (If you put a knit sweater in the dryer, it may shrink.) 🧶
• 건조기 = dryer; 니트 = knit sweater; 줄어들다 = to shrink.

2. N에 N을/를 널다 — hang laundry on/in a drying place 🌤️

• 베란다에 젖은 수건을 널어 두었어요. (I hung the wet towel on the balcony and left it there.) 🧻
• 베란다 = balcony; 젖은 수건 = wet towel; 널어 두다 = to hang and leave it that way.

• 햇볕이 잘 드는 곳에 빨래를 널면 빨리 말라요. (If you hang laundry in a sunny spot, it dries quickly.) ☀️
• 햇볕 = sunlight; 곳 = place; 말라요 comes from 마르다 (to become dry).

3. Condition + cause: A/V-아/어서 🧩

• 셔츠가 빳빳해서 입기 불편해요. (The shirt is stiff, so it is uncomfortable to wear.) 👔
• 빳빳하다 = stiff; 입기 = wearing; 불편하다 = uncomfortable.

• 빨래가 아직 축축해서 건조대에 다시 널었어요. (The laundry was still damp, so I hung it on the drying rack again.) 🌫️
• 아직 = still; 축축하다 = damp; 건조대 = drying rack.

🧩 General Formation Rule

• N에 N을/를 넣다 → put N into/on N: 세탁기에 세제를 넣다 (to put detergent into the washing machine).

• N에 N을/를 널다 → hang N at/on N: 빨랫줄에 수건을 널다 (to hang a towel on a clothesline).

• A/V-아/어서 → because/so: 축축해서 다시 널다 (because it is damp, hang it again).

• V-아/어 두다 → do an action and leave it in that state: 널어 두다 (hang and leave it), 모아 두다 (collect and leave aside), 말려 두다 (dry and leave ready).

📚 Cross-check note

🪞 Synonym Alert

• 세탁하다 (to launder/wash) → more formal, label-like, or machine-care friendly.

• 빨래하다 (to do laundry) → everyday household task.

• 빨다 (to wash fabric/clothes) → action-focused; also appears in hand-washing contexts.

• 널다 (to hang laundry/bedding to dry) → laundry-specific.

• 걸다 (to hang more generally) → coats, bags, pictures, calls, and many other things; not the best default for laundry drying.

• 말리다 (to dry something) vs. 마르다 (to become dry) → causative action vs. natural result.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

• ❌ 수건이 말렸어요. → ✅ 수건이 말랐어요. (The towel became dry; use 마르다 for the item’s condition.)

• ❌ 빨래를 걸었어요. → ✅ 빨래를 널었어요. (Use 널다 for hanging laundry to dry.)

• ❌ 섬유유연제로 옷을 깨끗하게 빨았어요. → ✅ 세제로 옷을 깨끗하게 빨았어요. (세제 cleans; 섬유유연제 softens.)

• ❌ 니트를 건조기에 오래 말렸어요. → ✅ 니트는 자연 건조하는 게 좋아요. (Knitwear can shrink in a dryer, so air-drying is safer.)

• ❌ 빳빳해서 좋아요 as a default compliment → ✅ 보송보송해서 좋아요. (Use 보송보송하다 for pleasantly soft and dry; 빳빳하다 can sound too stiff.)

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🎯 Practice Hub — Laundry Care

 

Welcome to the Laundry Care Practice Hub! 🧺 This set helps you recognize the full Korean laundry cycle: washing, hanging, drying, folding, ironing, and describing fabric texture. By the end, you will be able to talk about damp towels, stiff shirts, shrunken knitwear, and that tiny moment of joy when towels come out 보송보송하게 (pleasantly fluffy and dry). ☁️

 

🔊 Audio reminder: Use

Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence before answering.

 

📝 Instructions: Fill in each blank with the most natural Korean word or phrase. Read the completed sentence aloud, check whether the sentence describes an action or a result, then open the Answer toggle.

 

Exercise 1 — Washing Setup 🧴

A. 저녁에 ＿＿＿＿ 돌리면 아랫집에 소리가 들릴 수 있어요.

If you run the washing machine at night, the downstairs neighbor may hear the sound. 🌙

Answer

세탁기를 — 세탁기를 돌리다 means to run the washing machine.

B. 운동복은 땀이 배어서 바로 ＿＿＿＿ 좋아요.

Workout clothes absorb sweat, so it is good to launder them right away. 🏃

Answer

세탁하는 게 — 세탁하다 is a formal/useful verb for laundering.

C. 검은 티셔츠는 흰 수건과 따로 ＿＿＿＿.

Wash black T-shirts separately from white towels. 🖤

Answer

빠세요 — 빨다 means to wash clothes or fabric.

