Learn Korean: TOPIK 1 – Shopping and Asking Prices

This article will guide you through learning basic conversational Korean focusing on shopping situations and asking about prices. We’ll focus on practical phrases you can use right away, making your first steps into the language easier. Remember, communication is key! Don’t worry about perfect grammar at this stage – focus on being understood.

Essential Vocabulary

Let’s start with some crucial vocabulary:

• 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) – Hello
• 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) – Thank you
• 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) – Sorry / Excuse me
• 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) – How much is it?
• 이것은 (igeoseun) – This
• 저것은 (jeogeoseun) – That
• 가격 (gagyeok) – Price
• 원 (won) – Korean currency
• 조금 (jogeum) – A little / How much? (used after “얼마예요?”)

Dialogue 1: At a Fruit Stall

Let’s look at an example conversation at a fruit stall. A common mistake beginners make is not using the polite ending “요 (-yo)” on verbs. It’s important!

Seller: 안녕하세요! (annyeonghaseyo!)

You: 안녕하세요! (annyeonghaseyo!) 맛있어 보여요! (masisseo boyeoyo!) – Looks delicious!

Seller: 이 사과예요. (i sagwa-yeyo.) – This is an apple.

You: 얼마나 돼요? (eolmayeyo?) – How much does it cost?

Seller: 천 원이에요. (cheon won-ieyo.) – It’s 1,000 won.

You: 하나 주세요. (hana juseyo.) – One, please.

Dialogue 2: Asking about the Price of Clothes

Here’s another scenario at a clothing store:

Shop Assistant: 안녕하세요! 무엇을 찾으세요? (mueoseul chajeuseyo?) – Hello! What are you looking for?

You: 티셔츠 좀 보여주세요. (tischeu jom boyeojuseyo.) – Please show me a T-shirt.

Shop Assistant: 이 티셔츠는 20,000 원이에요. (i tischueseun 20,000 won-ieyo.) – This T-shirt is 20,000 won.

You: 조금 더 싸게? (jogeum deo ssaeke?) – Can I have it cheaper?

Shop Assistant: 죄송해요, 지금은 할인이 없어요. (joesonghaeyo, jigeuneun hallini eopseoyo.) – Sorry, there are no discounts now.

You: 괜찮아요. (gwaenchanayo.) – Okay.

Common Mistakes and Corrections

• Incorrect: 얼마나요? (eolmayo?) – This is grammatically incorrect. Always use the polite ending “요 (-yo)” with verbs like “얼마예요?”.
• Correct: 얼마나 돼요? (eolmayeyo?) – This is the correct way to ask about price in a polite manner.
• Mistake: 만들어요? (mandeulroyo?) – Asking “Are you making it?” isn’t appropriate when asking about price. Stick with “얼마예요?”

Practice Tips

• Listen to Korean music or watch Korean dramas to get used to the sounds of the language.
• Repeat these dialogues aloud, focusing on pronunciation.
• Try to create your own simple shopping scenarios and practice using the phrases you’ve learned.

Good luck with your Korean learning journey!