Understanding how to negotiate prices, especially for larger quantities, is a useful skill when shopping in Korea. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for asking a store clerk about discounts on bulk orders, specifically focusing on a scenario where you need to purchase multiple blankets tonight.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 대량 구매 할인 (dae-ryang gu-mae ha-rin)
Pronunciation: dae-ryang gu-mae ha-rin
Meaning: Bulk purchase discount (This term refers specifically to discounts for buying large quantities.) -
Expression: 대량 구매하면 할인이 되나요?
Pronunciation: dae-ryang gu-mae-ha-myeon ha-rin-i doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a discount if I buy in bulk? (This is the key question to ask.)
Basic Inquiry Phrases
-
Expression: 저기요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo
Meaning: Excuse me. (To get the clerk’s attention) -
Expression: 이 담요 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: i dam-yo eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is this blanket? -
Expression: 담요를 좀 보려고 하는데요.
Pronunciation: dam-yo-reul jom bo-ryeo-go ha-neun-de-yo
Meaning: I’m looking for some blankets. -
Expression: 좀 여쭤볼 게 있는데요.
Pronunciation: jom yeo-jjwo-bol ge it-neun-de-yo
Meaning: I have something to ask you. -
Expression: 담요를 여러 개 사려고 해요.
Pronunciation: dam-yo-reul yeo-reo gae sa-ryeo-go hae-yo
Meaning: I intend to buy several blankets. -
Expression: 오늘 밤에 필요해요.
Pronunciation: o-neul bam-e pil-yo-hae-yo
Meaning: I need them tonight. -
Expression: 재고가 충분히 있나요?
Pronunciation: jae-go-ga chung-bun-hi it-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you have enough stock? -
Expression: 한 [Number]개 정도 필요해요.
Pronunciation: han [Number]-gae jeong-do pil-yo-hae-yo
Meaning: I need about [Number] of them. -
Expression: 혹시 할인이 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si ha-rin-i ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is a discount possible, perhaps? -
Expression: 가격 좀 깎아주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: ga-gyeok jom kka-kka-ju-sil su i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Can you lower the price a bit? -
Expression: 많이 사면 할인해 주시나요?
Pronunciation: ma-ni sa-myeon ha-rin-hae ju-si-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you give a discount if I buy many?
Negotiating the Bulk Discount
-
Expression: 담요를 [Number]개 정도 사려고 하는데요, 할인이 될까요?
Pronunciation: dam-yo-reul [Number]-gae jeong-do sa-ryeo-go ha-neun-de-yo, ha-rin-i doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: I’m thinking of buying about [Number] blankets, would there be a discount? -
Expression: 대량 구매 시 할인 혜택이 있습니까?
Pronunciation: dae-ryang gu-mae si ha-rin hye-taeg-i it-seum-ni-kka?
Meaning: Are there discount benefits for bulk purchases? -
Expression: 몇 개부터 대량 구매 할인이 적용되나요?
Pronunciation: myeot gae-bu-teo dae-ryang gu-mae ha-rin-i jeok-yong-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: From how many items does the bulk discount apply? -
Expression: 할인율이 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: ha-rin-yur-i eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the discount rate? -
Expression: 개당 얼마까지 가능하신가요?
Pronunciation: gae-dang eol-ma-kka-ji ga-neung-ha-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: How much can you do it for per item? -
Expression: 조금만 더 할인해 주시면 안 될까요?
Pronunciation: jo-geum-man deo ha-rin-hae ju-si-myeon an doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Couldn’t you give me just a little more discount? -
Expression: 오늘 바로 다 가져갈 거예요.
Pronunciation: o-neul ba-ro da ga-jyeo-gal geo-ye-yo
Meaning: I’m going to take them all right away today. -
Expression: 현금으로 하면 추가 할인이 있나요?
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum-eu-ro ha-myeon chu-ga ha-rin-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there an additional discount if I pay with cash? -
Expression: 그럼 총 얼마인가요?
