Korean for Post Office Errands: Buying Stamps for Postcards
Learn to buy stamps at a Korean post office, ask for international postcard rates, and say 'I need stamps for these postcards' in polite Korean.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
At a Korean post office (우체국, ucheguk), you can buy stamps and mail postcards. This lesson teaches you the essential phrases to request stamps for postcards, ask about international rates, and complete the transaction politely. You will practice the key sentence 'I need stamps for these postcards' and learn how to specify the destination country. By the end, you will be able to handle a simple stamp purchase in Korean.
By the end, you can…
- ask for stamps for postcards in Korean.
- specify the destination country for international mail.
- ask how much the postage is.
- understand and respond to the clerk's questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
이 엽서에 붙일 우표가 필요해요.
I need stamps to put on these postcards.
i yeopseo-e butil upyo-ga piryohaeyo
Use this when you have postcards and need stamps. '이' here means 'these' (it does not change for plural).
국제 우편 요금은 얼마예요?
How much is the international postage?
gukje upyeon yogeum-eun eolmayeyo?
Ask this to find out the cost for sending mail abroad.
미국으로 보낼 거예요.
I'm going to send it to the US.
miguk-euro bonael geoyeyo
Replace '미국' with your destination country. '으로' means 'to/toward' (use '로' after a vowel, as in '캐나다로').
우표 다섯 장 주세요.
Please give me five stamps.
upyo daseot jang juseyo
Use '장' as the counter for stamps. Change the number as needed.
이 우체국에서 국제 엽서를 보낼 수 있어요?
Can I send international postcards from this post office?
i ucheguk-eseo gukje yeopseoreul bonael su isseoyo?
Useful to confirm that the post office handles international mail.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 'Noun + 이/가 필요해요' means 'I need Noun.' For example, '우표가 필요해요' (I need stamps). To specify what the stamps are for, use 'Noun + 에 붙일 우표' (stamps to attach to Noun). Example: '엽서에 붙일 우표가 필요해요' (I need stamps to put on postcards). You can replace '엽서' with other items like '편지' (letter). Note that '이 엽서' can mean 'this postcard' or 'these postcards'; Korean nouns do not change form for plural, so context decides.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are at a post office counter and want to buy stamps for postcards. Start with a greeting like '안녕하세요' (hello). Then state your need: '이 엽서에 붙일 우표가 필요해요.' If the clerk asks how many, respond with 'Number + 장 주세요' (Please give me Number stamps). For international mail, always mention the destination: '미국으로 보낼 거예요' (I'm sending to the US). Ask for the rate with '국제 우편 요금은 얼마예요?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요. 이 엽서에 붙일 우표가 필요해요.
Hello. I need stamps to put on these postcards.annyeonghaseyo. i yeopseo-e butil upyo-ga piryohaeyo.네, 어디로 보내실 거예요?
Yes, where will you send them?ne, eodiro bonaesil geoyeyo?미국으로 보낼 거예요. 국제 우편 요금은 얼마예요?
I'm sending them to the US. How much is the international postage?miguk-euro bonael geoyeyo. gukje upyeon yogeum-eun eolmayeyo?엽서 한 장에 500원이에요. 몇 장 필요하세요?
It's 500 won per postcard. How many do you need?yeopseo han jang-e obaegwon-ieyo. myeot jang piryohaseyo?A little context goes a long way
Korean post offices are generally efficient and staff are polite. Use the polite formal style (-요) as in the phrases. If you need to write the destination country in Korean, common ones are 미국 (US), 영국 (UK), 호주 (Australia), 캐나다 (Canada). For international mail, you may need to fill out a customs form for packages, but postcards usually don't require it.
One thing to watch for
Using '우표를 사고 싶어요' (I want to buy stamps) without specifying the purpose, which can be vague.
Try this instead: It's better to say '이 엽서에 붙일 우표가 필요해요' to clearly indicate you need stamps for postcards. This helps the clerk assist you faster.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I need stamps for these postcards' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
이 엽서에 붙일 우표가 필요해요.
This sentence uses '이 엽서에 붙일' (to put on these postcards) and '우표가 필요해요' (need stamps). It's polite and clear.
2Ask 'How much is the international postage?' in Korean.
Show a sample answer
국제 우편 요금은 얼마예요?
This is a standard way to ask for the cost. You can also say '국제 우편 요금이 얼마예요?' with a slight difference in nuance.
3You want to send a postcard to Canada. How do you say 'I'm sending it to Canada'?
Show a sample answer
캐나다로 보낼 거예요.
Replace '미국' with '캐나다'. The particle '로' indicates direction and is used after a vowel ('으로' after a consonant). '보낼 거예요' means 'I will send'.
When buying stamps for postcards in Korea, use '이 엽서에 붙일 우표가 필요해요' and ask '국제 우편 요금은 얼마예요?' to get the rate. Specify the destination with 'Country + 로 보낼 거예요'.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr