Shop confidently in Korea β from traditional markets to department stores. Learn about Korean won, prices, bargaining, and essential shopping phrases.
Estimated Time: 40β50 minutes
Korean currency is the won (β©). There are no decimals β prices are in whole numbers. Common denominations: β©1,000 Β· β©5,000 Β· β©10,000 Β· β©50,000 bills and β©10 Β· β©50 Β· β©100 Β· β©500 coins.
| Amount | Korean | Approximate USD |
|---|---|---|
| β©1,000 | μ² μ | ~$0.75 |
| β©5,000 | μ€μ² μ | ~$3.75 |
| β©10,000 | λ§ μ | ~$7.50 |
| β©50,000 | μ€λ§ μ | ~$37.50 |
| β©100,000 | μλ§ μ | ~$75 |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| κ°κ² | gage | store/shop |
| μμ₯ | sijang | market |
| λ°±νμ | baekhwajeom | department store |
| νΈμμ | pyeonuijeom | convenience store |
| λ§νΈ | mateu | mart/supermarket |
| μ· | ot | clothes |
| μ λ° | sinbal | shoes |
| κ°λ°© | gabang | bag |
| λΉμΈλ€ | bissada | expensive |
| μΈλ€ | ssada | cheap |
| ν μΈ | harin | discount |
| μμμ¦ | yeongsujeung | receipt |
| μΉ΄λ | kadeu | card (credit/debit) |
| νκΈ | hyeongeum | cash |
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| μ΄κ±° μΌλ§μμ? | How much is this? |
| λ무 λΉμΈμ. | It's too expensive. |
| κΉμ μ£ΌμΈμ. | Please give me a discount. |
| λ€λ₯Έ μ μμ΄μ? | Do you have another color? |
| ν° κ±° μμ΄μ? | Do you have a bigger one? |
| μμ κ±° μμ΄μ? | Do you have a smaller one? |
| μ μ΄ λ΄λ λΌμ? | Can I try it on? |
| μ΄κ±° μ΄κ²μ. | I'll buy this. |
| μΉ΄λ λΌμ? | Do you accept cards? |
| λ΄ν¬ νμ μμ΄μ. | I don't need a bag. |
π‘ Culture Note: Bargaining (κΉμ μ£ΌμΈμ) is common at traditional markets (μμ₯) but NOT at department stores, convenience stores, or chain shops. Korea is very card-friendly β you can pay by card almost everywhere, even for small amounts.
| Size | Korean | Color | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | μ€λͺ° / μμ | Red | λΉ¨κ°μ |
| Medium | λ―Έλμ / μ€κ° | Blue | νλμ |
| Large | λΌμ§ / ν° | White | νμμ / ν°μ |
| XL | μμ€λΌμ§ | Black | κ²μμ / κΉλ§μ |
| Free size | ν리μ¬μ΄μ¦ | Yellow | λ Έλμ |
| Green | μ΄λ‘μ | ||
| Pink | λΆνμ |
Customer: μ΄κ±° μΌλ§μμ? (How much is this?)
Vendor: λ§ μ€μ² μμ΄μμ. (15,000 won.)
Customer: λ무 λΉμΈμ. λ§ μμ μ λΌμ? (Too expensive. Can't you do 10,000 won?)
Vendor: λ§ μ΄μ² μμ ν΄ λ릴κ²μ. (I'll give it to you for 12,000 won.)
Customer: μ’μμ. μΉ΄λ λΌμ? (Okay. Do you take card?)
Q1: How do you ask "How much is this?"