How to Ask Where a Supermarket Is in Korean
Learn to ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in Korean and understand location words for grocery shopping.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need groceries in Korea, knowing how to ask for a supermarket is essential. In this lesson, you will learn the key phrase 'Is there a supermarket near here?' and how to understand location words. You will practice asking for and understanding directions to a grocery store, using the polite informal style that is appropriate for everyday situations. By the end, you will be able to ask if a supermarket is nearby and follow simple location descriptions.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in Korean.
- understand location words like 'near', 'far', 'inside', and 'next to'.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있어요?
Is there a supermarket near here?
i geuncheo-e syupeomakes-i isseoyo?
Use this polite question when you are looking for a supermarket in your immediate area. '슈퍼마켓' can also be shortened to '슈퍼' in casual speech.
슈퍼마켓이 어디에 있어요?
Where is the supermarket?
syupeomakes-i eodi-e isseoyo?
Use this when you know there is a supermarket but need its exact location. It is more direct than asking if one exists.
가까워요
It is near
gakkawoyo
Use this to describe something as close by. It is an adjective, so it does not take an object.
멀어요
It is far
meoreoyo
Use this to say something is far away. It is the opposite of '가까워요'.
여기에서 왼쪽으로 가세요
Go left from here
yeogieseo oenjjok-euro gaseyo
Use this to give or understand a simple direction. '여기에서' means 'from here', and '왼쪽으로' means 'to the left'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask if something exists in a certain place, use the pattern '장소에 명사가 있어요?'. For example, '이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있어요?' means 'Is there a supermarket near here?'. The location word comes first with the particle '에', then the noun with the subject particle '이/가', and finally '있어요?' for 'is there?'. If the noun ends in a consonant, use '이'; if it ends in a vowel, use '가'. For example, '은행이 있어요?' (Is there a bank?) and '화장실이 있어요?' (Is there a restroom?).
When to use it
Use this pattern when you are in an unfamiliar area and need to find a specific place, like a supermarket. It is polite and works in most everyday situations. If you want to be more formal, you can say '있습니까?' instead of '있어요?'. For example, '이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있습니까?' is more formal. When giving directions, you can use '가까워요' (it's near) or '멀어요' (it's far) to describe distance. For example, '슈퍼마켓이 가까워요' means 'The supermarket is near.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
실례합니다, 이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있어요?
Excuse me, is there a supermarket near here?sillyehamnida, i geuncheo-e syupeomakes-i isseoyo?네, 여기에서 가까워요. 왼쪽으로 가세요.
Yes, it's near here. Go left.ne, yeogieseo gakkawoyo. oenjjok-euro gaseyo.감사합니다. 슈퍼마켓이 큰가요?
Thank you. Is the supermarket big?gamsahamnida. syupeomakes-i keun-gayo?네, 큰 슈퍼마켓이에요. 과일과 채소를 팔아요.
Yes, it's a big supermarket. They sell fruits and vegetables.ne, keun syupeomakes-ieyo. gwailgwa chaesoreul parayo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, supermarkets are common, but smaller grocery stores called '슈퍼' are also widespread in residential areas. When asking for directions, it's polite to start with '실례합니다' (excuse me). Koreans often use the polite informal style '해요체' with strangers, which is friendly yet respectful. If you are in a more formal setting, such as a business, use the formal polite style '합니다체'.
One thing to watch for
Using '은/는' instead of '이/가' in the pattern '이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있어요?'
Try this instead: In existential sentences with '있어요', the subject particle '이/가' is used, not the topic particle '은/는'. For example, say '슈퍼마켓이 있어요?' not '슈퍼마켓은 있어요?'. The latter would imply a contrast, like 'As for the supermarket, is there one?' which is not the neutral question.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있어요?
This uses the pattern '장소에 명사가 있어요?' with '이 근처에' (near here) and '슈퍼마켓이' (supermarket). You could also say '이 근처에 슈퍼가 있어요?' using the shortened form.
2What does '가까워요' mean?
Show a sample answer
It is near.
'가까워요' is the polite informal form of the adjective '가깝다' (to be near). It is used to describe distance.
3Translate to Korean: 'Go left from here.'
Show a sample answer
여기에서 왼쪽으로 가세요.
This uses '여기에서' (from here), '왼쪽으로' (to the left), and '가세요' (go, polite imperative). You could also say '왼쪽으로 가세요' without '여기에서' if the starting point is clear.
Remember to use '이 근처에 슈퍼마켓이 있어요?' to ask for a supermarket nearby, and listen for location words like '가까워요' and '멀어요' to understand the answer.
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