Welcome back to Simply Korea 101!
In Chapter 8, we learned how to order food and drinks at Korean cafés and restaurants.
Today, we’re going shopping!
Whether you’re browsing a traditional market, shopping at a department store, or picking something up at a convenience store, knowing a few simple Korean expressions can make shopping much easier.
You don’t need to speak perfect Korean.
With today’s expressions, you’ll be able to ask the price, ask about discounts, choose an item, and complete a purchase.
🛍️ 5 Useful Korean Shopping Words
① 가격 — Price
가격
Pronunciation: gagyeok
English: price
Use 가격 when talking about how much something costs.
Example
가격이 얼마예요?
→ How much is it?
② 할인 — Discount
할인
Pronunciation: har-in
English: discount
You’ll see 할인 everywhere in Korea, especially during sales.
Example
할인돼요?
→ Is it discounted?
③ 쇼핑 — Shopping
쇼핑
Pronunciation: syoping
English: shopping
This is a Korean loanword from English.
Example
쇼핑하러 가요.
→ I’m going shopping.
④ 물건 — Item / Thing
물건
Pronunciation: mulgeon
English: item / thing / product
물건 is a useful general word for an object or item you’re buying.
Example
이 물건이 마음에 들어요.
→ I like this item.
⑤ 계산대 — Checkout Counter
계산대
Pronunciation: gyesandae
English: checkout counter / cashier
You’ll commonly see or hear this word in stores.
Example
계산대가 어디예요?
→ Where is the checkout counter?
💬 5 Practical Korean Shopping Phrases
① 이거 얼마예요? — How much is this?
이거 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: igeo eolmayeyo?
English: How much is this?
This is one of the most useful shopping phrases in Korean.
You can simply point at an item and say:
이거 얼마예요?
→ How much is this?
No complicated sentence is needed.
② 만 원이에요. — It’s 10,000 won.
만 원이에요.
Pronunciation: man won-ieyo
English: It’s 10,000 won.
원 is the Korean currency.
You’ll hear prices such as:
5,000원
→ 오천 원
10,000원
→ 만 원
30,000원
→ 삼만 원
Learning Korean numbers will make shopping much easier.
③ 조금 더 싸게 해 주실 수 있어요? — Can you make it a little cheaper?
조금 더 싸게 해 주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: jogeum deo ssage hae jusil su isseoyo?
English: Can you make it a little cheaper?
This expression is particularly useful at traditional markets or independent shops where bargaining may be possible.
It sounds much more polite than simply saying:
조금 더 싸게 해 주실 수 있어요?
→ Could you make it a little cheaper?
④ 이걸로 할게요. — I’ll take this one.
이걸로 할게요.
Pronunciation: igeollo halgeyo
English: I’ll take this one.
Use this when you’ve decided what you want to buy.
Example
A: 어떤 색으로 드릴까요?
→ Which color would you like?
B: 이걸로 할게요.
→ I’ll take this one.
This phrase works well beyond shopping too.
⑤ 봉투에 넣어 주세요. — Please put it in a bag.
봉투에 넣어 주세요.
Pronunciation: bongtue neoeo juseyo
English: Please put it in a bag.
봉투 means a bag or shopping bag in this context.
You can also simply say:
봉투 주세요.
→ A bag, please.
🗣️ Mini Conversation
Let’s go shopping!
→ 쇼핑하러 가볼까요?
A: 실례합니다. 이거 얼마예요?
→ Excuse me. How much is this?
B: 만 원이에요.
→ It’s 10,000 won.
A: 조금 더 싸게 해 주실 수 있어요?
→ Can you make it a little cheaper?
B: 네, 팔천 원에 드릴게요.
→ Okay, I’ll give it to you for 8,000 won.
A: 네, 그럼 이걸로 할게요.
→ Okay, then I’ll take this one.
B: 감사합니다.
→ Thank you.
A: 봉투에 넣어 주세요.
→ Please put it in a bag.
Korean Culture Tip: Bargaining in Korea
Bargaining depends on where you’re shopping in Korea.
At traditional markets, asking politely for a small discount can sometimes be natural.
However, fixed-price stores, department stores, convenience stores, and many modern shops generally don’t operate that way.
So before bargaining, look at the type of store you’re in.
A smile and a polite question go a long way.
Instead of demanding a lower price, try:
조금 더 싸게 해 주실 수 있어요?
→ Can you make it a little cheaper?
💳 A Useful Shopping Pattern
Once you know 이거 얼마예요?, you can make many simple shopping conversations.
이거 얼마예요?
→ How much is this?
이거 할인돼요?
→ Is this discounted?
다른 색 있어요?
→ Do you have another color?
다른 사이즈 있어요?
→ Do you have another size?
이걸로 할게요.
→ I’ll take this one.
These short sentences are much more useful than memorizing long conversations.
🗣️ Read Aloud & Repeat
→ 소리 내어 읽고 따라 해보세요.
가격
gagyeok
Price
할인
har-in
Discount
쇼핑
syoping
Shopping
물건
mulgeon
Item / thing
계산대
gyesandae
Checkout counter
이거 얼마예요?
igeo eolmayeyo?
How much is this?
만 원이에요.
man won-ieyo.
It’s 10,000 won.
조금 더 싸게 해 주실 수 있어요?
jogeum deo ssage hae jusil su isseoyo?
Can you make it a little cheaper?
이걸로 할게요.
igeollo halgeyo.
I’ll take this one.
봉투에 넣어 주세요.
bongtue neoeo juseyo.
Please put it in a bag.
Try saying each expression three times.
Click, listen, read aloud, and repeat.
🎯 Today’s Korean Challenge
You’re shopping at a Korean market!
You find something you like.
Try to complete this conversation:
A: 이거 얼마예요?
→ How much is this?
B: ______ 원이에요.
→ It’s ______ won.
A: 조금 더 싸게 해 주실 수 있어요?
→ Can you make it a little cheaper?
B: 네, ______ 원에 드릴게요.
→ Okay, I’ll give it to you for ______ won.
A: 네, 그럼 이걸로 할게요.
→ Okay, then I’ll take this one.
Now try creating your own price.
For example:
이만 원 → 18,000원
삼만 원 → 25,000원
The goal isn’t perfect grammar.
The goal is being able to use Korean when you actually need it.
🌸 One Small Step
Shopping is one of the easiest places to practice Korean because the situation gives you clues.
You can point at an item, read the price, listen to the answer, and use a short phrase.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word.
Focus on the key expressions:
얼마예요?
할인돼요?
이걸로 할게요.
→ How much is it?
→ Is it discounted?
→ I’ll take this one.
Little by little, these phrases will become natural.
See You in Chapter 10!
Keep practicing, one phrase at a time.
See you in Chapter 10!
— Ayla
Let’s discover Korea, one word, one dish, and one story at a time.