D. 향이 강한 ＿＿＿＿ 조금만 넣으세요.

Add only a little strongly scented fabric softener. 🌸

Answer

섬유유연제는 — 섬유유연제 softens fabric and may add fragrance.

E. 얼룩이 있는 옷에는 ＿＿＿＿ 먼저 묻히면 좋아요.

For stained clothes, it is good to apply detergent first. 🧼

Answer

세제를 — 세제 is detergent; it cleans stains.

F. 흰옷과 색깔 있는 옷은 ＿＿＿＿ 보관했어요.

I gathered and kept white clothes and colored clothes separately. ⚪

Answer

따로 모아 두고 — 모아 두다 means to gather and leave aside.

G. 빨래가 너무 많이 ＿＿＿＿ 세탁기를 두 번 돌렸어요.

There was too much laundry piled up, so I ran the washing machine twice. 🧺

Answer

쌓여서 — 쌓이다 means to pile up.

H. 얇은 블라우스는 찬물로 ＿＿＿＿ 안전해요.

It is safer to launder a thin blouse in cold water. 👚

Answer

세탁하는 게 — This is a natural care-label style phrase.

I. 양말은 작은 세탁망에 ＿＿＿＿ 잃어버리지 않아요.

If you put socks in a small laundry net, you will not lose them. 🧦

Answer

넣어 두면 — 넣어 두다 means to put something in and leave it there.

J. 수건 냄새가 나면 ＿＿＿＿ 양을 확인해 보세요.

If towels smell, check the amount of detergent. 🧻

Answer

세제 — Too much or too little 세제 can affect laundry smell.

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Vocabulary Box

• 세탁기 → washing machine

• 돌리다 → to run/operate a machine

• 운동복 → workout clothes

• 세탁하다 → to launder

• 검은 티셔츠 → black T-shirt

• 흰 수건 → white towel

• 빨다 → to wash fabric/clothes

• 섬유유연제 → fabric softener

• 세제 → detergent

• 따로 → separately

• 모아 두다 → to collect and leave aside

• 쌓이다 → to pile up

• 세탁망 → laundry net

• 넣어 두다 → to put in and leave

Tip 💡 Washing setup vocabulary loves object particles: 세제를 넣다, 세탁기를 돌리다, 옷을 빨다.

 

Exercise 2 — Hanging and Drying 🌤️

A. 젖은 수건을 빨랫줄에 ＿＿＿＿.

I hung the wet towel on the clothesline. 🧻

Answer

널었어요 — 널다 is the natural verb for hanging laundry to dry.

B. 비가 와서 빨래가 잘 ＿＿＿＿.

It rained, so the laundry did not dry well. 🌧️

Answer

안 말랐어요 — 마르다 means to become dry.

C. 두꺼운 후드티는 하루 더 ＿＿＿＿ 해요.

A thick hoodie needs to be dried one more day. 🧥

Answer

말려야 — 말리다 means to dry something.

D. 햇볕이 잘 드는 곳에 이불을 ＿＿＿＿.

I hung the blanket in a sunny spot to dry. ☀️

Answer

널어 두었어요 — 널어 두다 means to hang and leave in that state.

E. 운동화는 건조기보다 자연스럽게 ＿＿＿＿ 좋아요.

For sneakers, it is better to dry them naturally rather than use the dryer. 👟

Answer

말리는 게 — 말리다 is used because someone dries the shoes.

F. 셔츠가 아직 ＿＿＿＿ 옷장에 넣지 않았어요.

The shirt was still damp, so I did not put it in the closet. 👔

Answer

축축해서 — 축축하다 means damp.

G. 건조대가 작아서 양말을 창가에 ＿＿＿＿.

The drying rack was small, so I hung the socks by the window. 🧦

Answer

널었어요 — Socks are laundry, so 널다 fits naturally.

H. 방 안이 습해서 수건이 늦게 ＿＿＿＿.

The room was humid, so the towel dried late/slowly. 🌫️

Answer

말랐어요 — The towel became dry, so use 마르다.

I. 커튼은 세탁 후 그늘에서 ＿＿＿＿.

After washing curtains, dry them in the shade. 🪟

Answer

말리세요 — This is an instruction to dry something.

J. 빨랫줄에 ＿＿＿＿ 수건이 바람에 흔들렸어요.

The towel hanging on the clothesline swayed in the wind. 🌬️

Answer

널어 둔 — 널어 둔 수건 means “the towel that has been hung and left there.”

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 젖은 수건 → wet towel

• 빨랫줄 → clothesline

• 널다 → to hang laundry to dry

• 마르다 → to become dry

• 말리다 → to dry something

• 후드티 → hoodie

• 햇볕 → sunlight

• 이불 → blanket/bedding

• 운동화 → sneakers

• 자연스럽게 → naturally

• 축축하다 → to be damp

• 건조대 → drying rack

• 습하다 → to be humid

• 그늘 → shade

• 널어 둔 → hung and left

Tip 💡 Ask: “Who is doing the drying?” If a person dries it, use 말리다. If the item becomes dry, use 마르다.

