Korean word

쓸다

Pronunciation

Romanizationsseulda

Meaning

  • verbsweep

Example

바닥을 쓸었어요.pa da geul sseu reo sseo yo

I swept the floor.

Illustration for 쓸다 (sweep)

More examples

가게 앞을 쓸었어요.ka ge a peul sseu reo sseo yo

I swept in front of the store.

Core concept

Something is pushed aside in a sweeping movement until nothing unwanted remains, whether the target is dirt, a barrier, or a rival.

Common phrases

  • 바닥을 쓸다pa da geul sseul da

    sweep the floor

  • 현관을 쓸다hyeon gwa neul sseul da

    sweep the entrance

  • 빗자루로 쓸다pit jja ru ro sseul da

    sweep with a broom

Similar words

쓸어내다sseureonaeda: Sweeping gathered dirt toward an edge or opening sends it outside.
빗자루질하다pitjjarujilhada: Sweeping with a broom removes dust and dirt from a floor.
청소하다cheongsohada: Cleaning a space or object removes its dirt and dust.
닦다taktta: Wiping a surface with a hand or cloth removes dirt or moisture.

Definition in Korean

빗자루나 손으로 이물질을 한쪽으로 쓸어 없애거나, 비유적으로 장애물이나 상대를 완전히 제거하다.pit jja ru na so neu ro i mul jji reul han jjo geu ro sseu reo eop ssae geo na pi yu jeo geu ro chang ae mu ri na sang dae reul wan jeon hi che geo ha da

Word origin

The historical formation of this verb is uncertain, so the safest memory link is its action of sweeping unwanted things away, literally or figuratively.

Usage tips

  • English speakers can remember that the word keeps the image of one broad sweep even when it refers to winning all the available prizes.

Other meanings

  • brush awayverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 쓸어내다sseureonaedasweep awayverb
  • 쓸어버리다sseureobeoridawipe outverb
  • 쓸기sseulgisweepingnoun

Word lists with this word