#33. Top 30 Must-Know Korean Verbs for Beginners

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If nouns are the building blocks of a language, then verbs are the engine. In Korean, the verb is arguably the most important part of the sentence because it always comes at the very end and carries the most information—tense, politeness, and the action itself. Without verbs, you can't say what you did, what you’re doing, or what you plan to do. For beginners, trying to memorize a whole dictionary is overwhelming. That’s why we’ve curated the Top 30 Must-Know Korean Verbs . These are the words you will use every single day, whether you're ordering coffee, meeting friends, or just describing your routine. Let’s get your Korean engine started! 1. Real Usage: The "Stem" Secret When you look up a verb in a Korean dictionary, it always ends in -다 (-da) . This is called the "dictionary form." However, you never actually say "Mok-da" (to eat) when speaking to someone. You drop the -다 to find the "verb stem" and then add ...
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#19. Korean Shopping Phrases: How to Ask Prices

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Shopping in South Korea can be exciting, whether you're visiting street markets or modern shopping malls. However, knowing a few basic Korean phrases will make your experience much easier and more enjoyable.

In this guide, you will learn how to ask for prices, check sizes, and communicate naturally with shop staff using simple Korean expressions.

1. The Most Important Question: "How Much?"

The most essential phrase while shopping is asking the price. In Korean, you use “얼마 (olma)”, which means “how much.”

Korean Pronunciation Meaning
이거 얼마예요? I-geo olma-yeyo? How much is this?
전부 얼마예요? Jeonbu olma-yeyo? How much is the total?
너무 비싸요 Neomu bissayo It's too expensive

2. Asking for Sizes and Colors

If you need a different size or color, these expressions are very useful when shopping for clothes.

  • 더 큰 거 있어요? – Do you have a bigger one?
  • 더 작은 거 있어요? – Do you have a smaller one?
  • 다른 색상 있어요? – Do you have other colors?
  • 입어봐도 돼요? – Can I try this on?

3. Real-Life Conversation Examples

Here are common conversations you will have while shopping in Korea.

A: 이거 얼마예요?
(How much is this?)
B: 만 원이에요.
(It is 10,000 won.)

A: 더 큰 거 있어요?
(Do you have a bigger one?)
B: 네, 있습니다.
(Yes, we have it.)

A: 입어봐도 돼요?
(Can I try this on?)
B: 네, 가능해요.
(Yes, you can.)

A: 조금 깎아 주세요.
(Please give me a discount.)
B: 네, 조금 해드릴게요.
(Okay, I will give you a small discount.)

4. Payment and Checkout

When you are ready to pay, these phrases will help you complete your purchase smoothly.

  • 카드 돼요? – Do you accept cards?
  • 영수증 주세요 – Please give me the receipt
  • 봉투 주세요 – Please give me a bag

5. Practical Tips

  • Prices are fixed in malls, but you can try bargaining in traditional markets.
  • Pointing at items while speaking is very common in Korea.
  • Using polite endings like “~요” makes your speech sound natural.

6. Try It Yourself

  • How would you ask “How much is this?” in Korean?
  • Try asking for a different size.
  • Say “Please give me a discount” in Korean.
PRO TIP:

In markets, smiling while asking for a discount makes a big difference. Being polite can often help you get a better deal.

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💡 Useful Link

Korean Alphabet Chart for Beginners (Complete Hangul Chart)
Korean Greetings for Beginners: Formal vs Informal
How to Introduce Yourself in Korean (Step-by-Step)
How to Say Thank You and Sorry in Korean

 

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