 

Exercise 3 — Texture and Results ☁️

A. 새 수건이 너무 ＿＿＿＿ 얼굴에 닿을 때 거칠어요.

The new towel is too stiff, so it feels rough against my face. 🧻

Answer

빳빳해서 — 빳빳하다 means stiff or rigid.

B. 햇볕에 말린 이불이 ＿＿＿＿ 기분이 좋아요.

The blanket dried in sunlight feels fluffy and nice. ☀️

Answer

보송보송해서 — 보송보송하다 describes a pleasant dry, fluffy feel.

C. 건조기에 오래 넣었더니 원피스가 ＿＿＿＿.

I left the dress in the dryer too long, and it got wrinkled. 👗

Answer

구겨졌어요 — 구겨지다 means to become wrinkled or crumpled.

D. 니트가 조금 ＿＿＿＿ 소매가 짧아졌어요.

The knit sweater shrank a little, so the sleeves got shorter. 🧶

Answer

줄어들어서 — 줄어들다 means to shrink or decrease.

E. 젖은 빨래를 오래 두면 ＿＿＿＿ 날 수 있어요.

If you leave wet laundry for a long time, it can smell. 👃

Answer

냄새가 — 냄새가 나다 means to smell, often unpleasantly.

F. 비를 맞아서 코트가 다 ＿＿＿＿.

The coat got completely wet because it was rained on. 🧥

Answer

젖었어요 — 젖다 means to get wet.

G. 면 셔츠는 ＿＿＿＿ 다리면 깔끔해 보여요.

A cotton shirt looks neat if you iron it after it wrinkles. 👔

Answer

구겨졌을 때 — 구겨졌을 때 means “when it has become wrinkled.”

H. 수건이 ＿＿＿＿ 아직 옷장에 넣기 어려워요.

The towel is damp, so it is still hard to put in the closet. 🚪

Answer

축축해서 — Damp towels should dry more before storage.

I. 섬유유연제를 넣었더니 담요가 덜 ＿＿＿＿.

After I added fabric softener, the blanket was less stiff. 🛏️

Answer

빳빳해졌어요 — This uses the become/change form with 빳빳하다.

J. 마른 잠옷을 입으니 촉감이 ＿＿＿＿.

When I put on the dry pajamas, the texture felt pleasantly soft and dry. 💤

Answer

보송보송했어요 — This is a positive texture word for fabric.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 새 수건 → new towel

• 빳빳하다 → to be stiff

• 거칠다 → to be rough

• 이불 → blanket/bedding

• 보송보송하다 → pleasantly dry and fluffy

• 건조기 → dryer

• 구겨지다 → to become wrinkled

• 원피스 → dress

• 니트 → knit sweater

• 줄어들다 → to shrink

• 냄새가 나다 → to smell

• 젖다 → to get wet

• 축축하다 → to be damp

• 담요 → blanket

• 촉감 → texture/feel

Tip 💡 Texture words are emotional: 보송보송하다 is cozy; 축축하다 and 빳빳하다 often signal a problem.

 

Exercise 4 — Care Instructions and Sequences 🧺

A. 실크 스카프는 손으로 조심해서 ＿＿＿＿.

Wash a silk scarf carefully by hand. 🧣

Answer

빠세요 — 빨다 works naturally for hand-washing fabric.

B. 수영복은 물기를 빼고 그늘에서 ＿＿＿＿.

Remove the water from the swimsuit and dry it in the shade. 🩱

Answer

말리세요 — This is a care instruction: dry the item.

C. 마른 티셔츠는 반듯하게 ＿＿＿＿ 선반에 올려 두세요.

Fold the dry T-shirt neatly and put it on the shelf. 👕

Answer

개어서 — 개다 means to fold clothing or bedding.

D. 셔츠 깃이 구겨지면 약한 온도로 ＿＿＿＿.

If the shirt collar is wrinkled, iron it on low heat. 👔

Answer

다리세요 — 다리다 means to iron.

E. 검은 옷은 색이 빠질 수 있으니 뒤집어서 ＿＿＿＿.

Black clothes may fade, so wash them inside out. 🖤

Answer

세탁하세요 — 세탁하다 fits instruction-style clothing care.

F. 빨래를 널기 전에 주머니를 ＿＿＿＿.

Check the pockets before hanging the laundry. 👖

Answer

확인하세요 — 확인하다 means to check/confirm.

G. 두꺼운 수건은 간격을 두고 ＿＿＿＿ 더 잘 말라요.

Thick towels dry better if you hang them with space between them. 🧻

Answer

널면 — 널면 means “if you hang.”

