Shopping: How Much Is It?
Ask prices, understand won amounts, try things on, ask for other sizes and colors, pay by card and request an exchange.
Narae · Everyday conversation & today's KoreanWhat you will learn in this lesson
- Ask 얼마예요? and understand prices in won
- Ask for another size or color and try clothes on
- Pay by card and answer the cashier’s usual questions
- Ask for an exchange or refund politely
Hi, Narae here! Shopping in Korea is so much fun, from big malls to street markets. Today you will learn the phrases I hear every single day at the counter. Ready? Let’s go shopping!
The magic question: 얼마예요?
얼마예요? means "How much is it?". Point at something and say 이거 얼마예요? (How much is this?). For two items: 이거하고 저거 얼마예요?
Korean prices use Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼…) with 원, the Korean currency. The tricky part is that Korean groups big numbers by 만 (10,000), not by thousands. So 10,000 won is 만 원, 20,000 won is 이만 원, and 100,000 won is 십만 원. Note that you say 만 원, not 일만 원, in everyday speech.
Reading prices
| Price | In Korean | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 won | 천 원 | not 일천 원 |
| 3,500 won | 삼천오백 원 | 천 + 백 |
| 10,000 won | 만 원 | not 일만 원 |
| 15,000 won | 만 오천 원 | 만 + 오천 |
| 28,000 won | 이만 팔천 원 | 이만 + 팔천 |
| 100,000 won | 십만 원 | 10 × 만 |
| 350,000 won | 삼십오만 원 | 35 × 만 |
Think in units of 만: 28,000 = 2.8 만 = 이만 팔천.
I had the same trouble with English "thousands"! Here is my trick: cover the last four digits with your finger. The number left is how many 만. 45,000 → 4만 + 5천 → 사만 오천 원.
Looking and choosing
- 그냥 구경하고 있어요. [그냥 구경하고 이써요] geunyang gugyeonghago isseoyo. I’m just looking. Useful when a staff member asks if you need help.
- 이거 다른 색 있어요? [이거 다른 색 이써요] igeo dareun saek isseoyo? Do you have this in another color?
- 더 큰 사이즈 있어요? deo keun saijeu isseoyo? Do you have a bigger size?
- 더 작은 거 있어요? [더 자근 거 이써요] deo jageun geo isseoyo? Do you have a smaller one?
- 입어 봐도 돼요? [이버 봐도 돼요] ibeo bwado dwaeyo? May I try it on? For shoes: 신어 봐도 돼요?
- 탈의실은 어디예요? [타리시른 어디예요] taruisireun eodiyeyo? Where is the fitting room?
- 좀 커요. / 좀 작아요. jom keoyo. / jom jagayo. It’s a bit big. / It’s a bit small.
- 이걸로 할게요. [이걸로 할께요] igeollo halgeyo. I’ll take this one.
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Buying a jacket
At the counter
When you pay, the cashier may ask a few quick questions. Here is what they usually mean.
봉투 필요하세요? — Do you need a bag? In many shops and supermarkets, bags are not free, so you may pay a small amount. Answer 네, 주세요 or 아니요, 괜찮아요.
카드세요? or 결제는 어떻게 하시겠어요? — Card? / How would you like to pay? You can say 카드요 or 현금이요 (cash).
일시불이요? — Some card payments in Korea can be split into monthly payments. If the cashier asks this, just say 네, 일시불로 해 주세요 (Yes, pay all at once).
영수증 드릴까요? — Would you like the receipt? Keep it if you might exchange the item.
Paying, discounts and exchanges
- 카드 돼요? kadeu dwaeyo? Do you take cards?
- 현금으로 할게요. [현그므로 할께요] hyeongeumeuro halgeyo. I’ll pay in cash.
- 봉투 하나 주세요. bongtu hana juseyo. One bag, please.
- 이거 할인돼요? [이거 하린돼요] igeo harindwaeyo? Is this on sale? / Is there a discount on this?
- 원 플러스 원이에요. won peulleoseu wonieyo. It’s buy one, get one free. Shops often write this as 1+1.
- 좀 깎아 주세요. [좀 까까 주세요] jom kkakka juseyo. Could you give me a little discount? Only at traditional markets or small stalls, said with a smile. Not in department stores or chain shops.
- 교환할 수 있어요? [교환할 쑤 이써요] gyohwanhal su isseoyo? Can I exchange this?
- 환불해 주세요. hwanbulhae juseyo. I’d like a refund, please.
A little tip from me: at traditional markets, sellers sometimes add a bit extra for free. This is called 덤. If you get it, a big smile and 감사합니다 is the perfect answer!
At a convenience store
Why do staff speak so politely?
You may notice that shop staff use many words with -시- or -세요: 찾으시는 거 있으세요?, 필요하세요?, 카드세요? This is honorific speech, used to show respect to customers. You do not need to answer in the same way. Simple polite 요 forms like 네, 카드요 or 괜찮아요 are perfect for a customer.
You will also hear 잠시만요 or 잠깐만요 (Just a moment) when staff go to look for a size, and 안녕히 가세요 (Goodbye) when you leave. A simple 감사합니다 or 수고하세요 is a friendly reply. 수고하세요 is something customers often say to staff who are still working.
Shopping words
- 가격 gagyeok price
- 싸다 ssada to be cheap
- 비싸다 bissada to be expensive
- 할인 [하린] harin discount
- 봉투 bongtu bag (shopping bag)
- 현금 hyeongeum cash
- 교환 gyohwan exchange
- 환불 hwanbul refund
Check quiz
Q1. How do you say 25,000 won?
Q2. How do you usually say 10,000 won?
Q3. You want to try on a shirt. What do you ask?
Q4. The cashier asks 봉투 필요하세요? You don’t need one.
Q5. Where is 좀 깎아 주세요 appropriate?
Q6. "I’ll take this one."
Amazing work! Practice prices with things around you: look at your phone, your bag, your coffee, and say the price in won. Happy shopping!
Key points
- 얼마예요? = How much is it? Prices use Sino-Korean numbers + 원.
- Count big numbers in 만 (10,000): 이만 오천 원 = 25,000 won.
- 입어 봐도 돼요?, 다른 색 있어요?, 이걸로 할게요.
- Counter questions: 봉투 필요하세요?, 카드세요?, 일시불이요?
- Bargaining (깎아 주세요) only at markets and small stalls.
Recommended official free resources
- Study Korean — Overseas Koreans Agency
- Korean Basic Dictionary (multilingual) — National Institute of Korean Language
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