Start with practical Korean you can say while buying everyday food: 이거 얼마예요?, 봉투 주세요, 영수증 주세요, 카드로 할게요, 유통기한이 언제예요?
Grocery shopping in Korea is usually simple once you can identify the food section, ask about price or discount, check freshness, and answer checkout questions. This lesson is for supermarket and mart situations, not for long bargaining. Use short polite phrases, keep the item visible, and confirm anything important with staff before you pay.
Before You Start Shopping
Look at the section first: vegetables, fruit, meat, dairy, frozen food, or household items. If you are not sure about a product, hold it gently and ask one short question. For packaged food, check the date yourself first, then ask staff only if the label is confusing.
Grocery Word Table
| Situation | Korean | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 이거 얼마예요? | How much is this? | Ask when no price is clear. |
| Bag | 봉투 주세요. | Please give me a bag. | Use at checkout. |
| Receipt | 영수증 주세요. | Please give me a receipt. | Ask before leaving. |
| Card payment | 카드로 할게요. | I will pay by card. | Say before tapping or inserting the card. |
| Cash payment | 현금으로 할게요. | I will pay in cash. | Use when paying with bills or coins. |
| Use-by date | 유통기한이 언제예요? | When is the use-by date? | Ask about packaged food. |
| Discount | 할인 중이에요? | Is it on discount? | Use near sale items. |
| Checkout counter | 계산대가 어디예요? | Where is the checkout counter? | Ask when the store layout is confusing. |
| Scale | 저울은 어디 있어요? | Where is the scale? | Ask for produce weighed before checkout. |
| Refund | 이거 환불할 수 있어요? | Can I return this? | Ask before buying if unsure. |
| Add item | 이것도 같이 계산해 주세요. | Please ring this up together too. | Use when adding one more item. |
| Ask staff | 직원에게 물어봐도 될까요? | May I ask a staff member? | Use when you need help politely. |
Common Grocery Situations
| Moment | Safe action | Useful Korean |
|---|---|---|
| No clear price | Hold the item and ask one question. | 이거 얼마예요? |
| Fresh produce | Look at color, smell, and packaging condition. | 신선한가요? |
| Discount shelf | Check whether the discount applies to this item. | 할인 중이에요? |
| Need a bag | Ask before payment is finished. | 봉투 주세요. |
| Need proof | Ask for the receipt at checkout. | 영수증 주세요. |
| Return question | Ask before opening the package. | 이거 환불할 수 있어요? |
Short Checkout Dialogue
| Speaker | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| You | 이거 얼마예요? | How much is this? |
| Staff | 삼천 원이에요. | It is three thousand won. |
| You | 카드로 할게요. 봉투 주세요. | I will pay by card. Please give me a bag. |
| Staff | 영수증 필요하세요? | Do you need a receipt? |
| You | 네, 영수증 주세요. | Yes, please give me a receipt. |
| You | 이것도 같이 계산해 주세요. | Please ring this up together too. |
Questions to Ask Staff
| Need | Ask this | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Find an item | 우유는 어디 있어요? | Replace 우유 with the food you need. |
| Find the scale | 저울은 어디 있어요? | Some produce is weighed before payment. |
| Ask about discount | 할인 중이에요? | Point to the item if needed. |
| Ask about date | 유통기한이 언제예요? | Use for packaged food. |
| Ask checkout location | 계산대가 어디예요? | Useful in large marts. |
Mistakes to Avoid
| Risk | Better habit | Useful Korean |
|---|---|---|
| Buying without checking date | Check packaged food before paying. | 유통기한이 언제예요? |
| Assuming every discount applies | Ask if the sign is unclear. | 할인 중이에요? |
| Missing bag rule | Ask directly at checkout. | 봉투 주세요. |
| Losing receipt | Ask for one if return may be needed. | 영수증 주세요. |
| Opening before asking refund | Ask first if unsure. | 이거 환불할 수 있어요? |
Practice Before You Shop
- Say 이거 얼마예요? while holding one item.
- Say 유통기한이 언제예요? for packaged food.
- Say 카드로 할게요 before payment.
- Say 봉투 주세요 if you need a bag.
- Say 계산대가 어디예요? if you cannot find checkout.
Keep Learning with BSKorean
Practice in the BSKorean app | Convenience store phrases | Cafe phrases | Delivery app words