Encountering an issue with a gift card balance while trying to pay can be frustrating, especially in a foreign language. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for shoppers needing to inquire about gift card glitches or discrepancies with a cashier. Learn how to clearly communicate the problem and understand the response when using gift cards in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 기프트 카드 잔액에 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: gi-peu-teu ka-deu jan-ae-ge mun-je-ga it-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think there’s a problem with the gift card balance.
Basic Payment Phrases
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Expression: 계산해 주세요.
Pronunciation: gye-san-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please ring this up. / Check out, please. -
Expression: 이걸로 계산할게요.
Pronunciation: i-geol-lo gye-san-hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll pay with this. -
Expression: 기프트 카드로 결제할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: gi-peu-teu ka-deu-ro gyeol-je-hal su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I pay with a gift card? -
Expression: 영수증 주세요.
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me the receipt. -
Expression: 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is it? -
Expression: 총 금액이 얼마인가요?
Pronunciation: chong geu-mae-gi eol-ma-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What is the total amount? -
Expression: 잠시만요.
Pronunciation: jam-si-man-yo.
Meaning: Just a moment, please. -
Expression: 확인해 주세요.
Pronunciation: hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please check. -
Expression: 문제가 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: mun-je-ga mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What’s the problem? -
Expression: 다시 시도해 주세요.
Pronunciation: da-si si-do-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please try again.
Gift Card Specific Phrases
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Expression: 기프트 카드 잔액 확인해 주세요.
Pronunciation: gi-peu-teu ka-deu jan-aek hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please check the gift card balance. -
Expression: 잔액이 부족한가요?
Pronunciation: jan-ae-gi bu-jo-kan-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is the balance insufficient? -
Expression: 잔액이 얼마나 남았어요?
Pronunciation: jan-ae-gi eol-ma-na na-ma-sseo-yo?
Meaning: How much balance is left? -
Expression: 이 기프트 카드 사용할 수 없나요?
Pronunciation: i gi-peu-teu ka-deu sa-yong-hal su eom-na-yo?
Meaning: Can’t I use this gift card? -
Expression: 기프트 카드가 안 돼요.
Pronunciation: gi-peu-teu ka-deu-ga an dwae-yo.
Meaning: The gift card isn’t working. -
Expression: 오류가 나는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: o-ryu-ga na-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think there’s an error. -
Expression: 유효 기간이 지났나요?
Pronunciation: yu-hyo gi-ga-ni ji-nan-na-yo?
Meaning: Has the expiration date passed? -
Expression: 이 매장에서 사용 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: i mae-jang-e-seo sa-yong ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it usable at this store? -
Expression: 다른 결제 수단으로 할게요.
Pronunciation: da-reun gyeol-je su-dan-eu-ro hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll use a different payment method. -
Expression: 기프트 카드 번호를 확인해 주세요.
Pronunciation: gi-peu-teu ka-deu beon-ho-reul hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please check the gift card number.
Explaining the Problem
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Expression: 잔액이 더 남아 있어야 하는데요.
Pronunciation: jan-ae-gi deo na-ma i-sseo-ya ha-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: There should be more balance left. -
Expression: 제가 알기로는 잔액이 [금액]원 남았어요.
Pronunciation: je-ga al-gi-ro-neun jan-ae-gi [geu-maek]-won na-ma-sseo-yo.
Meaning: As far as I know, there’s [Amount] won left. (Replace [금액/geu-maek] with the actual amount) -
Expression: 방금 충전했는데 잔액이 없다고 나와요.
Pronunciation: bang-geum chung-jeon-haet-neun-de jan-ae-gi eop-da-go na-wa-yo.
Meaning: I just charged it, but it says there’s no balance. -
Expression: 시스템 오류인 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: si-seu-tem o-ryu-in geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think it might be a system error. -
Expression: 잔액 표시가 잘못된 것 같습니다.
Pronunciation: jan-aek pyo-si-ga jal-mot-doen geot gat-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: It seems the displayed balance is incorrect. -
Expression: 이 기프트 카드를 마지막으로 사용한 게 언제인지 알 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: i gi-peu-teu ka-deu-reul ma-ji-ma-geu-ro sa-yong-han ge eon-je-in-ji al su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could you tell me when this gift card was last used? -
Expression: 잔액 조회가 안 돼요.
Pronunciation: jan-aek jo-hoe-ga an dwae-yo.
Meaning: I can’t check the balance. / The balance inquiry isn’t working. -
Expression: 혹시 기계에 문제가 있나요?
Pronunciation: hok-si gi-gye-e mun-je-ga in-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there perhaps a problem with the machine? -
Expression: 사용 내역을 확인할 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: sa-yong nae-yeo-geul hwa-gi-nal su i-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I check the usage history? -
Expression: 고객센터에 문의해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: go-gaek-sen-teo-e mu-nui-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Do I need to contact customer service?