H. 외출 전에 세탁물을 세탁기에 ＿＿＿＿ 나갔어요.

Before going out, I put the laundry into the washer and left. 🚪

Answer

넣어 두고 — 넣어 두고 means putting it in and leaving it that way before another action.

I. 빨랫줄이 없어서 작은 ＿＿＿＿ 샀어요.

I did not have a clothesline, so I bought a small drying rack. 🛒

Answer

건조대를 — 건조대 is a drying rack.

J. 이 셔츠는 다림질 후에 더 ＿＿＿＿ 보여요.

This shirt looks neater after ironing. ✨

Answer

깔끔해 — 깔끔하다 means neat/clean-looking.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 실크 스카프 → silk scarf

• 손으로 → by hand

• 빨다 → to wash fabric/clothes

• 수영복 → swimsuit

• 물기 → moisture/water

• 그늘 → shade

• 말리다 → to dry something

• 개다 → to fold

• 셔츠 깃 → shirt collar

• 다리다 → to iron

• 뒤집다 → to turn inside out

• 확인하다 → to check

• 간격을 두다 → to leave space

• 건조대 → drying rack

• 깔끔하다 → to be neat

Tip 💡 Care instructions often use polite commands: 세탁하세요, 말리세요, 다리세요.

 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. 수건을 햇볕에 ＿＿＿＿.

I dried the towel in the sunlight. ☀️

Answer

말렸어요 — ✅ Use 말리다 when someone dries something. ❌ Do not use 말랐어요 here if the subject is actively drying the towel.

B. 수건이 햇볕에 잘 ＿＿＿＿.

The towel dried well in the sunlight. 🧻

Answer

말랐어요 — ✅ Use 마르다 when the towel becomes dry. This is the result, not the action.

C. 빨래를 옷걸이에 ＿＿＿＿ 말하면 조금 어색해요.

If you say you hung laundry on a hanger with the general verb “hang,” it sounds a little awkward. 👚

Answer

걸었다고 — ❌ 걸다 is general hanging. ✅ For laundry drying, 널다 is usually more natural.

D. 빨래를 건조대에 ＿＿＿＿ 말하면 자연스러워요.

If you say you hung laundry on the drying rack, it sounds natural. 🧺

Answer

널었다고 — ✅ 널다 is the laundry-specific choice.

E. 옷을 깨끗하게 하려면 ＿＿＿＿ 필요해요.

To make clothes clean, detergent is needed. 🧼

Answer

세제가 — ✅ 세제 cleans. ❌ 섬유유연제 is not the cleaning agent.

F. 수건을 부드럽게 하려면 ＿＿＿＿ 조금 넣어 보세요.

To soften towels, try adding a little fabric softener. 🧴

Answer

섬유유연제를 — ✅ 섬유유연제 softens fabric and can add fragrance.

G. 니트가 줄어들까 봐 건조기 대신 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

I air-dried it instead of using the dryer because I worried the knit sweater might shrink. 🧶

Answer

자연 건조 — ✅ 자연 건조하다 means to air-dry/naturally dry.

H. 새 행주가 너무 ＿＿＿＿ 손에 잘 안 감겨요.

The new dishcloth is too stiff, so it does not fit comfortably in the hand. 🧽

Answer

빳빳해서 — ✅ 빳빳하다 can be negative when fabric feels too stiff.

I. 마른 담요가 ＿＿＿＿ 기분 좋게 덮었어요.

The dry blanket was fluffy and pleasant, so I covered myself with it happily. 🛏️

Answer

보송보송해서 — ✅ 보송보송하다 is the cozy positive texture word.

J. 빨래를 오래 방치하면 ＿＿＿＿ 날 수 있어요.

If you leave laundry unattended for a long time, it may smell. 👃

Answer

냄새가 — ✅ 냄새가 나다 means to smell. In laundry contexts, it usually means an unpleasant odor.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 말리다 → to dry something

• 마르다 → to become dry

• 걸다 → to hang generally

• 널다 → to hang laundry to dry

• 세제 → detergent

• 섬유유연제 → fabric softener

• 니트 → knit sweater

• 건조기 → dryer

• 자연 건조하다 → to air-dry

• 행주 → dishcloth

• 빳빳하다 → to be stiff

• 담요 → blanket

• 보송보송하다 → pleasantly fluffy/dry

• 방치하다 → to leave unattended

• 냄새가 나다 → to smell

Tip 💡 Pitfall patrol: action 말리다, result 마르다; laundry hanging 널다, general hanging 걸다; cleaning 세제, softening 섬유유연제.

 

🎉 Great work — you just sorted the whole laundry basket: machines, detergents, drying racks, fabric textures, and the sneaky 말리다 vs. 마르다 trap. May your Korean stay crisp, your towels stay 보송보송하게, and your knitwear never shrink. 🧺✨