Korean for Renters: How to Ask About the Security Deposit (보증금)
Learn to ask 'How much is the deposit?' in Korean, understand refund conditions, and use key rental deposit phrases with Revised Romanization.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When renting a home in Korea, the security deposit (보증금, bojeunggeum) is a major upfront cost. This lesson teaches you how to ask how much the deposit is, how to inquire about refund conditions, and how to confirm when you will get your deposit back. You will practice essential patterns such as '보증금이 얼마예요?' and '보증금은 언제 돌려받아요?' using polite language suitable for real estate agents or landlords. By the end, you will be able to handle the deposit conversation with confidence.
By the end, you can…
- ask how much the security deposit is in Korean.
- ask when and how the deposit will be refunded.
- understand and respond to common deposit-related questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
보증금이 얼마예요?
How much is the security deposit?
bojeunggeumi eolmayeyo?
Use this polite question when you first inquire about a rental property. It is suitable for speaking with a real estate agent or landlord.
보증금은 언제 돌려받아요?
When do I get the deposit back?
bojeunggeumeun eonje dollyeobadayo?
Ask this to find out the refund timeline. It is polite and commonly used in rental conversations.
보증금 환불 조건이 어떻게 돼요?
What are the deposit refund conditions?
bojeunggeum hwanbul jogeoni eotteoke dwaeyo?
Use this to ask about the specific conditions for getting your deposit back, such as notice period or cleaning requirements.
보증금은 계약 끝나면 바로 돌려주나요?
Is the deposit returned immediately when the contract ends?
bojeunggeumeun gyeyak kkeutnamyeon baro dollyeojunayo?
This question clarifies whether the deposit is refunded right after the lease ends or if there is a delay.
보증금에서 수리비를 빼나요?
Do you deduct repair costs from the deposit?
bojeunggeumeseo suribireul ppaenayo?
Ask this to understand if any deductions will be made from your deposit for repairs or damages.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The key pattern for asking about the deposit amount is '보증금이 얼마예요?' Here, '보증금' means security deposit, '이' is the subject particle, and '얼마예요?' means 'how much is it?' You can replace '보증금' with other nouns, such as '월세' (wolse, monthly rent) to ask '월세가 얼마예요?' (wolsega eolmayeyo?, How much is the monthly rent?). To ask about refund, use '보증금은 언제 돌려받아요?' where '언제' means 'when' and '돌려받아요' means 'receive back'. For conditions, '보증금 환불 조건이 어떻게 돼요?' uses '환불' (hwanbul, refund) and '조건' (jogeon, condition).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are negotiating a rental contract or asking for details before signing. For example, when a real estate agent shows you an apartment, you can ask '보증금이 얼마예요?' to know the upfront cost. If you are concerned about getting your money back, ask '보증금은 언제 돌려받아요?' to clarify the refund timeline. When reviewing the contract, ask '보증금 환불 조건이 어떻게 돼요?' to understand any conditions. These questions are polite and appropriate for formal situations. Avoid using them with close friends unless you are joking, as they are business-like.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이 집 보증금이 얼마예요?
How much is the security deposit for this house?i jip bojeunggeumi eolmayeyo?보증금은 5천만 원이에요.
The deposit is 50 million won.bojeunggeumeun ocheonman wonieyo.보증금은 언제 돌려받아요?
When do I get the deposit back?bojeunggeumeun eonje dollyeobadayo?계약이 끝나고 일주일 안에 돌려드려요.
We return it within a week after the contract ends.gyeyagi kkeutnago iljuil ane dollyeodeuryeoyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, the security deposit system is called 전세 (jeonse) when the deposit is large and monthly rent is not paid, or 월세 (wolse) when there is a smaller deposit plus monthly rent. The refund process is legally protected, but it's important to document the condition of the property when moving in to avoid deductions. Always ask about refund conditions in writing if possible.
One thing to watch for
Learners often say '보증금이 얼마입니까?' in casual conversation, which is too formal and can sound stiff.
Try this instead: Use '보증금이 얼마예요?' for polite everyday speech. For even more formal situations, '보증금이 얼마입니까?' is correct, but it's less common in spoken Korean. Example: '보증금이 얼마예요?' is appropriate for most rental inquiries.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'How much is the deposit?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
보증금이 얼마예요?
This is the standard polite question. You could also say '보증금이 어떻게 되세요?' in very formal contexts, but '얼마예요?' is most common.
2What phrase would you use to ask when the deposit is returned?
Show a sample answer
보증금은 언제 돌려받아요?
This directly asks about the refund time. Alternatively, '보증금은 언제 돌려주세요?' is also correct but slightly less common.
3How do you ask about deposit refund conditions?
Show a sample answer
보증금 환불 조건이 어떻게 돼요?
This asks for the conditions. You could also say '보증금 환불 조건이 뭐예요?' which is slightly more casual but still polite.
Always confirm the deposit amount and refund conditions before signing a rental contract. Use '보증금이 얼마예요?' and '보증금은 언제 돌려받아요?' to get clear answers.
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