Dealing with specific customer requests is a common scenario in the service industry. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for waiters handling a customer who finds their juice not cold enough and requests a colder one, ensuring polite and effective communication.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 더 차가운 주스
Pronunciation: deo cha-ga-un ju-seu
Meaning: Colder juice (Literally: more cold juice)
Initial Service Phrases
-
Expression: 주문하신 주스 나왔습니다.
Pronunciation: ju-mun-ha-sin ju-seu na-wat-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Here is the juice you ordered. -
Expression: 맛있게 드세요.
Pronunciation: ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo.
Meaning: Enjoy your meal/drink. (Bon appétit) -
Expression: 필요한 거 있으시면 말씀해주세요.
Pronunciation: pil-yo-han geo i-sseu-si-myeon mal-sseum-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please let me know if you need anything. -
Expression: 음료 괜찮으신가요?
Pronunciation: eum-nyo gwaen-chan-eu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is the drink okay? -
Expression: 네, 손님. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, son-nim. mu-eo-seul do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Yes, customer. How may I help you? -
Expression: 잠시만 기다려 주십시오.
Pronunciation: jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-sip-si-o.
Meaning: Please wait a moment. -
Expression: 어떤 점이 불편하신가요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jeom-i bul-pyeon-ha-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: What seems to be the problem? / What is bothering you? -
Expression: 네, 알겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I understand. -
Expression: 확인해보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: hwa-gin-hae-bo-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will check it.
Understanding the Complaint
-
Expression: 주스가 안 차갑다는 말씀이신가요?
Pronunciation: ju-seu-ga an cha-gap-da-neun mal-sseum-i-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Are you saying the juice isn’t cold? -
Expression: 온도가 미지근한가요?
Pronunciation: on-do-ga mi-ji-geun-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is the temperature lukewarm? -
Expression: 더 차갑게 해드릴까요?
Pronunciation: deo cha-gap-ge hae-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would you like me to make it colder? -
Expression: 죄송합니다. 혹시 얼마나 더 차갑기를 원하시나요?
Pronunciation: joe-song-ham-ni-da. hok-si eol-ma-na deo cha-gap-gi-reul won-ha-si-na-yo?
Meaning: I apologize. How much colder would you like it, perhaps? -
Expression: 아, 주스가 충분히 차갑지 않군요.
Pronunciation: a, ju-seu-ga chung-bun-hi cha-gap-ji an-kun-yo.
Meaning: Ah, the juice isn’t cold enough. -
Expression: 불편을 드려 죄송합니다.
Pronunciation: bul-pyeo-neul deu-ryeo joe-song-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I apologize for the inconvenience. -
Expression: 네, 손님 의견 잘 들었습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, son-nim ui-gyeon jal deu-reot-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, customer, I have heard your opinion well. -
Expression: 혹시 얼음이 부족하신가요?
Pronunciation: hok-si eo-reum-i bu-jok-ha-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Perhaps you don’t have enough ice? -
Expression: 원하시는 온도가 어느 정도인가요?
Pronunciation: won-ha-si-neun on-do-ga eo-neu jeong-do-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What temperature would you prefer?
Offering Solutions
-
Expression: 얼음을 더 넣어드릴까요?
Pronunciation: eo-reum-eul deo neo-eo-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I add more ice for you? -
Expression: 새로 더 차갑게 만들어 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: sae-ro deo cha-gap-ge man-deu-reo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I make a new, colder one for you? -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 저희 주스는 원래 이 정도 온도입니다.
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, jeo-hui ju-seu-neun wol-lae i jeong-do on-do-im-ni-da.
Meaning: I apologize, but our juice is normally served at this temperature. -
Expression: 얼음잔을 따로 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: eo-reum-jan-eul tta-ro deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I give you a separate glass with ice? -
Expression: 잠시만 기다리시면 더 차가운 것으로 교환해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: jam-si-man gi-da-ri-si-myeon deo cha-ga-un geo-seu-ro gyo-hwan-hae deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: If you wait just a moment, I will exchange it for a colder one. -
Expression: 냉장고에 잠시 넣어 더 차갑게 해드릴까요?
Pronunciation: naeng-jang-go-e jam-si neo-eo deo cha-gap-ge hae-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I put it in the refrigerator for a bit to make it colder? -
Expression: 네, 바로 조치해 드리겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, ba-ro jo-chi-hae deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I will take care of it right away. -
Expression: 다른 음료로 바꿔드릴까요?
