TOPIK 1 Reading: Understanding Prices and Shopping Information

This article will help you start reading simple Korean texts related to shopping – a common topic in the TOPIK 1 exam. We’ll focus on understanding prices, quantities, discounts, and common phrases used when buying things.

Key Vocabulary

• 가격 (gageok): Price

Example: 이 옷의 가격은 얼마입니까? (I ot-ui gageok-eun eolma imnikka?) – What is the price of this shirt?

• 개 (gae): Piece / Unit

Example: 한 개의 사과 (han gae-ui sagwa) – One apple.

• 원 (won): Korean currency


Example: 10,000 원 (10,000 won) – Ten thousand Won.

• 할인 (harin): Discount

Example: 50% 할인 (50% harin) – 50% discount.

• 세일 (seil): Sale

Example: 이번 주 세일 (ibin ju seil) – This week’s sale.

• 수량 (su-yang): Quantity / Number of items

Example: 3개의 티셔츠를 주세요 (3 gae-ui tiseot-eureul juseyo) – Please give me three t-shirts.

Common Phrases

• 얼마입니까? (eolma imnikka?) – How much is it? (Formal)
• 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) – How much is it? (Informal) – Use this with people you know or in casual settings.
• 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) – How much is this?
• 주세요 (juseyo) – Please give me. This is incredibly important for shopping!
• 깎아 주세요 (kka-ja juseyo) – Can you discount it? (Asking politely) Note: Not all sellers will lower the price.

Realistic Shopping Scenarios

Scenario 1: At a Clothing Store

You walk into a clothing store. The salesperson greets you.

Salesperson: 안녕하세요! (Annyeonghaseyo!) – Hello! 저기요, 이 가디건의 가격이 뭐예요? (Jeogiyo, i ga-di-geun-ui gageogi mwoyeyo?) – Excuse me, what’s the price of this cardigan?

You: 20,000 원이에요. (20,000 won-ieyo) – It’s 20,000 Won.

You: 50% 할인하면 얼마예요? (50% harinhamyeon eolmayeyo?) – How much is it with a 50% discount?

Salesperson: 10,000 원이에요. (10,000 won-ieyo) – It’s 10,000 Won.

You: 주세요! (juseyo!) – Please give me!

Scenario 2: At a Grocery Store

You are buying apples.

Seller: 한 개의 사과 얼마입니까? (han gae-ui sagwa eolma imnikka?) – How much is one apple?

You: 500 원이에요. (500 won-ieyo) – It’s 500 Won.

Common Mistakes & Corrections

• Mistake: “가격 얼마요?” (gageok eolmayo?) – Incorrect word order for asking about price.
• Correction: “얼마입니까?” (eolma imnikka?) or “얼마예요?”(eolmayeyo?) – Correct polite ways to ask the price.
• Mistake: Forgetting “주세요” when trying to buy something.
• Correction: Always include “주세요” after stating the price and quantity, e.g., “20,000 원이에요. 주세요!” (20,000 won-ieyo. juseyo!).

Practicing these phrases and vocabulary will significantly improve your reading comprehension of TOPIK 1 materials related to shopping!