Out & About
1Convenience Store편의점
The shop counter is the lowest-stakes conversation in the country — a few set phrases and a smile do the whole thing. Nail these and you'll never freeze when the cashier rattles something off.
| Korean | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이거 얼마예요？ | igeo eolmayeyo? | How much is this? | Point at the item |
이거igeothis얼마eolmahow much예요yeyois it? | |||
| 이거 주세요 | igeo juseyo | This one, please | Point and nod |
이거igeothis주세요juseyoplease give | |||
| 봉투 주세요 | bongtu juseyo | A bag, please | bongtu = bag |
봉투bongtubag주세요juseyoplease give | |||
| 카드 돼요？ | kadeu dwaeyo? | Can I pay by card? | Card works everywhere |
카드kadeucard돼요dwaeyois it okay? | |||
| 봉투 괜찮아요 | bongtu gwaenchanayo | No bag, thanks | |
봉투bongtubag괜찮아요gwaenchanayoit's fine (no thanks) | |||
| 데워 주세요 | dewo juseyo | Heat it up, please | For instant food |
데워dewoheat it주세요juseyoplease | |||
You almost never need a full sentence at a counter. Set your item down, say the short phrase, and let the cashier guide you — a nod handles everything you didn't catch.
2Ordering주문
Pointing plus one polite word gets you fed anywhere. You don't need the menu memorised — “this one, please” and a finger covers most of it, and asking what's good opens an actual chat.
| Korean | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 두 명이요 | du myeong-iyo | Table for two | Hold up two fingers |
두dutwo명myeong(people)이요iyo(polite) | |||
| 이거 주세요 | igeo juseyo | This one, please | Point at the menu |
이거igeothis주세요juseyoplease give | |||
| 뭐가 맛있어요？ | mwoga masisseoyo? | What's good? | Opens a chat |
뭐가mwogawhat맛있어요masisseoyois delicious? | |||
| 같은 걸로 주세요 | gateun geollo juseyo | The same, please | Order what they had |
같은gateunthe same걸로geolloas (that one)주세요juseyoplease give | |||
| 물 주세요 | mul juseyo | Water, please | Usually free |
물mulwater주세요juseyoplease give | |||
| 저기요！ | jeogiyo! | Excuse me! (calling staff) | How you flag the server |
Point at the dish — on the menu, on the next table, on your phone — and add the polite word. Staff would much rather you point than stay silent.
3Paying계산
Asking for the bill and paying cleanly is its own tiny social skill. Get it smooth and you walk out looking like you've done it a hundred times — and “it's on me” is a warm little offer.
| Korean | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 계산해 주세요 | gyesanhae juseyo | The bill, please | Or just “gyesanyo” |
계산해gyesanhaesettle the bill주세요juseyoplease | |||
| 따로 계산할게요 | ttaro gyesanhalgeyo | We'll pay separately | |
따로ttaroseparately계산할게요gyesanhalgeyo(we'll) pay | |||
| 제가 살게요 | jega salgeyo | It's on me | A warm offer |
제가jegaI살게요salgeyowill treat/buy | |||
| 카드 돼요？ | kadeu dwaeyo? | Can I pay by card? | Almost always yes |
카드kadeucard돼요dwaeyois it okay? | |||
| 잘 먹었습니다 | jal meogeosseumnida | Thanks for the meal | Say it on the way out |
잘jalwell먹었습니다meogeosseumnida(I) ate | |||
| 맛있었어요 | masisseosseoyo | It was delicious | Always appreciated |
The price is the price — no tipping expected. Card is accepted almost everywhere, even for the tiniest amounts.
4At the Bar술집
The bar is where a phrase becomes a moment. “What are you having?” and “may I buy you a drink?” are tiny lines that can open a whole evening — say them light, smile, and let the drink do the rest.
| Korean | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 뭐 마셔요？ | mwo masyeoyo? | What are you drinking? | Easy opener |
뭐mwowhat마셔요masyeoyo(do you) drink | |||
| 한 잔 사도 돼요？ | han jan sado dwaeyo? | May I buy you a drink? | Light and warm |
한hanone잔janglass사도sadoeven if (I) buy돼요dwaeyois it okay? | |||
| 한 잔 더？ | han jan deo? | One more? | |
한hanone잔janglass더deomore | |||
| 건배！ | geonbae! | Cheers! | Glasses up |
| 자주 와요？ | jaju wayo? | Do you come here often? | Classic, and it works |
자주jajuoften와요wayo(do you) come | |||
| 여기 분위기 좋네요 | yeogi bunwigi jonneyo | Nice vibe here | A shared observation |
여기yeogihere분위기bunwigiatmosphere좋네요jonneyois nice | |||
“May I buy you a drink?” lands as a light, easy offer — not a transaction. Ask, smile, and be just as happy with a no. The relaxedness is the attractive part, not the drink.
mwo masyeoyo?
What are you drinking?
maekjuyo.
Beer.
han jan sado dwaeyo?
May I buy you a drink?
eo, gomawoyo.
Oh, thanks.
geonbae! yeogi jaju wayo?
Cheers! Do you come here often?
★Pocket Lines한마디
When your brain blanks, these are the words that still come out. One or two syllables each — impossible to fumble. Keep them on the tip of your tongue.
| Korean | Sounds like | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이거 | igeo | This one | Point and you're understood |
| 같은 걸로 | gateun geollo | Same for me | Order what they had |
같은gateunthe same걸로geolloas (that one) | |||
| 얼마예요？ | eolmayeyo? | How much? | Works anywhere |
얼마eolmahow much예요yeyois it? | |||
| 건배！ | geonbae! | Cheers! | Glasses up |
| 맛있어요！ | masisseoyo! | Yum! | Say it mid-bite |
| 저기요！ | jeogiyo! | Excuse me! | Flag staff anywhere |
One confident word with a smile beats a perfect sentence mumbled. These six get you through almost any counter, table or bar — lean on them when your mind goes blank.