Korean Shopping Vocabulary쇼핑

this thing

이것은 뭐예요?What is this?

💡 Memory tip: 이 (this, near me) + 것 (thing) = this thing right here

Pronunciation: 것 is pronounced [걷] in isolation, but in 이것은 the ㅅ links to 은: [이거슨]

that thing

그것 좀 보여 주세요.Please show me that.

💡 Memory tip: 그 (that, near you) + 것 (thing) = that thing near the listener

Pronunciation: In casual speech, 그것 contracts to 그거 [geu-geo]

that thing over there

저것은 얼마예요?How much is that over there?

💡 Memory tip: 저 (that over there, far from both) + 것 (thing) = that distant thing

Pronunciation: Contracts to 저거 [jeo-geo] in casual speech

expensive

이것은 너무 비싸요.This is too expensive.

💡 Memory tip: Sounds like "VISA" — using your Visa card because it's expensive!

Pronunciation: ㅆ is a tense double consonant — press harder than a single ㅅ

cheap

시장이 더 싸요.The market is cheaper.

💡 Memory tip: 비싸다 (expensive) drops the 비- to become 싸다 (cheap) — the shorter word for the smaller price.

Pronunciation: Another tense ㅆ — the opposite of 비싸다

big

이 가방이 너무 커요.This bag is too big.

💡 Memory tip: The same root gives 크기 (size) and 키 (height) — 크다 is the core idea of bigness.

Pronunciation: 크다 → 커요 in polite form (ㅡ drops, add 어요)

small

이 사이즈는 너무 작아요.This size is too small.

💡 Memory tip: The exact opposite of 크다 (big). Pair them as a set: 크다 ↔ 작다.

Pronunciation: ㄱ받침 before ㄷ: [작따] with tensification

pretty

이 옷이 정말 예뻐요!These clothes are really pretty!

💡 Memory tip: The most common everyday compliment in Korean — you'll hear 예뻐요! for clothes, faces, and flowers alike.

Pronunciation: 예쁘다 → 예뻐요 in polite form (ㅡ drops, ㅂ becomes ㅃ)

color

다른 색 있어요?Do you have another color?

💡 Memory tip: 색 is the Sino-Korean root for "color" you saw in the color words: 빨간색, 파란색 all end in 색.

size

사이즈가 어떻게 돼요?What sizes do you have?

💡 Memory tip: Borrowed from English "size" — 사이즈

won (Korean currency)

만 원이에요.It's 10,000 won.

💡 Memory tip: The ₩ currency symbol is a W with two lines — W for "won."

Pronunciation: Korean currency unit; 1 USD ≈ 1,300 won. Prices are often in thousands (천) and ten-thousands (만).

cash

현금으로 할게요.I'll pay with cash.

💡 Memory tip: Sino-Korean 현(現, present/on-hand) + 금(金, gold/money) — literally "money in hand," i.e. cash.

Pronunciation: ㄴ + ㄱ: the ㄴ is nasal before ㄱ

card (credit/debit)

카드로 계산할게요.I'll pay by card.

💡 Memory tip: Borrowed from English "card" — 카드

receipt

영수증 주세요.Please give me the receipt.

💡 Memory tip: 영수(領收, receiving payment) + 증(證, certificate) — the "proof-of-payment certificate."

Pronunciation: Three syllables: 영-수-증. The final ㅇ in 영 is the [ng] sound.