Shopping and Services: Prices, Sizes, and Returns in Survival Korean

Shopping Goals and the “Flow” of a Purchase

In Korean shopping situations, you can move smoothly by using short, polite question patterns. This chapter organizes phrases by goal: (1) browsing and getting help, (2) asking the price, (3) negotiating politely (only where appropriate), (4) choosing size/color and checking stock, (5) paying and finishing (bag/receipt), plus common service scenarios (salon, laundry, repairs).

Core Question Patterns You’ll Reuse

1) Browsing: Looking Around and Getting Help

Useful Phrases

• 그냥 보고 있어요. = I’m just looking.
• 잠깐만요. = One moment.
• 도와주세요. = Please help me.
• 추천해 주세요. = Please recommend (something).
• 선물용으로 찾고 있어요. = I’m looking for a gift.
• 이거 한번 볼 수 있을까요? = Could I take a look at this?

Step-by-step: Asking for Help Without Pressure

1. Start browsing: 그냥 보고 있어요.
2. State what you want: 티셔츠 찾고 있어요. (I’m looking for a T-shirt.)
3. Add a preference: 검은색으로요. (In black.)
4. Ask about options: 다른 디자인도 있어요? (Do you have other designs?)

2) Asking the Price (and What’s Included)

Price Questions

• 이거 얼마예요? = How much is this?
• 이거 세일해요? = Is this on sale?
• 할인돼요? = Is there a discount?
• 가격표가 어디 있어요? = Where is the price tag?
• 세금 포함이에요? = Is tax included?

Numbers Tip for Prices

Prices are usually said in won (원). You can confirm by repeating the number and adding 원이요? (won?): 삼만 원이요? (30,000 won?)

3) Negotiating Politely (Where Appropriate)

Cultural Note: Where Bargaining Works

• Traditional markets, street stalls: Sometimes flexible, especially if buying multiple items.
• Malls, department stores, chain shops: Prices are fixed; bargaining is uncommon. Ask about promotions instead.
• Electronics markets: Some flexibility may exist, but it varies; asking for a “better price” is more common than hard bargaining.

Polite Negotiation Phrases (Soft, Respectful)

• 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요? = Could you discount it a little?
• 현금이면 더 싸요? = Is it cheaper if I pay cash?
• 두 개 사면 할인돼요? = If I buy two, is there a discount?
• 서비스로 하나 더 주실 수 있어요? = Could you add one more as a free extra?

Polite Refusals (When You Don’t Want to Buy)

• 생각해 볼게요. = I’ll think about it.
• 다음에 올게요. = I’ll come again next time.
• 괜찮아요. 감사합니다. = It’s okay, thank you.

4) Choosing Size/Color: Stock, Fit, and Preferences

Phrase Grid: Sizes

Phrase Grid: Colors and Preferences

Phrase Grid: Quantities and Options

Checking Stock and Trying On

• 이거 있어요? = Do you have this?
• 재고 있어요? = Is it in stock?
• 다른 사이즈 있어요? = Do you have another size?
• 입어봐도 돼요? = Can I try it on?
• 탈의실 어디예요? = Where is the fitting room?
• 이거 맞아요? = Does this fit / Is this the right one?

5) Completing Payment: Card, Cash, Bag, Receipt

At the Register

• 이거 살게요. = I’ll buy this.
• 카드로 할게요. = I’ll pay by card.
• 현금으로 할게요. = I’ll pay cash.
• 영수증 주세요. = Please give me a receipt.
• 봉투(봉지) 주세요. = Please give me a bag.
• 봉투 필요하세요? = Do you need a bag? (You may hear this.)
• 포인트 적립할게요. = I’ll collect points. (If you have a membership.)

Step-by-step: A Smooth Checkout

1. Decide: 이거 살게요.
2. Payment method: 카드로 할게요.
3. Bag: 봉투 주세요. or 봉투는 괜찮아요. (No bag is fine.)
4. Receipt: 영수증 주세요.

Mini-section: Convenience Store (편의점) Essentials

Finding Items

• ~ 어디에 있어요? = Where is ~?
• 물/우유/커피 어디에 있어요? = Where is water/milk/coffee?
• 이거 있어요? = Do you have this?
• 이거는 뭐예요? = What is this?

Practical Requests

• 봉투 주세요. = Please give me a bag.
• 영수증 주세요. = Please give me a receipt.
• 전자레인지 사용해도 돼요? = Can I use the microwave?
• 이거 데워 주세요. = Please heat this up.
• 젓가락/포크/숟가락 주세요. = Chopsticks/fork/spoon, please.

Mini-section: Pharmacy (약국) Practical Korean

At a pharmacy, describe your symptom simply and ask for something “for” it. If you have allergies or take other medicine, say so clearly.

Key Phrases

• 약국 어디에 있어요? = Where is a pharmacy?
• 감기약 있어요? = Do you have cold medicine?
• 두통약 있어요? = Do you have headache medicine?
• 배탈 났어요. = My stomach is upset.
• 목이 아파요. = My throat hurts.
• 기침이 나요. = I have a cough.
• 알레르기 있어요. = I have allergies.
• 하루에 몇 번 먹어요? = How many times a day do I take it?
• 식전/식후에 먹어요? = Do I take it before/after meals?

