24 Korean shopping phrases you need in Seoul (with pronunciation)

Shopping is half the fun of Seoul — the skincare floors of Myeongdong, the fashion alleys of Hongdae, the food stalls of Gwangjang Market. You do not need fluent Korean to enjoy any of it. These 24 phrases will carry you from browsing to bargaining to bags-in-hand, and shop staff will light up when they hear even one of them.

These are the exact phrases from Essential Korean Ep. 03 (Shopping), Parts 1 and 2, our video series on Facebook — watch the videos to hear each phrase spoken, then keep this page open while you shop. Every phrase comes with the Korean (Hangul), a romanization, and a simple "say it like this" guide.

Browsing

• I'm just looking — 그냥 구경하는 거예요 (Geunyang gugyeonghaneun geoyeyo) · say: geu-nyang goo-gyeong-ha-neun geo-ye-yo
• I'm looking for a gift — 선물을 찾고 있어요 (Seonmureul chatgo isseoyo) · say: seon-moo-reul chat-go ee-sseo-yo

Colors & sizes

• Do you have this in blue? — 이거 파란색 있어요? (Igeo paransaek isseoyo?) · say: ee-geo pa-ran-saek ee-sseo-yo
• Do you have a smaller size? — 더 작은 사이즈 있어요? (Deo jageun saijeu isseoyo?) · say: deo ja-geun sah-ee-jeu ee-sseo-yo

Fitting room

• Where is the fitting room? — 피팅룸이 어디예요? (Pitingrumi eodiyeyo?) · say: pee-ting-roo-mee eo-dee-ye-yo
• Can I try this on? — 입어봐도 돼요? (Ibeobwado dwaeyo?) · say: ee-beo-bwa-do dwae-yo

Bargaining

• Can you give me a discount? — 할인해 주세요 (Harinhae juseyo) · say: ha-rin-hae joo-se-yo
• A little cheaper, please — 조금만 깎아 주세요 (Jogeumman kkakka juseyo) · say: jo-geum-man kka-kka joo-se-yo

Buying

• Does it look good on me? — 잘 어울려요? (Jal eoullyeoyo?) · say: jal eo-ool-lyeo-yo
• I'll buy this — 이거 살게요 (Igeo salgeyo) · say: ee-geo sal-ge-yo

Paying

• Can I get a tax refund? — 텍스 리펀드 돼요? (Tekseu ripeondeu dwaeyo?) · say: tek-seu ree-peon-deu dwae-yo
• A bag, please — 봉투 주세요 (Bongtu juseyo) · say: bong-too joo-se-yo

Shoes

• Do you have size 270? — 270 사이즈 있어요? (Ibaekchilsip saijeu isseoyo?) · say: ee-baek-chil-sip sah-ee-jeu ee-sseo-yo
• These shoes are comfortable — 이 신발 편해요 (I sinbal pyeonhaeyo) · say: ee sin-bal pyeon-hae-yo

K-beauty

• Is it okay for sensitive skin? — 민감성 피부에도 괜찮아요? (Mingamseong pibuedo gwaenchanayo?) · say: min-gam-seong pee-boo-e-do gwaen-cha-na-yo
• What's popular these days? — 요즘 뭐가 인기예요? (Yojeum mwoga ingiyeyo?) · say: yo-jeum mwo-ga in-gee-ye-yo

At the market

• Can I taste this? — 맛봐도 돼요? (Matbwado dwaeyo?) · say: mat-bwa-do dwae-yo
• I'll come back later — 나중에 다시 올게요 (Najunge dasi olgeyo) · say: na-joong-e da-si ol-ge-yo

More options

• Do you have a bigger one? — 더 큰 거 있어요? (Deo keun geo isseoyo?) · say: deo keun geo ee-sseo-yo
• A different color, please — 다른 색으로 주세요 (Dareun saegeuro juseyo) · say: da-reun sae-geu-ro joo-se-yo

After buying

• Can I exchange this? — 교환할 수 있어요? (Gyohwanhal su isseoyo?) · say: gyo-hwan-hal soo ee-sseo-yo
• A receipt, please — 영수증 주세요 (Yeongsujeung juseyo) · say: yeong-soo-jeung joo-se-yo

Wrapping up

• Shopping was fun! — 쇼핑 재밌었어요 (Syoping jaemisseosseoyo) · say: syo-ping jae-mee-sseo-sseo-yo
• I'll recommend this shop — 이 가게 추천할게요 (I gage chucheonhalgeyo) · say: ee ga-ge choo-cheon-hal-ge-yo

Good to know before you go

• Shoe sizes are in millimetres. A Korean "270" is 27 cm — roughly a US men's 9. Just say your size as a number: "270" works everywhere.
• "Free size" is everywhere. Many Korean clothes come in one flexible size; if it doesn't fit, phrases 4 and 19 are your best friends.
• Tasting is normal at markets. Vendors expect phrase 17 — it is polite, and it is how the best stalls sell. Smile, taste, and haggle gently with phrases 7 and 8; cash helps at small stalls.
• Keep your passport handy. Tourists can claim tax refunds (phrase 11) at many stores and at the airport — ask before you pay, and keep the receipts (phrase 22).
• A little Korean goes a long way. Even one phrase, said with a smile, changes the whole interaction. Staff will often answer with extra help, samples, or a discount they didn't offer a minute earlier.

Want to hear how these sound? The full video lessons — Essential Korean Ep. 03: Shopping, Parts 1 and 2 — are on our Facebook page, with a challenge question hidden in each one. New phrase episodes are coming in Ep. 04. Until then, save this page, practice two or three phrases out loud, and go enjoy Seoul's shops like a local.

Pronunciations are simplified for English speakers. Phrases from the Seoul Diaries Essential Korean video series (Ep. 03 — Shopping).