How to Bargain in Korean: Namdaemun Market Phrases & Shopping Tips
Korean Shopping · Travel Phrases
How to Bargain in Korean: Namdaemun Market Phrases & Shopping Tips
Learn what to say, what a vendor may say back, when bargaining is appropriate, and how to keep the interaction polite.
Quick Answer
The easiest polite phrase is 조금 깎아 주세요 — “Please lower the price a little.” Use it only when bargaining seems appropriate, ask once rather than pushing repeatedly, and accept the vendor’s answer. For a softer request, say 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요?
Useful Before You Shop
Lesson Summary
- 이거 얼마예요? — How much is this?
- 조금 깎아 주세요. — Please lower it a little.
- 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요? — Could you lower it just a little?
- 두 개 사면 얼마예요? — How much if I buy two?
- 괜찮아요. 감사합니다. — That’s okay. Thank you.
What Korean Bargaining Phrases Should You Learn First?
Quick answer: Start with asking the price, then use one polite discount request if the situation allows it.
| Korean | Romanization | English | Tone / Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이거 얼마예요? | i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo? | How much is this? | Neutral and useful almost everywhere. |
| 조금 깎아 주세요. | jo-geum kka-kka ju-se-yo. | Please lower the price a little. | Polite, direct, and easy for beginners. |
| 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요? | jo-geum-man kka-kka ju-sil su i-sseo-yo? | Could you lower it just a little? | Softer and more deferential. |
| 현금으로 하면 조금 깎아 주세요? | hyeon-geu-meu-ro ha-myeon jo-geum kka-kka ju-se-yo? | If I pay cash, could you lower it a little? | Use only when bargaining seems appropriate. |
| 두 개 사면 얼마예요? | du gae sa-myeon eol-ma-ye-yo? | How much if I buy two? | Useful for bundle pricing. |
| 그럼 이걸로 할게요. | geu-reom i-geol-lo hal-ge-yo. | Then I'll take this one. | Natural way to close the purchase. |
How Do You Ask for a Discount Without Sounding Pushy?
Quick answer: Add 조금 or 조금만, keep the 요 ending, and treat the request as a question rather than a demand.
깎아 주세요.
Please lower the price.
조금 깎아 주세요.
Please lower it a little.
조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요?
Could you lower it just a little?
For beginners, the second and third versions are safer because they communicate that you are asking for a small favor rather than demanding a large reduction.
What Might the Vendor Say Back?
Quick answer: Learning the seller’s possible answers is just as useful as memorizing your own request.
| Vendor Might Say | Romanization | Meaning | How You Can Respond |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이게 제일 싸요. | i-ge je-il ssa-yo. | This is the cheapest price. | 네, 알겠습니다. — Okay, I understand. |
| 조금 깎아 드릴게요. | jo-geum kka-kka deu-ril-ge-yo. | I'll lower it a little for you. | 감사합니다! — Thank you! |
| 현금이면 가능해요. | hyeon-geu-mi-myeon ga-neung-hae-yo. | It's possible if you pay cash. | 네, 현금으로 할게요. — Okay, I'll pay cash. |
| 두 개 사면 더 싸게 해 드릴게요. | du gae sa-myeon deo ssa-ge hae deu-ril-ge-yo. | If you buy two, I'll make it cheaper. | 두 개 주세요. — Two, please. |
| 안 돼요. | an dwae-yo. | I can't / No. | 괜찮아요. 감사합니다. — That's okay. Thank you. |
When Is Bargaining Appropriate?
Quick answer: It depends on the stall, item, and pricing style. Do not assume every traditional-market price is negotiable.
| Situation | Bargaining? | Better Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Souvenir or clothing stall with flexible pricing | Sometimes appropriate | Ask once, politely, and accept the answer. |
| Buying several of the same item | Often more reasonable to ask | Use 두 개 사면 얼마예요? or ask for a small discount. |
| Clearly marked fixed-price shop | Usually not appropriate | Pay the posted price unless the seller offers a deal. |
| Food stall / prepared food | Usually avoid bargaining | Treat the listed price as fixed unless the vendor says otherwise. |
| Very low-priced single item | Usually not worth negotiating | Keep the interaction simple and polite. |
| Vendor declines your request | Stop negotiating | Say 괜찮아요 or 감사합니다 and move on respectfully. |
What Does a Realistic Bargaining Conversation Sound Like?
Customer:
안녕하세요. 이거 얼마예요?
Hello. How much is this?
Vendor:
이만원이에요.
It’s ₩20,000.
Customer:
조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요?
Could you lower it just a little?
Vendor:
그럼 만팔천원에 드릴게요.
Then I’ll give it to you for ₩18,000.
Customer:
좋아요. 이걸로 할게요. 감사합니다.
Sounds good. I’ll take this one. Thank you.
How Do Korean Price Numbers Help With Bargaining?
Quick answer: If you can quickly hear 만 and 천, it becomes much easier to understand counteroffers.
₩20,000 → 이만원
₩18,000 → 만팔천원
₩25,000 → 이만오천원
₩30,000 → 삼만원
If Korean price reading is still difficult, review the Korean Learning Hub lesson on Korean Numbers for Money before practicing market dialogue.
What Bargaining Mistakes Should Beginners Avoid?
Quick answer: Avoid treating bargaining like a contest. A polite request and a respectful exit are more useful than chasing a specific percentage.
- Do not assume cash guarantees a discount.
- Do not expect a fixed 10%, 15%, or 20% reduction.
- Do not repeatedly pressure a vendor after they say the price is fixed.
- Do not bargain automatically at food stalls or clearly fixed-price shops.
- Do not use exaggerated “aegyo” as a required bargaining technique; friendly, polite speech is enough.
- If you decide not to buy, end with 감사합니다 or 괜찮아요, 감사합니다.
Market Korean Practice Challenge
1. How do you politely ask, “Could you lower it just a little?”
2. The vendor says 이게 제일 싸요. What does that mean?
3. How do you ask, “How much if I buy two?”
4. Read 만팔천원. What price is it?
Show Answers
1. 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요? · 2. This is the cheapest price. · 3. 두 개 사면 얼마예요? · 4. ₩18,000
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bargaining expected at Namdaemun Market?
Not at every stall. Some vendors may negotiate on clothing, souvenirs, or multiple-item purchases, while others use fixed prices. The safest approach is to ask politely once and accept the answer.
What is the most useful Korean phrase for asking for a discount?
조금 깎아 주세요 means “Please lower the price a little.” A softer option is 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요? — “Could you lower it just a little?”
Should I call a vendor 사장님?
사장님 is widely used as a polite way to address an owner or person running a business. It can sound natural at shops and market stalls, but you do not need to use it in every sentence.
Does paying cash always get a discount?
No. Cash may sometimes make a discount easier, but there is no guaranteed percentage or universal rule. It depends on the vendor, item, and transaction.
What should I say if the vendor refuses?
A simple 괜찮아요. 감사합니다. — “That’s okay. Thank you.” — keeps the interaction polite and lets you move on naturally.
Conclusion
Bargaining in Korean is less about memorizing a “magic discount phrase” and more about understanding the situation. Ask the price first, make one polite request if negotiation seems appropriate, listen to the vendor’s response, and accept the answer respectfully.
For a beginner, the most useful sequence is simple: 이거 얼마예요? → 조금만 깎아 주실 수 있어요? → listen to the counteroffer → 이걸로 할게요 or 괜찮아요, 감사합니다.
