(Illustration by Hyemin Lee)
1. Sentence (formal & conversational)
*Using “yo” makes a sentence formal.
“How much is it?”= Eolmayeyo? (얼마예요?)
“Please give to me / I’ll take it”= Juseyo (주세요)
“Please do it for me”= Hae-juseyo (해주세요) “Please give me a discount”= Kkakka-juseyo (깎아주세요)
“I’ll buy it” = Salgeyo (살게요)
“I won’t buy it” = An-salgeyo (안 살게요)
“Can I try on? (Only for clothes)” = Ib-eo bwado dweyo? (입어봐도 돼요?)
“Can I try on? (Only for shoes)” = Sinuh bwado dweyo? (신어봐도 돼요?)
2. Vocabulary
• Igeo (이거) = This
• Jeogeo (저거) = That
• Gachi (같이) = Together
• Jogeum (조금) = A little bit
3. Prepositions
• Rang (랑) = And, with (or as with)
• Man (만) = Only
Peaceful name
The name of many old wholesale markets is “Pyeonghwa.” It’s because they were built right after the Korean War. It shows how much South Koreans wished for the peaceful reunification of the peninsula at that time.
• Pyeonghwa (평화): Peace
• Tongil (통일): Reunification
Follow my lead Don’t be afraid, it’ll be fun speaking Korean while shopping & haggling!
(Illustration by Hyemin Lee)
If you ask politely, the chance of getting a discount will increase. Say “Jogeum-man” to make a sentence more polite.
“Can I get a little discount.” = Jogeum-man kkakka juseyo (조금만 깎아주세요)
If “kkakka” is hard to say, using the English word “discount” with “hae-juseyo” will work.
Jogeum-man discount hae-juseyo (조금만 디스카운트 해주세요)
