Finding the perfect item only to discover a slight imperfection can be disappointing, but in Korea, it can sometimes be an opportunity to negotiate a better price. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for shoppers asking for a discount on items with minor damage, such as a scratched pot, helping you navigate these situations politely and effectively.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 흠집이 있는데 할인해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: heum-jib-i iss-neun-de hal-in-hae ju-sil su iss-na-yo?
Meaning: There’s a scratch, could you possibly give me a discount?
Basic Phrases for Pointing Out Damage
-
Expression: 이거 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is this? -
Expression: 여기 흠집이 있어요.
Pronunciation: yeo-gi heum-jib-i iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: There’s a scratch here. -
Expression: 이 냄비에 약간 흠집이 있네요.
Pronunciation: i naem-bi-e yak-gan heum-jib-i iss-ne-yo.
Meaning: There’s a small scratch on this pot. -
Expression: 약간 손상된 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: yak-gan son-sang-doen geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: It seems slightly damaged. -
Expression: 자세히 보니 긁힌 자국이 있어요.
Pronunciation: ja-se-hi bo-ni geul-kin ja-gug-i iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: Looking closely, there’s a scratch mark. -
Expression: 이거 진열 상품인가요?
Pronunciation: i-geo jin-yeol sang-pum-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this a display item? -
Expression: 다른 새 상품은 없나요?
Pronunciation: da-reun sae sang-pum-eun eops-na-yo?
Meaning: Aren’t there any other new ones? -
Expression: 이 부분이 조금 깨졌어요.
Pronunciation: i bu-bun-i jo-geum kkae-jyeoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: This part is slightly chipped/broken. -
Expression: 색깔이 약간 바랜 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: saek-kkal-i yak-gan ba-raen geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: The color seems a bit faded. -
Expression: 포장이 뜯어져 있어요.
Pronunciation: po-jang-i tteud-eo-jyeo iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: The packaging is torn.
Phrases for Requesting a Discount
-
Expression: 흠집 때문에 그런데, 조금 할인해 주실 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: heum-jib ttae-mun-e geu-reon-de, jo-geum hal-in-hae ju-sil su iss-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Because of the scratch, could you perhaps give me a small discount? -
Expression: 할인 가능할까요?
Pronunciation: hal-in ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Is a discount possible? -
Expression: 가격을 좀 깎아 주시면 안 될까요?
Pronunciation: ga-gyeog-eul jom kkak-a ju-si-myeon an doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Couldn’t you lower the price a bit? (깎다 – kkak-da – means to cut/shave, often used for haggling) -
Expression: 얼마나 할인해 주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-na hal-in-hae ju-sil su iss-eo-yo?
Meaning: How much discount can you give me? -
Expression: 이 가격에서 할인이 되나요?
Pronunciation: i ga-gyeog-e-seo hal-in-i doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I get a discount from this price? -
Expression: 할인해 주시면 살게요.
Pronunciation: hal-in-hae ju-si-myeon sal-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll buy it if you give me a discount. -
Expression: 조금만 더 싸게 해 주세요.
Pronunciation: jo-geum-man deo ssa-ge hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please make it just a little cheaper. -
Expression: 혹시 흠집 할인이 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si heum-jib hal-in-i ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is a scratch discount perhaps possible? -
Expression: 진열 상품이면 보통 할인되지 않나요?
Pronunciation: jin-yeol sang-pum-i-myeon bo-tong hal-in-doe-ji an-na-yo?
Meaning: Aren’t display items usually discounted? -
Expression: [금액]원에 주시면 안 될까요?
Pronunciation: [geum-aek]-won-e ju-si-myeon an doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Couldn’t you give it to me for [amount] won?
Clerk’s Potential Responses
-
Expression: 잠시만요, 확인해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: jam-si-man-yo, hwag-in-hae bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: Just a moment, let me check. -
Expression: 네, 흠집이 있어서 조금 할인해 드릴 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: ne, heum-jib-i iss-eo-seo jo-geum hal-in-hae deu-ril su iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: Yes, since there’s a scratch, we can give you a small discount. -
Expression: 죄송하지만 이 상품은 할인이 어렵습니다.
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man i sang-pum-eun hal-in-i eo-ryeop-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Sorry, but it’s difficult to discount this item. -
Expression: 이미 할인된 가격이라서요.
Pronunciation: i-mi hal-in-doen ga-gyeog-i-ra-seo-yo.
Meaning: It’s because this is already a discounted price. -
Expression: [숫자]% 정도 할인해 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: [sut-ja]% jeong-do hal-in-hae deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: I can give you about a [number]% discount. -
Expression: 이게 최대로 할인해 드리는 가격입니다.
