화장
hwajang[ɸwa̠d͡ʑa̠ŋ]
In Korean, 화장 (hwajang) is the word for make up.
화장 refers to cosmetics or the act of applying them. To use it as a verb meaning 'to put on makeup', you must add the verb suffix '-하다' to the noun, forming 화장하다.
Meaning: to invent, to imagine, to concoct (verb)
Which one should you use?
In English, 'make up' can mean to invent a story or a lie, but in Korean, you should not use 화장 for this purpose. Instead, use 지어내다 to mean 'to invent a story'.
How do you pronounce it?
hwajang
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 화장 to mean 'to invent a story' or 'to concoct a lie'. Use 지어내다 instead.
Did you know?
- The word 화장 can also mean 'cremation' depending on the Hanja characters used. This occurs because the same phonetic sound is used for the word meaning 'to burn the dead'.
- The term 쌩얼 is a popular slang word used to describe a 'bare face' without any 화장.
- To achieve a look that appears as though you are wearing no makeup at all, Koreans use the term 투명 화장, which literally translates to 'transparent makeup'.
Examples in context
- 오늘 화장 어때?How does my makeup look today?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a late arrival.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo왜 늦었어?wae neujeosseo?Why are you late?
- 민지 Min-ji변명을 화장하고 있어.byeonmyeongeul hwajanghago isseo.I'm making up an excuse.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정직하게 말해.jeongjik-hage malhae.Be honest.
- 민지 Min-ji알았어, 사실은 늦잠 잤어.arasseo, sasireun neutjam jasseo.Okay, actually I overslept.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 화장, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
