What to Say When Buying Clothes in Korea
When buying clothes in Korea, start with 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?), "How much is this?," and ask if you can try items on with 입어 봐도 돼요? (ibeo bwado dwaeyo?). Add 다른 사이즈 있어요? (dareun saijeu isseoyo?) when you need another size. These three lines cover browsing, fitting, and price without a long speech.
- Say 그냥 구경하고 있어요 (geunyang gugyeonghago isseoyo) if you are only browsing.
- Ask before stepping into a fitting room — use the try-on question above.
- Point at the size tag and ask if they have that size.
- Pay with 카드로 할게요 (kadeuro halgeyo), "I'll pay by card."
How do you ask for help without freezing?
Staff may ask 찾으시는 거 있으세요? (chajeusineun geo isseuseyo?), "Are you looking for something?" If you are browsing, answer 그냥 구경하고 있어요 (geunyang gugyeonghago isseoyo). If you want help, name the item: 티셔츠 찾고 있어요 (tisyeocheu chatgo isseoyo), "I'm looking for a T-shirt."
You: 안녕하세요. 티셔츠 찾고 있어요. — annyeonghaseyo. tisyeocheu chatgo isseoyo. — "Hello. I'm looking for a T-shirt."
Them: 어떤 색깔 찾으세요? — eotteon saekkkal chajeuseyo? — "What color are you looking for?"
You: 검은색 찾고 있어요. — geomeunsaek chatgo isseoyo. — "I'm looking for black."
Keep answers short. One color or item name is enough — staff will pull options faster than if you try a long explanation.
Practice this out loud with SULSUL — the app says it, you repeat it →
How do you check size and try something on?
Ask 입어 봐도 돼요? before you disappear into a fitting room. For size, 다른 사이즈 있어요? works for any garment. Point at the tag and say 이 사이즈로 있어요? (i saijeuro isseoyo?), "Do you have this in this size?"
| Need | Say this |
|---|---|
| Try it on | 입어 봐도 돼요? (ibeo bwado dwaeyo?) |
| Another size | 다른 사이즈 있어요? (dareun saijeu isseoyo?) |
| Another color | 다른 색깔 있어요? (dareun saekkkal isseoyo?) |
| Price | 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) |
| Too big / small | 커요 / 작아요 (keoyo / jagayo) |
A common mistake is nodding at the first size without checking — say 커요 (keoyo), "It's big," or 작아요 (jagayo), "It's small," so staff can swap it.
What do you say at the register?
When you are ready, bring the item to the counter and say 이걸로 할게요 (igeollo halgeyo), "I'll take this." For payment, 카드로 할게요 or 현금으로 할게요 (hyeongeumeuro halgeyo) is enough.
If you need a bag, ask 봉투 주세요 (bongtu juseyo), "A bag, please." Posted prices in clothing shops are usually fixed — ask about a posted sale with 세일이에요? (seirieyo?), "Is this on sale?," rather than inventing a discount request.
Steps to buy clothes in Korean
- Greet with 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo).
- Browse, or say 티셔츠 찾고 있어요.
- Ask the try-on question before entering the fitting room.
- Ask for another size if the first one does not fit.
- Pay with 카드로 할게요.
Say it out loud, not just in your head
Reading 입어 봐도 돼요? on this page is not the same as asking it while a shop assistant is already waiting for your answer.
SULSUL is a speaking gym for exactly that moment: pick a survival pattern, say it out loud, get an instant fix from the AI pronunciation coach, then run the real situation as a mission. The 100-pattern PDF workbook comes along as a bonus.