Pronunciation: da-reun eum-nyo-ro ba-kkwo-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Would you like to change to a different drink? -
Expression: 죄송합니다만, 이게 가장 차가운 상태입니다.
Pronunciation: joe-song-ham-ni-da-man, i-ge ga-jang cha-ga-un sang-tae-im-ni-da.
Meaning: I’m sorry, but this is the coldest state it can be. -
Expression: 얼음을 가득 채워 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: eo-reum-eul ga-deuk chae-wo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Shall I fill it up with ice?
Cultural Tips
In Korea, customer service (서비스 – seo-bi-seu) is generally very important. Staff are expected to be polite and attentive. Using formal language (like the -요/-ㅂ니다 endings) is standard when addressing customers.
When handling complaints, maintaining a calm and apologetic demeanor is crucial, even if the request seems unreasonable. Phrases like “죄송합니다” (joe-song-ham-ni-da – I’m sorry) are used frequently.
Offering solutions proactively, such as adding ice or replacing the drink, shows good service. It’s common for staff to go the extra mile to satisfy customers.
Sometimes, establishments might have limitations (e.g., juice is pre-made and chilled to a standard temperature). Explaining this politely but firmly is acceptable, often accompanied by an apology for not meeting the specific preference.
Direct confrontation is generally avoided. Even when explaining limitations, the tone should remain respectful and accommodating as much as possible.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A customer at a cafe finds their orange juice not cold enough.
Characters:
- A: 손님 (son-nim) – Customer
- B: 직원 (ji-gwon) – Staff/Waiter
-
Expression: B: 주문하신 오렌지 주스 나왔습니다. 맛있게 드세요.
Pronunciation: B: ju-mun-ha-sin o-ren-ji ju-seu na-wat-seum-ni-da. ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Here is the orange juice you ordered. Enjoy. -
Expression: A: 저기요… 이 주스가 별로 안 차가운데요.
Pronunciation: A: jeo-gi-yo… i ju-seu-ga byeol-lo an cha-ga-un-de-yo.
Meaning: A: Excuse me… this juice isn’t very cold. -
Expression: B: 아, 그러신가요? 죄송합니다. 주스가 충분히 차갑지 않으셨군요.
Pronunciation: B: a, geu-reo-sin-ga-yo? joe-song-ham-ni-da. ju-seu-ga chung-bun-hi cha-gap-ji an-eu-syeot-gun-yo.
Meaning: B: Oh, is that so? I apologize. The juice wasn’t cold enough for you. -
Expression: A: 네, 좀 더 차가웠으면 좋겠어요. 아주 차갑게요.
Pronunciation: A: ne, jom deo cha-ga-wot-seu-myeon jo-ket-seo-yo. a-ju cha-gap-ge-yo.
Meaning: A: Yes, I’d like it to be colder. Very cold. -
Expression: B: 네, 알겠습니다. 혹시 얼음을 더 넣어드릴까요, 아니면 새로 아주 차갑게 만들어 드릴까요?
Pronunciation: B: ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. hok-si eo-reum-eul deo neo-eo-deu-ril-kka-yo, a-ni-myeon sae-ro a-ju cha-gap-ge man-deu-reo deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, I understand. Would you perhaps like me to add more ice, or shall I make a new, very cold one for you? -
Expression: A: 새로 만들어 주시면 좋겠어요. 얼음도 많이 넣어주시고요.
Pronunciation: A: sae-ro man-deu-reo ju-si-myeon jo-ket-seo-yo. eo-reum-do ma-ni neo-eo-ju-si-go-yo.
Meaning: A: I’d prefer if you made a new one. Please put lots of ice in it too. -
Expression: B: 네, 손님. 불편을 드려 다시 한번 죄송합니다. 바로 준비해서 가져다 드리겠습니다. 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Pronunciation: B: ne, son-nim. bul-pyeo-neul deu-ryeo da-si han-beon joe-song-ham-ni-da. ba-ro jun-bi-hae-seo ga-jyeo-da deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da. jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, customer. Again, I apologize for the inconvenience. I will prepare it right away and bring it to you. Please wait just a moment.
Practice Tips
Practice these phrases by role-playing! Find a friend or language partner and act out the scenario of a customer requesting colder juice~ You can try being both the waiter and the customer to understand both perspectives.
Pay close attention to the pronunciation, especially the syllable breaks. Recording yourself and comparing it to the provided pronunciations can be very helpful!
Try varying the situation slightly. What if the customer wants less ice? What if they want a different cold drink instead? Adapting the phrases will improve your fluency. Fighting! (화이팅! hwa-i-ting!)
