A method of etching a carbon-containing layer, a method of forming a contact hole using the same, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same, the method of etching a carbon-containing layer including forming a capping layer pattern on a carbon-containing layer to expose a portion of the carbon-containing layer, and plasma etching the exposed portion of the carbon-containing layer using an etching gas, wherein the etching gas includes oxygen gas and an inert gas, the inert gas being xenon gas or a gas mixture of xenon gas and argon gas.