Korean for Using an ATM: Withdrawing Cash and Asking About Fees
Learn elementary Korean to withdraw cash at an ATM, ask whether it accepts foreign cards, and understand common on-screen prompts and fee questions.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Using an ATM in Korea is easier when you can read a few key words and ask one or two polite questions. In this lesson you will learn how to say that you want to withdraw cash, ask whether a machine accepts foreign cards, and ask about fees. You will also meet common ATM screen words such as 현금 (cash), 출금 (withdrawal), and 수수료 (fee). The phrases below use polite -yo endings, which are safe for everyday situations with strangers. Revised Romanization is given for pronunciation, but listen for the actual Korean sounds when you can.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether an ATM accepts foreign cards.
- say that I want to withdraw cash.
- ask how much the fee is.
- recognize common ATM screen words such as 출금 and 수수료.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
이 ATM은 외국 카드를 받아요?
Does this ATM accept foreign cards?
i e-i-ti-em-eun oe-guk ka-deu-reul ba-da-yo?
A direct yes/no question. Use it before inserting your card. ATM is commonly said as 에이티엠 (e-i-ti-em).
현금을 찾고 싶어요.
I want to withdraw cash.
hyeon-geum-eul chat-go si-peo-yo
Use this with a bank teller or when explaining your goal. 찾다 here means 'to withdraw' or 'to look for', depending on context.
수수료가 얼마예요?
How much is the fee?
su-su-ryo-ga eol-ma-ye-yo?
A polite way to ask about a fee. You can also point at the screen and say this if you are unsure.
출금 버튼을 눌러 주세요.
Please press the withdrawal button.
chul-geum beo-teun-eul nul-leo ju-se-yo
You may hear or see this instruction. 출금 means 'withdrawal' and 버튼 means 'button'.
영어로 할 수 있어요?
Can I do it in English?
yeong-eo-ro hal su i-sseo-yo?
Useful if the screen is only in Korean. Many ATMs offer an English option, but not all do.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -을/를 받아요? means 'Do you accept...?' or 'Does it accept...?'. Put the item before the object marker. For example, 외국 카드를 받아요? (Do you accept foreign cards?) and 현금 카드를 받아요? (Do you accept cash cards?). If the noun ends in a consonant, use 을; if it ends in a vowel, use 를. In everyday speech, people often drop the object marker, so 외국 카드 받아요? is also understandable, though less careful.
When to use it
Use 이 ATM은 외국 카드를 받아요? before you insert your card, especially at a machine outside a bank or in a convenience store. If the answer is yes, you can continue with 현금을 찾고 싶어요. If you need to ask about cost, say 수수료가 얼마예요? You can also ask 이 ATM은 수수료가 있어요? (Does this ATM have a fee?). Keep your voice polite and add 죄송하지만 (sorry, but) if you need to interrupt someone.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 이 ATM은 외국 카드를 받아요?
Excuse me, does this ATM accept foreign cards?jeo-gi-yo, i e-i-ti-em-eun oe-guk ka-deu-reul ba-da-yo?네, 받아요. 출금하시려고요?
Yes, it does. Are you trying to withdraw cash?ne, ba-da-yo. chul-geum-ha-si-ryeo-go-yo?네, 현금을 찾고 싶어요. 수수료가 얼마예요?
Yes, I want to withdraw cash. How much is the fee?ne, hyeon-geum-eul chat-go si-peo-yo. su-su-ryo-ga eol-ma-ye-yo?삼천 원이에요. 화면에서 출금을 누르세요.
It is 3,000 won. Press 'withdrawal' on the screen.sam-cheon wo-ni-e-yo. hwa-myeon-e-seo chul-geu-meul nu-reu-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean ATMs often have a language button, but older machines or those in small shops may be Korean-only. Bank branches usually have staff who can help during business hours. Fees can differ between your own bank's ATM and another bank's ATM, and international cards may add a separate fee from your bank. It is normal to ask about fees before completing a transaction.
One thing to watch for
Using 찾아요 when you mean 'withdraw' in a bank context.
Try this instead: 찾아요 can mean 'look for' or 'find'. For withdrawing money, the common verb is 찾다 in the fixed phrase 현금을 찾다, but the clearer ATM word is 출금하다. Say 현금을 출금하고 싶어요 (I want to withdraw cash) or press 출금 on the screen. If you say 현금을 찾아요, a listener may understand, but 출금 is more precise at a machine.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask whether an ATM accepts foreign cards?
Show a sample answer
이 ATM은 외국 카드를 받아요?
This uses the object marker 를 after 카드 and the polite question ending -아요. You can also say 이 ATM 외국 카드 받아요? in casual speech, but the full form is clearer.
2What Korean word on an ATM screen means 'withdrawal'?
Show a sample answer
출금
출금 (chul-geum) is the standard ATM term for withdrawal. You may also see 현금 (cash), which often appears near it.
3How do you ask 'How much is the fee?'
Show a sample answer
수수료가 얼마예요?
수수료 means 'fee', and 얼마예요? means 'how much is it?'. You can also ask 수수료가 있어요? to ask whether there is a fee at all.
Before using an ATM in Korea, ask 이 ATM은 외국 카드를 받아요? Then say 현금을 찾고 싶어요 and check 수수료가 얼마예요? Look for 출금 on the screen to withdraw cash.
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