[Situational Korean : Role-Play] Convenience Store Shopping in Korea

What if you come to Korea and visit a convenience store?

There are a few things the staff may ask you.

Today, let’s practice a role-play using the convenience store Korean phrases we learned last time.

• Me: 혹시 이거 어디 있어요?
  English: Excuse me, where can I find this?
  Pronunciation: hok-shee ee-guh uh-dee ee-suh-yo?
• Staff: 이쪽에 있어요.
  English: It is over here.
  Pronunciation: ee-jjok-eh ee-suh-yo.
• Me: 이건 얼마예요?
  English: How much is this?
  Pronunciation: ee-gun uhl-ma-yeh-yo?
• Staff: 한번 찍어볼게요.
  English: Let me scan it.
  Pronunciation: han-bun jjee-guh-bol-geh-yo.

(The staff takes the item.)

• Staff: 7,800원이요.
  English: It is 7,800 won.
  Pronunciation: chil-cheon pal-baek won-ee-yo.
• Me: 이거 하나 주세요.
  English: I’ll take one of these, please.
  Pronunciation: ee-guh ha-na Ju-say-O.
• Staff: 봉투 필요하세요?
  English: Do you need a bag?
  Pronunciation: bong-too pee-ryo-ha-seh-yo?
• Me: 네, 주세요.
  English: Yes, please.
  Pronunciation: neh, Ju-say-O.
• Staff: 영수증 드릴까요?
  English: Would you like a receipt?
  Pronunciation: young-soo-jeung deu-ril-kka-yo?
• Me: 아니요, 괜찮아요. 아, 젓가락 하나만 주세요.
  English: No, it’s okay. Oh, just one pair of chopsticks, please.
  Pronunciation: ah-nee-yo, gwaen-cha-na-yo. ah, juh-kka-rak ha-na-man Ju-say-O.
• Staff: 네.
  English: Sure.
  Pronunciation: neh.

(The staff puts chopsticks in the bag.)

• Me: 감사합니다.
  English: Thank you.
  Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-nee-da.

Was it a little longer than you expected?

Actually, in Korean convenience stores, if you do not ask anything and the staff is not very talkative, you may have almost no conversation at all.

Even I often do not say anything except “안녕하세요” and “감사합니다.” 🤣 Haha.