Pronunciation: geu-reom chong eol-ma-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Then how much is it in total? -
Expression: 네, 그럼 [Number]개 주세요.
Pronunciation: ne, geu-reom [Number]-gae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Okay, then please give me [Number] items. -
Expression: 포장해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: po-jang-hae ju-sil su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can you wrap them up?
Confirming Details and Purchase
-
Expression: 오늘 밤에 꼭 필요한데, [Number]개 재고 확실히 있는 거죠?
Pronunciation: o-neul bam-e kkok pil-yo-han-de, [Number]-gae jae-go hwak-sil-hi it-neun geo-jyo?
Meaning: I definitely need them tonight, you certainly have [Number] in stock, right? -
Expression: 수량 확인 부탁드립니다. [Number]개 맞죠?
Pronunciation: su-ryang hwa-gin bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da. [Number]-gae mat-jyo?
Meaning: Please check the quantity. It’s [Number] items, correct? -
Expression: 할인 적용된 최종 가격이 맞는지 확인해 주세요.
Pronunciation: ha-rin jeok-yong-doen choe-jong ga-gyeog-i mat-neun-ji hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please check if this is the final price with the discount applied. -
Expression: 총 금액 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: chong geu-maek da-si han-beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please tell me the total amount one more time? -
Expression: 카드로 계산할게요.
Pronunciation: ka-deu-ro gye-san-hal-kke-yo
Meaning: I’ll pay by card. -
Expression: 현금으로 계산할게요.
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum-eu-ro gye-san-hal-kke-yo
Meaning: I’ll pay with cash. -
Expression: 영수증 주세요.
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo
Meaning: Please give me the receipt. -
Expression: 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Meaning: Thank you. -
Expression: 많이 파세요.
Pronunciation: ma-ni pa-se-yo
Meaning: Sell a lot! (A common polite closing remark to a seller) -
Expression: 수고하세요.
Pronunciation: su-go-ha-se-yo
Meaning: Thank you for your effort / Keep up the good work. (Said when leaving) -
Expression: 안녕히 계세요.
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo
Meaning: Goodbye (to someone who is staying).
Korean Culture Notes
When asking for discounts in Korea, especially for bulk purchases, keep these cultural points in mind:
Bargaining Etiquette: While bargaining is common in traditional markets (시장 – si-jang) or smaller independent shops, it’s generally not done in department stores or large chain stores where prices are fixed. Always be polite and respectful when negotiating; aggressive haggling is frowned upon.
Bulk Discounts: Asking for a discount on a large quantity purchase (대량 구매 – dae-ryang gu-mae) is acceptable in many settings, even where individual item prices are fixed. Frame it as a reasonable request due to the volume.
Cash Preference: Smaller vendors might sometimes offer a slightly better price or be more willing to discount if you offer to pay in cash (현금 – hyeon-geum), as it saves them credit card processing fees. It doesn’t hurt to politely inquire: “현금으로 하면 조금 더 할인되나요?” (hyeon-geum-eu-ro ha-myeon jo-geum deo ha-rin-doe-na-yo? – Is there a bit more discount if I pay with cash?).
“Service” (서비스): Sometimes, instead of a direct price reduction, a seller might offer something extra for free as “service” (서비스 – seo-bi-seu). This could be a small related item or an extra unit of what you’re buying. It’s a gesture of goodwill.
Urgency Factor: Mentioning you need the items immediately (“오늘 밤에 필요해요” – o-neul bam-e pil-yo-hae-yo) can sometimes work in your favor, as it shows you’re a serious buyer ready to purchase now, but it can also reduce your leverage if stock is limited. Use this information strategically.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A shopper needs to buy 20 blankets tonight for an urgent event and approaches a clerk at a bedding store.
Roles: A = Shopper, B = Clerk
-
Expression: A: 저기요, 이 담요 좀 볼게요.
