How to Buy a Bottle of Water in Korean: Still or Sparkling
Learn to ask for a bottle of water at a Korean shop or kiosk, say still or sparkling, and handle price and payment politely at elementary level.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Buying water in Korea is a short, predictable exchange, and you can handle it with a few set phrases. The key sentence is 물 한 병 주세요 (mul han byeong juseyo), which means 'A bottle of water, please.' You will also need to say whether you want plain still water or sparkling water, ask how much it costs, and understand where to pay. This lesson keeps you on that one task: buying water at a convenience store, supermarket, or kiosk. You do not need to master Korean grammar to succeed here; you need clear, polite phrases and the ability to recognize the answers you will hear.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a bottle of water politely in Korean.
- say whether I want still water or sparkling water.
- ask the price and understand a simple price answer.
- say thank you and respond when the clerk asks if I need a bag.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
물 한 병 주세요.
A bottle of water, please.
mul han byeong ju-se-yo
The main phrase for this lesson. Use it at a counter, kiosk, or when a staff member asks what you need.
그냥 물이요.
Just plain water, please. / Still water, please.
geu-nyang mu-ri-yo
Use this when the clerk asks still or sparkling. 그냥 (geu-nyang) means 'just' or 'plain,' and the polite 요 (yo) ending makes it soft and courteous.
탄산수 주세요.
Sparkling water, please.
tan-san-su ju-se-yo
탄산수 (tansansu) is the common word for sparkling or carbonated water. Use it instead of 물 when you want bubbles.
얼마예요?
How much is it?
eol-ma-ye-yo
A standard polite price question. You can point at the bottle while saying it if you are not sure the clerk knows which item you mean.
봉투 필요 없어요.
I don't need a bag.
bong-tu pi-ryo eop-seo-yo
Convenience store clerks often ask if you need a bag. This is a polite, natural way to decline.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern [item] + 한 병 주세요 ([item] + han byeong juseyo) means 'one bottle of [item], please.' 한 (han) is 'one,' 병 (byeong) is the counter for bottles, and 주세요 (juseyo) means 'please give me.' You can swap the item: 물 한 병 주세요 (mul han byeong juseyo) 'a bottle of water, please,' or 탄산수 한 병 주세요 (tansansu han byeong juseyo) 'a bottle of sparkling water, please.' If you want two bottles, change 한 to 두 (du): 물 두 병 주세요 (mul du byeong juseyo). Korean uses counters like 병 after numbers, so do not say 물 한 주세요.
When to use it
Use 물 한 병 주세요 (mul han byeong juseyo) at a staffed counter, a small kiosk, or when a clerk asks what you would like. At a convenience store where drinks are on open shelves, you usually take the bottle yourself and pay at the register; then you mainly need 얼마예요? (eol-ma-ye-yo) 'How much is it?' and 카드 돼요? (ka-deu dwae-yo) 'Do you take card?' If the clerk asks still or sparkling, answer 그냥 물이요 (geu-nyang mu-ri-yo) or 탄산수 주세요 (tansansu ju-se-yo). Keep your tone gentle and add a slight smile; politeness in Korean comes from the 요 (yo) ending and a calm voice.
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?물 한 병 주세요.
A bottle of water, please.mul han byeong ju-se-yo그냥 물이요, 탄산수요?
Plain water, or sparkling water?geu-nyang mu-ri-yo, tan-san-su-yo?그냥 물이요. 얼마예요?
Still water, please. How much is it?geu-nyang mu-ri-yo. eol-ma-ye-yo?A little context goes a long way
In Korea, convenience stores and many kiosks are self-service for drinks, so you often pick up the bottle yourself and pay at the counter. Staff may ask 봉투 필요하세요? (bong-tu pi-ryo-ha-se-yo?) 'Do you need a bag?' Bags usually cost a small extra fee, so many people say 괜찮아요 (gwaen-chan-a-yo) or 봉투 필요 없어요 (bong-tu pi-ryo eop-seo-yo). Card payment is widely accepted, but it is still useful to ask 카드 돼요? (ka-deu dwae-yo?) at very small kiosks.
One thing to watch for
Saying 물 주세요 (mul ju-se-yo) and expecting one bottle, or adding an English-style plural like 물들 주세요.
Try this instead: Use the counter 병 (byeong) for bottles: 물 한 병 주세요 (mul han byeong juseyo) 'a bottle of water, please.' Korean does not mark plural on 물 here, and the counter makes the quantity clear. For two bottles, say 물 두 병 주세요 (mul du byeong juseyo).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for one bottle of sparkling water, please?
Show a sample answer
탄산수 한 병 주세요. (tan-san-su han byeong ju-se-yo)
This follows the pattern [item] + 한 병 주세요. 탄산수 (tansansu) means sparkling water, and 한 병 (han byeong) means one bottle. You could also say 탄산수 주세요 (tansansu ju-se-yo) if the bottle size is obvious.
2The clerk asks 그냥 물이요, 탄산수요? You want plain still water. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
그냥 물이요. (geu-nyang mu-ri-yo)
그냥 (geu-nyang) means 'just' or 'plain,' and the polite 요 (yo) ending keeps it courteous. 물이요 (mu-ri-yo) alone can also work, but 그냥 물이요 is clearer when the choice is still versus sparkling.
3You want to know the price before paying. What polite question do you ask?
Show a sample answer
얼마예요? (eol-ma-ye-yo)
얼마예요? is the standard polite way to ask 'How much is it?' You can point at the bottle while asking. At a register, 이거 얼마예요? (i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?) 'How much is this?' is also correct.
For buying water, remember one core sentence: 물 한 병 주세요 (mul han byeong juseyo). Add 그냥 물이요 (geu-nyang mu-ri-yo) for still or 탄산수 주세요 (tansansu ju-se-yo) for sparkling, and use 얼마예요? (eol-ma-ye-yo) to ask the price.
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