Korean for Market Stalls: Paying with Cash or Card and Getting Change
Learn essential Korean phrases to handle payment at market stalls: asking for prices, paying with cash or card, and receiving change.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
At Korean traditional markets, payment works differently from cafes. While cafes often have fixed prices and card machines ready, market stalls may expect cash, offer discounts for cash, or not accept cards at all. You'll need to ask for the price, specify your payment method, and handle change. This lesson teaches you beginner-level Korean phrases to navigate these situations confidently. You'll learn how to ask 'How much is it?', say you'll pay with cash or card, and understand the vendor's response about change. We'll also cover the polite verb endings and numbers used for money. By the end, you'll be able to complete a purchase smoothly at a market stall.
By the end, you can…
- ask for the price of an item at a market stall.
- say whether I will pay with cash or card.
- ask for and understand change when paying with cash.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
이거 얼마예요?
How much is this?
i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?
Use this to ask the price of an item you're pointing to. Polite and common.
현금으로 할게요.
I'll pay with cash.
hyeon-geum-eu-ro hal-ge-yo.
Use when you want to pay with cash. '현금' means cash.
카드 돼요?
Do you accept card?
ka-deu doe-yo?
Ask this to check if card payment is possible. '카드' means card.
카드로 할게요.
I'll pay by card.
ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo.
Use when you choose to pay with card. '로' indicates the means.
거스름돈 주세요.
Please give me the change.
geo-seu-reum-don ju-se-yo.
Use when you need change back, especially if you paid with a large bill.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for the price, use '이거 얼마예요?' (i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?). '이거' means 'this thing', '얼마' means 'how much', and '예요' is the polite copula. For payment method, use '[method]으로 할게요' ([method]-eu-ro hal-ge-yo), meaning 'I'll do it with [method]'. For example, '현금으로 할게요' (hyeon-geum-eu-ro hal-ge-yo) = 'I'll pay with cash.' '카드로 할게요' (ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo) = 'I'll pay by card.' The particle '으로' indicates the means or tool. '할게요' is a polite commitment form.
When to use it
Use '이거 얼마예요?' when you see an item without a price tag. If the vendor says a price, you can respond with your payment choice. Use '카드 돼요?' to check card acceptance before committing. If the vendor says '현금만 돼요' (hyeon-geum-man dwae-yo, cash only), you'll need cash. When paying with cash, if you give a large bill, you can say '거스름돈 주세요' to ask for change. Vendors usually give change automatically, but this phrase clarifies. At markets, cash is often preferred and may get a discount, so asking '현금으로 하면 깎아 주세요?' (hyeon-geum-eu-ro ha-myeon kkak-a ju-se-yo?, can you discount if I pay cash?) can be useful, but use politely.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이거 얼마예요?
How much is this?i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?오천 원이에요.
It's 5,000 won.o-cheon won-i-e-yo.카드 돼요?
Do you accept card?ka-deu doe-yo?네, 카드 돼요. 여기 대 주세요.
Yes, card is fine. Please tap it here.ne, ka-deu doe-yo. yeo-gi dae ju-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
At traditional markets, cash is often preferred and sometimes required. Some stalls may offer a small discount for cash payments. Card machines are increasingly common but not universal. Vendors may be older and appreciate polite language. Using '주세요' (ju-se-yo) adds politeness when asking for change or service. Tipping is not customary in Korea, so don't add extra. Also, prices are usually fixed, but mild bargaining is sometimes possible, especially for multiple items. Always use polite speech with vendors you don't know.
One thing to watch for
Using '카드로 할게요' when you haven't checked if card is accepted.
Try this instead: First ask '카드 돼요?' (ka-deu doe-yo?) to confirm card acceptance. If yes, then say '카드로 할게요' (ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo). If no, use '현금으로 할게요' (hyeon-geum-eu-ro hal-ge-yo).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'How much is this?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
이거 얼마예요?
This is the standard polite way to ask for a price. You can also say '이거 얼마입니까?' in very formal situations, but '얼마예요?' is fine for most market interactions.
2You want to pay with cash. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
현금으로 할게요.
This means 'I'll pay with cash.' You could also say '현금으로 주세요' (please take cash), but '할게요' is more natural when stating your payment method.
3The vendor says '오천 원이에요.' You give 10,000 won. How do you ask for change?
Show a sample answer
거스름돈 주세요.
This politely asks for change. Often the vendor will give change automatically, but this phrase ensures clarity. You could also say '거스름돈 오천 원 주세요' to specify the amount.
At Korean market stalls, always ask '이거 얼마예요?' for the price, check card acceptance with '카드 돼요?', and state your payment method with '현금으로 할게요' or '카드로 할게요'. Don't forget '거스름돈 주세요' if you need change. Cash is often preferred, so carry some won.
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