Korean for Beginners: How to Request Amounts Like 'a Kilo of' and 'a Liter of'
Learn to ask for specific quantities in Korean using counters like 킬로 (kilo), 리터 (liter), and 개 (items), with practical examples and a shopping dialogue.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When shopping in Korea, you'll often need to ask for a specific amount of something, such as 'a kilo of apples' or 'a liter of milk'. In Korean, this is done using quantity expressions with counters. This lesson teaches you the essential patterns to request amounts accurately, focusing on common units like 킬로 (kilo), 리터 (liter), and 개 (individual items). You'll learn how to combine numbers with counters and use the polite request form 주세요 (juseyo). By the end, you'll be able to confidently ask for the quantities you need in stores and markets.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a specific weight or volume of an item using 킬로 and 리터.
- request a certain number of items using 개.
- use the polite request form 주세요 to ask for quantities.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
사과 한 킬로 주세요.
Please give me one kilo of apples.
sa-gwa han kil-lo ju-se-yo
Use this pattern for any item sold by weight, like fruit or meat. Replace 사과 with the item you want.
우유 한 리터 주세요.
Please give me one liter of milk.
u-yu han ri-teo ju-se-yo
Use for liquids measured in liters. You can also say 두 리터 (du ri-teo) for two liters.
계란 여섯 개 주세요.
Please give me six eggs.
gye-ran yeo-seot gae ju-se-yo
Use 개 for counting individual items. 여섯 (yeo-seot) is the native Korean number for six.
반 킬로만 주세요.
Please give me just half a kilo.
ban kil-lo-man ju-se-yo
반 (ban) means 'half'. Adding 만 (man) adds the nuance of 'just' or 'only'.
한 근 주세요.
Please give me one geun (a traditional Korean unit, about 600 grams).
han geun ju-se-yo
근 (geun) is a traditional unit still used for meat and some produce. It's roughly 600 grams.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern for requesting a quantity is: [Item] + [Number] + [Counter] + 주세요. For example, 사과 한 킬로 주세요 (sa-gwa han kil-lo ju-se-yo) means 'Please give me one kilo of apples.' The item comes first, followed by the quantity, and then the polite request 주세요. You can replace the item and quantity as needed. For numbers, Korean has two sets: native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋...) and Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼...). Counters like 개 typically use native Korean numbers, while 킬로 and 리터 commonly take Sino-Korean numbers in modern usage. For example, 'two kilos' is usually 이 킬로 (i kil-lo), though 두 킬로 (du kil-lo) is also heard in everyday speech.
When to use it
Use these patterns in any situation where you need to specify an amount, such as at a grocery store, butcher, or market. For items sold by weight, use 킬로 (kilo) or 근 (geun). For liquids, use 리터 (liter) or 밀리리터 (milliliter). For countable items like eggs, apples, or bottles, use 개 (gae). If you want to ask for a smaller amount, you can use 반 (ban) for 'half', as in 반 킬로 (ban kil-lo) for half a kilo. To be more polite, you can add 좀 (jom) before 주세요, as in 사과 한 킬로 좀 주세요 (sa-gwa han kil-lo jom ju-se-yo), which softens the request. In formal settings, you might use 주시겠어요? (ju-si-get-eo-yo?) instead of 주세요, but 주세요 is perfectly polite for most everyday situations.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
어서 오세요. 뭐 드릴까요?
Welcome. What can I get you?eo-seo o-se-yo. mwo deu-ril-kka-yo?사과 한 킬로하고 바나나 세 개 주세요.
Please give me one kilo of apples and three bananas.sa-gwa han kil-lo-ha-go ba-na-na se gae ju-se-yo네, 사과 한 킬로하고 바나나 세 개 여기 있습니다. 더 필요하신 거 있으세요?
Okay, here are one kilo of apples and three bananas. Do you need anything else?ne, sa-gwa han kil-lo-ha-go ba-na-na se gae yeo-gi it-seum-ni-da. deo pil-yo-ha-sin geo it-eu-se-yo?아니요, 그거면 됐어요. 감사합니다.
No, that's all. Thank you.a-ni-yo, geu-geo-myeon dwae-sseo-yo. gam-sa-ham-ni-daA little context goes a long way
In Korean markets and stores, it's common to request specific amounts, and vendors are usually happy to accommodate. Using the correct counter shows respect for the vendor's time and makes the transaction smoother. While 킬로 and 리터 are widely understood, traditional units like 근 (geun) are still used in some contexts, especially for meat. If you're unsure, you can always ask 'How much is one kilo?' by saying '한 킬로에 얼마예요?' (han kil-lo-e eol-ma-ye-yo?). Also, when requesting, it's polite to add 주세요 rather than just stating the amount.
One thing to watch for
Using the wrong number system with counters, such as saying '일 개' (il gae) instead of '한 개' (han gae) for 'one item'.
Try this instead: Native Korean numbers are used with most counters like 개, 명, 마리, etc. So 'one item' is 한 개 (han gae), 'two items' is 두 개 (du gae), and so on. However, for counters like 킬로, 리터, and 원 (won), Sino-Korean numbers are the standard: 이 킬로 (i kil-lo) for 'two kilos', 삼 리터 (sam ri-teo) for 'three liters'. In everyday speech, native Korean numbers are also sometimes heard with 킬로 and 리터, so 'two kilos' may be 두 킬로 (du kil-lo) as well as 이 킬로 (i kil-lo), but the Sino-Korean form is the safer default.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask for half a kilo of tomatoes?
Show a sample answer
토마토 반 킬로 주세요. (to-ma-to ban kil-lo ju-se-yo)
This uses 반 (ban) for 'half' and 킬로 (kilo) for the unit. 주세요 makes it a polite request. You could also say 토마토 반 킬로만 주세요 (to-ma-to ban kil-lo-man ju-se-yo) to add 'just'.
2What is the correct counter to use when asking for three bottles of water?
Show a sample answer
물 세 병 주세요. (mul se byeong ju-se-yo)
병 (byeong) is the counter for bottles. 세 (se) is the native Korean number for three. If you used 개 (gae), it would mean 'three water items', which is less precise.
3Translate to Korean: 'Please give me two liters of milk.'
Show a sample answer
우유 두 리터 주세요. (u-yu du ri-teo ju-se-yo)
This uses 두 (du) for 'two' and 리터 (ri-teo) for 'liter'. You could also use 이 리터 (i ri-teo) with Sino-Korean numbers, which is the more standard form in writing.
To request amounts in Korean, use the pattern [item] + [number] + [counter] + 주세요. Remember to choose the right counter and number system: native Korean numbers for most counters, while Sino-Korean numbers are standard with 킬로 and 리터. Practice with common units like 킬로, 리터, and 개 to shop confidently.
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