Cultural Tips
Politeness is Key: When addressing issues like payment errors, maintaining a polite and calm demeanor is important in Korea. Use formal language endings like ‘-요’ (yo) or ‘-습니다/ㅂ니다’ (seum-ni-da/m-ni-da).
Gift Card Types: Korea has various types of gift cards, including specific store cards, department store vouchers (상품권 – sang-pum-gwon), and prepaid cards (선불카드 – seon-bul-ka-deu). Be aware that some may have restrictions on where they can be used.
Checking Balances: Often, gift card balances can be checked online, via a mobile app, or sometimes at ATMs or specific kiosks, not just at the cashier. Asking “잔액 어디서 확인할 수 있어요?” (jan-aek eo-di-seo hwa-gi-nal su i-sseo-yo? – Where can I check the balance?) might be helpful.
Patience During Resolution: If there’s a glitch, the cashier might need time to check with a manager or call support. Showing patience is appreciated. Phrases like “괜찮아요, 기다릴게요” (gwaen-cha-na-yo, gi-da-ril-ge-yo – It’s okay, I’ll wait) can be useful.
Receipts Matter: Always keep your receipts, especially the one showing the gift card purchase or top-up. This can be crucial evidence if there’s a balance dispute.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A shopper (A) is trying to pay with a gift card, but the cashier (B) says the balance is insufficient, which the shopper believes is incorrect.
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Expression: A: 이걸로 계산해 주세요.
Pronunciation: i-geol-lo gye-san-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please check this out with this. -
Expression: B: 네. (삑) 손님, 기프트 카드 잔액이 부족합니다.
Pronunciation: ne. (ppik) son-nim, gi-peu-teu ka-deu jan-ae-gi bu-jo-kam-ni-da.
Meaning: Okay. (Beep) Customer, the gift card balance is insufficient. -
Expression: A: 네? 이상하네요. 잔액이 남아있을 텐데요.
Pronunciation: ne? i-sang-ha-ne-yo. jan-ae-gi na-ma-i-sseul ten-de-yo.
Meaning: What? That’s strange. There should be balance remaining. -
Expression: B: 지금 5천 원 남았다고 나오는데요.
Pronunciation: ji-geum o-cheon won na-mat-da-go na-o-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: It currently shows 5,000 won remaining. -
Expression: A: 아니에요. 제가 확인했을 때는 2만 원 넘게 있었어요. 혹시 다시 확인해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: a-ni-e-yo. je-ga hwa-gin-hae-sseul ttae-neun i-man won neom-ge i-sseo-sseo-yo. hok-si da-si hwa-gin-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: No, that’s not right. When I checked, there was over 20,000 won. Could you possibly check again? -
Expression: B: 네, 잠시만요. (삑) 다시 해봐도 똑같이 나오네요. 혹시 최근에 사용하신 적 있으세요?
Pronunciation: ne, jam-si-man-yo. (ppik) da-si hae-bwa-do ttok-ga-chi na-o-ne-yo. hok-si choe-geu-ne sa-yong-ha-sin jeok i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: Yes, just a moment. (Beep) Even trying again, it shows the same. Have you perhaps used it recently? -
Expression: A: 아니요, 이게 마지막으로 충전한 영수증이에요. 기프트 카드 잔액에 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, i-ge ma-ji-ma-geu-ro chung-jeon-han yeong-su-jeung-i-e-yo. gi-peu-teu ka-deu jan-ae-ge mun-je-ga it-neun geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: No, this is the receipt from the last time I topped it up. I think there’s a problem with the gift card balance. -
Expression: B: 그러시군요. 죄송하지만 저희 쪽에서는 확인이 어렵습니다. 기프트 카드 고객센터에 문의해 보셔야 할 것 같습니다.
Pronunciation: geu-reo-si-gun-yo. joe-song-ha-ji-man jeo-hui jjo-ge-seo-neun hwa-gi-ni eo-ryeop-seum-ni-da. gi-peu-teu ka-deu go-gaek-sen-teo-e mu-nui-hae bo-syeo-ya hal geot gat-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I see. I apologize, but it’s difficult for us to verify here. It seems you’ll need to contact the gift card customer service center. -
Expression: A: 알겠습니다. 그럼 다른 카드로 계산할게요.
Pronunciation: al-get-seum-ni-da. geu-reom da-reun ka-deu-ro gye-san-hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: I understand. Then I’ll pay with a different card.
Practice Tips
Dealing with payment issues can be stressful, but knowing these phrases will help you navigate the situation more smoothly! Try practicing the core phrases like “기프트 카드 잔액 확인해 주세요” (gi-peu-teu ka-deu jan-aek hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo) and “잔액에 문제가 있는 것 같아요” (jan-ae-ge mun-je-ga it-neun geot ga-ta-yo) out loud~ Role-play the conversation example with a friend or study partner. Remember to stay calm and polite when explaining the problem. 화이팅 (hwa-i-ting – You can do it)!
