Koreans rub their teeth — and rub the groundwork too

Where the picture shows up in 닦다

1. 1

   rubbed off with cloth

   수건으로 땀 좀 닦으세요.

   su-geo-neu-ro ttam jom da-kkeu-se-yo

   Here, wipe the sweat off with a towel.

   A towel presses and drags across a forehead, drinking the beads of sweat into the cloth

2. 2

   a surface rubbed smooth

   테이블을 깨끗이 닦아 주세요.

   te-i-beu-reul kkae-kkeu-si da-kka ju-se-yo

   Please wipe the table clean.

   Wherever the rag has passed the table is bright and unmarked, a clean path behind it

3. 3

   scraped out with a brush

   자기 전에 이를 꼭 닦아요.

   ja-gi jeo-ne i-reul kkok da-kka-yo

   I always brush my teeth before bed.

   A toothbrush travels between the teeth, scraping out what was wedged in, foam rising white

   Korean brushes teeth with 닦다, not 씻다: the point is the rubbing, not the water.

4. 4

   rubbed up to a shine

   면접 전에 구두를 닦았어요.

   myeon-jeop jeo-ne gu-du-reul da-kka-sseo-yo

   I polished my shoes before the interview.

   A dry cloth goes over the toe of the shoe again and again until the lamp is reflected in it

5. 5

   ground rubbed flat and firm

   기본부터 차근차근 닦아야 해요.

   gi-bon-bu-teo cha-geun-cha-geun da-kka-ya hae-yo

   You have to work up from the basics, step by step.

   A bumpy dirt patch is pushed and tamped until it is firm enough to set a house on