Step-by-step: Getting the Right Medicine

1. State the problem: 목이 아파요. 기침이 나요.
2. Ask for a recommendation: 약 추천해 주세요.
3. Confirm how to take it: 하루에 몇 번 먹어요?
4. Safety note: 알레르기 있어요. (if applicable)

Service Scenarios

Hair Salon (미용실): Requests and Style Control

What to Say Before the Cut

• 커트하고 싶어요. = I want a haircut.
• 머리 조금만 다듬어 주세요. = Please trim a little.
• 앞머리 잘라 주세요. = Please cut my bangs.
• 옆은 짧게, 위는 조금 길게 해 주세요. = Short on the sides, a bit longer on top.
• 너무 짧게는 말아 주세요. = Please don’t make it too short.
• 이 정도 길이로요. = About this length. (gesture helps)

During the Service

• 조금 더 짧게 해 주세요. = Please make it a bit shorter.
• 이렇게 괜찮아요. = This is fine like this.
• 드라이만 해 주세요. = Just a blow-dry, please.

Laundry (세탁소): Drop-off and Pickup

• 이거 세탁해 주세요. = Please wash/clean this.
• 드라이클리닝 돼요? = Do you do dry cleaning?
• 언제 찾을 수 있어요? = When can I pick it up?
• 내일 찾을 수 있어요? = Can I pick it up tomorrow?
• 얼룩이 있어요. = There’s a stain.
• 이 얼룩 지워 주세요. = Please remove this stain.

Basic Repairs (수선/수리): Clothes, Shoes, Small Fixes

• 수선 가능해요? = Can you alter/repair it?
• 바지 길이 줄여 주세요. = Please shorten the pants length.
• 지퍼가 고장 났어요. = The zipper is broken.
• 단추가 떨어졌어요. = A button fell off.
• 언제까지 돼요? = By when will it be ready?
• 대략 얼마예요? = About how much is it?

Returns and Exchanges: Calm, Respectful Language

Key Vocabulary

• 교환 = exchange
• 환불 = refund
• 반품 = return
• 영수증 = receipt
• 카드 결제 = card payment
• 현금 결제 = cash payment

Essential Phrases

• 교환/환불 가능해요? = Is exchange/refund possible?
• 사이즈가 안 맞아요. = The size doesn’t fit.
• 색이 생각보다 달라요. = The color is different than I thought.
• 영수증 여기 있어요. = Here is the receipt.
• 포장 안 뜯었어요. = I didn’t open the packaging.
• 사용 안 했어요. = I didn’t use it.

Cultural Note: How to Sound Polite When There’s a Problem

When requesting a return/exchange, a calm explanation plus a question works better than strong blame. Use a reason + 가능해요?. If the store says it’s not possible, respond politely and ask for alternatives.

• 아, 그렇군요. 그럼 교환은 가능해요? = I see. Then is an exchange possible?
• 그럼 다른 방법이 있을까요? = Is there another way?

Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Buying Clothes + Fitting-room Phrases

점원: 어서 오세요. 도와드릴까요?  (Welcome. Can I help you?)
손님: 그냥 보고 있어요. 티셔츠 찾고 있어요.  (I’m just looking. I’m looking for a T-shirt.)
점원: 어떤 색 원하세요?  (What color do you want?)
손님: 검은색이요. 다른 색도 있어요?  (Black. Do you have other colors too?)
점원: 네, 흰색이랑 파란색 있어요.  (Yes, we have white and blue.)
손님: 이거 얼마예요?  (How much is this?)
점원: 29,000원이요.  (29,000 won.)
손님: M 사이즈 있어요?  (Do you have size M?)
점원: 네. 입어보실래요? 탈의실은 저쪽이에요.  (Yes. Would you like to try it on? The fitting room is over there.)
손님: 네, 입어봐도 돼요?  (Yes, can I try it on?)
(탈의실)
손님: 한 사이즈 큰 거 있어요? 조금 작아요.  (Do you have one size bigger? It’s a bit small.)
점원: 네, L 사이즈 드릴게요.  (Yes, I’ll get you size L.)
손님: 이거 딱 맞아요. 이거 살게요. 카드로 할게요.  (This fits perfectly. I’ll buy this. I’ll pay by card.)
점원: 봉투 필요하세요?  (Do you need a bag?)
손님: 네, 봉투 주세요. 영수증도 주세요.  (Yes, a bag please. And a receipt too.)

Dialogue 2: Exchange/Return (Calm, Respectful)

손님: 안녕하세요. 교환 가능해요?  (Hello. Is an exchange possible?)
점원: 네, 어떤 문제세요?  (Yes, what seems to be the issue?)
손님: 사이즈가 안 맞아요. 한 사이즈 큰 걸로 교환하고 싶어요.  (The size doesn’t fit. I’d like to exchange for one size bigger.)
점원: 영수증 있으세요?  (Do you have the receipt?)
손님: 네, 영수증 여기 있어요. 사용 안 했어요.  (Yes, here is the receipt. I didn’t use it.)
점원: 확인해 볼게요. L 사이즈 재고가 있어요.  (Let me check. We have size L in stock.)
손님: 감사합니다.  (Thank you.)
(만약 재고가 없을 때)
점원: 죄송하지만 L 사이즈가 없어요.  (Sorry, but we don’t have size L.)
손님: 아, 그렇군요. 그럼 환불 가능해요?  (I see. Then is a refund possible?)
점원: 네, 가능합니다. 카드로 결제하셨죠?  (Yes, it’s possible. You paid by card, right?)
손님: 네, 카드로 했어요.  (Yes, by card.)