Pronunciation: A: jeo-gi-yo, i dam-yo jom bol-kke-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me, I’d like to look at this blanket. -
Expression: B: 네, 보세요. 이 담요는 개당 2만원입니다.
Pronunciation: B: ne, bo-se-yo. i dam-yo-neun gae-dang i-man-won-im-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, please take a look. This blanket is 20,000 won each. -
Expression: A: 제가 오늘 밤에 쓸 담요가 필요한데요, 혹시 스무 개 정도 재고가 있을까요?
Pronunciation: A: je-ga o-neul bam-e sseul dam-yo-ga pil-yo-han-de-yo, hok-si seu-mu gae jeong-do jae-go-ga i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: A: I need blankets to use tonight, would you happen to have about twenty in stock? -
Expression: B: 스무 개요? 잠시만요, 확인해 볼게요… 네, 스무 개 있습니다.
Pronunciation: B: seu-mu gae-yo? jam-si-man-yo, hwa-gin-hae bol-kke-yo… ne, seu-mu gae it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Twenty? Just a moment, let me check… Yes, we have twenty. -
Expression: A: 다행이네요! 스무 개를 사면 혹시 대량 구매 할인이 좀 될까요?
Pronunciation: A: da-haeng-i-ne-yo! seu-mu gae-reul sa-myeon hok-si dae-ryang gu-mae ha-rin-i jom doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: A: That’s fortunate! If I buy twenty, would a bulk purchase discount be possible perhaps? -
Expression: B: 네, 그렇게 많이 구매하시면 저희가 10% 할인해 드릴 수 있어요. 개당 18,000원에 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: B: ne, geu-reo-ke ma-ni gu-mae-ha-si-myeon jeo-hui-ga sip-peo-sen-teu ha-rin-hae deu-ril su i-sseo-yo. gae-dang man-pal-cheon-won-e deu-ril-kke-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, if you purchase that many, we can give you a 10% discount. We’ll give them to you for 18,000 won each. -
Expression: A: 아, 감사합니다. 그럼 스무 개 바로 포장해 주시겠어요? 오늘 밤에 꼭 필요해서요.
Pronunciation: A: a, gam-sa-ham-ni-da. geu-reom seu-mu gae ba-ro po-jang-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo? o-neul bam-e kkok pil-yo-hae-seo-yo.
Meaning: A: Ah, thank you. Then could you wrap up twenty right away? I really need them tonight. -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 총 36만원입니다. 결제는 어떻게 하시겠어요?
Pronunciation: B: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. chong sam-sim-nyuk-man-won-im-ni-da. gyeol-je-neun eo-tteo-ke ha-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, understood. The total is 360,000 won. How would you like to pay? -
Expression: A: 카드로 할게요. 여기요.
Pronunciation: A: ka-deu-ro hal-kke-yo. yeo-gi-yo.
Meaning: A: I’ll pay by card. Here you go. -
Expression: B: 네, 감사합니다. 잠시만 기다려 주세요. 포장해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: B: ne, gam-sa-ham-ni-da. jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo. po-jang-hae deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, thank you. Please wait just a moment. We’ll wrap them for you.
Practice Tips
Ready to try negotiating your own bulk discount?~ Here are some tips!
First, practice the core phrases like “대량 구매하면 할인이 되나요?” (dae-ryang gu-mae-ha-myeon ha-rin-i doe-na-yo?) until they feel natural. Knowing your numbers in Korean is also crucial for discussing quantities and prices!
Try role-playing the conversation example with a friend or language partner. One person can be the shopper (A) and the other the clerk (B). Switch roles to practice both sides!
If you’re in Korea, visit different types of stores (markets, small shops, larger stores) just to observe and listen, even if you don’t buy anything. Pay attention to how prices are discussed.
Start small! You don’t have to negotiate a huge discount on your first try. Maybe just ask politely “조금 깎아주실 수 있어요?” (jo-geum kka-kka-ju-sil su i-sseo-yo? – Can you lower the price a little?) when buying a couple of items in a market setting. Good luck! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
