How to Ask "How Much Is This?" in Korean and Understand the Answer
Learn to ask the price of an item in Korean with 이거 얼마예요?, understand won amounts, and follow up politely when you need the price repeated or written down.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you shop in Korea, the single most useful question you can ask is how much something costs. Korean has a short, polite pattern for this: 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?). This lesson teaches that question, the numbers you will hear in reply, and a few follow-up phrases for when the answer comes too fast. It focuses only on price, not on quantity, so you will practice asking about one item and understanding the won amount you hear.
By the end, you can…
- ask the price of a specific item using 이거 얼마예요?
- recognize Korean won amounts from 만 원 down to 백 원
- ask the seller to repeat or write down the price politely
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
The standard polite question for one item you can see or point to. 이거 means 'this thing'; 얼마예요? means 'is how much?'
이거는요?
And this one? / What about this?
i-geo-neun-yo
Use it right after hearing a price to ask about a second item. The particle 는 adds the sense of 'as for this one'.
만 원이에요.
It is 10,000 won.
man wo-ni-e-yo
A typical answer. 만 원 is the most common price unit in Korean shops. Note the linking sound: 원이에요 sounds like wo-ni-e-yo.
삼천 원이에요.
It is 3,000 won.
sam-cheon wo-ni-e-yo
Prices under 만 원 are usually given in 천 원 units: 천 (1,000), 이천 (2,000), 삼천 (3,000), 오천 (5,000).
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.
Please say that one more time.
da-si han beon mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo
A polite way to ask for a repeat when you did not catch the price. 말씀해 주세요 is more polite than 말해 주세요.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [item] + 얼마예요? For a visible item, 이거 얼마예요? is enough. To name the item, put the noun before 이거: 이 가방 얼마예요? (i ga-bang eol-ma-ye-yo?) means 'How much is this bag?' You can also drop 이거 when the item is obvious: 얼마예요? still works. The answer normally ends in -이에요 or -예요, the polite 'is' ending: 만 원이에요 (it is 10,000 won), 오천 원이에요 (it is 5,000 won).
When to use it
Use 이거 얼마예요? in shops, markets, and cafés where prices are not displayed. In a restaurant, asking 이거 얼마예요? about a menu item is fine, but for the total bill Koreans often say 얼마예요? or 계산해 주세요 (gye-san-hae ju-se-yo, 'please let me pay'). If the seller answers too quickly, say 다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요, or ask 적어 주세요 (jeo-eo ju-se-yo, 'please write it down'). Listening for the first number is often enough: 만, 삼천, 오천.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이거 얼마예요?
How much is this?i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo오천 원이에요.
It is 5,000 won.o-cheon wo-ni-e-yo이거는요?
And this one?i-geo-neun-yo그거는 만 원이에요.
That one is 10,000 won.geu-geo-neun man wo-ni-e-yoA little context goes a long way
Korean prices are usually quoted in 원 (won), and most everyday items fall between 천 원 and 만 원. Sellers may answer with just the number, such as 오천, without 이에요, especially in busy markets. That is not rude; it is simply efficient. Using the polite -요 endings yourself keeps the exchange friendly, and a small bow or nod when you pay is common and appreciated.
One thing to watch for
Asking 이거 얼마입니까? because it sounds more polite.
Try this instead: 얼마입니까? is grammatically correct but formal-report style, and it can sound stiff in a shop. For everyday polite speech, use 얼마예요? Example: 이거 얼마예요? is the natural, friendly choice for most purchases.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask the price of a bag you are holding?
Show a sample answer
이 가방 얼마예요?
Put the noun 가방 before 얼마예요? to name the item. 이거 얼마예요? is also correct if you are pointing at it.
2The seller says 삼천 원이에요. What is the price in English?
Show a sample answer
3,000 won.
삼천 is 3,000, and 원 is the Korean currency. The ending 이에요 means 'it is'.
3You did not catch the price. What polite phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.
This means 'Please say that one more time.' 적어 주세요 ('please write it down') is another valid option.
For prices, remember one question and a few numbers: 이거 얼마예요? plus 만, 천, and the won amounts you hear in reply.
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