Pronunciation: i-ge choe-dae-ro hal-in-hae deu-ri-neun ga-gyeog-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This is the maximum discounted price we can offer. -
Expression: 흠집 없는 새 상품으로 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: heum-jib eops-neun sae sang-pum-eu-ro deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I give you a new item without scratches? -
Expression: 이 정도 흠집은 사용하시는 데 문제없으실 거예요.
Pronunciation: i jeong-do heum-jib-eun sa-yong-ha-si-neun de mun-je-eops-eu-sil geo-ye-yo.
Meaning: A scratch like this won’t be a problem when you use it. -
Expression: 저희 규정상 추가 할인은 불가능합니다.
Pronunciation: jeo-hui gyu-jeong-sang chu-ga hal-in-eun bul-ga-neung-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: According to our policy, additional discounts are not possible. -
Expression: 현금으로 하시면 조금 더 할인해 드릴 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum-eu-ro ha-si-myeon jo-geum deo hal-in-hae deu-ril su iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: If you pay in cash, we might be able to give you a slightly bigger discount.
Cultural Tips
While haggling isn’t as common in large department stores or franchise shops in Korea as it might be elsewhere, asking for a discount due to a flaw (‘흠집 할인’ – heum-jib hal-in) is often acceptable, especially in smaller independent stores, traditional markets (‘시장’ – si-jang), or electronics markets.
Pointing out a specific, visible flaw like a scratch provides a legitimate reason for your request. Be polite and respectful when asking; aggressive haggling is generally frowned upon.
Display items (‘진열 상품’ – jin-yeol sang-pum) are frequently sold at a reduced price. If you suspect an item was on display, it’s worth asking if a discount applies.
Sometimes, especially in smaller shops or markets, clerks might offer a small discount for paying in cash (‘현금 할인’ – hyeon-geum hal-in) as it saves them credit card processing fees. You can politely inquire about this possibility.
Understand that the clerk may not have the authority to give discounts and might need to check with a manager. Accept their final decision gracefully, whether you get the discount or not.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A shopper (A) is looking at kitchenware in a store and finds a pot they like, but notices a scratch. They approach a clerk (B) to inquire about a discount.
-
Expression: A: 저기요, 이 냄비 좀 보고 있는데요.
Pronunciation: jeo-gi-yo, i naem-bi jom bo-go iss-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me, I’m looking at this pot. -
Expression: B: 네, 손님. 어떤 걸 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, son-nim. eo-tteon geol do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, customer. How may I help you? -
Expression: A: 이 냄비가 마음에 드는데, 여기 보니까 약간 흠집이 있네요.
Pronunciation: i naem-bi-ga ma-eum-e deu-neun-de, yeo-gi bo-ni-kka yak-gan heum-jib-i iss-ne-yo.
Meaning: A: I like this pot, but looking here, there’s a small scratch. -
Expression: B: 아, 그러네요. 죄송합니다. 진열하면서 생긴 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-ne-yo. joe-song-ham-ni-da. jin-yeol-ha-myeon-seo saeng-gin geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: B: Oh, you’re right. I apologize. It probably happened during display. -
Expression: A: 혹시 이것 때문에 가격 할인이 좀 가능할까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si i-geot ttae-mun-e ga-gyeok hal-in-i jom ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: A: Is it perhaps possible to get a price discount because of this? -
Expression: B: 네, 흠집이 있으니 10% 정도 할인해 드릴 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, heum-jib-i iss-eu-ni sip-peo-sen-teu jeong-do hal-in-hae deu-ril su iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, since there’s a scratch, we can offer about a 10% discount. -
Expression: A: 아, 10%요… 혹시 조금만 더 깎아주실 수는 없나요?
Pronunciation: a, sip-peo-sen-teu-yo… hok-si jo-geum-man deo kkak-a-ju-sil su-neun eops-na-yo?
Meaning: A: Ah, 10%… Is it impossible to lower it just a little bit more? -
Expression: B: 음… 그럼 5,000원 더 할인해서 [최종 가격]원에 드릴게요. 이게 최선입니다.
Pronunciation: eum… geu-reom o-cheon-won deo hal-in-hae-seo [choe-jong ga-gyeok]-won-e deu-ril-ge-yo. i-ge choe-seon-im-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Hmm… Then I’ll discount an additional 5,000 won and give it to you for [final price] won. This is the best I can do. -
Expression: A: 네, 좋아요! 그럼 이걸로 살게요.
Pronunciation: ne, jo-a-yo! geu-reom i-geol-lo sal-ge-yo.
Meaning: A: Yes, okay! Then I’ll buy this one.
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect~! Try role-playing this scenario with a friend or language partner. Pay close attention to the pronunciation of words like ‘흠집’ (heum-jib) and ‘할인’ (hal-in). When you visit shops in Korea, observe how others interact, even if you aren’t buying anything. Don’t be afraid to politely ask about discounts for minor flaws when appropriate – it’s a practical skill for savvy shoppers! Good luck!~
