Purchasing items in large quantities often comes with the possibility of a discount, but asking for one in a foreign language can be tricky. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for shoppers looking to inquire about discounts when buying socks in bulk, ensuring you can communicate effectively with store clerks.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 대량 구매 할인
Pronunciation: dae-ryang gu-mae hal-in
Meaning: Bulk purchase discount (The key term for asking about discounts on large quantities)
Asking About Discounts
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Expression: 혹시 할인 되나요?
Pronunciation: hok-si hal-in doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there perhaps a discount? -
Expression: 많이 사면 좀 깎아주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: man-i sa-myeon jom kkak-a-ju-sil su it-na-yo?
Meaning: If I buy a lot, can you give me a bit of a discount? -
Expression: 대량으로 구매하면 할인이 있습니까?
Pronunciation: dae-ryang-eu-ro gu-mae-ha-myeon hal-in-i it-seum-ni-kka?
Meaning: Is there a discount if I purchase in bulk? (Formal) -
Expression: 가격 할인이 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: ga-gyeok hal-in-i ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is a price discount possible? -
Expression: 단체 구매 할인이 적용되나요?
Pronunciation: dan-che gu-mae hal-in-i jeok-yong-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Does a group purchase discount apply? -
Expression: 얼마나 할인해 주실 수 있어요?
Pronunciation: eol-ma-na hal-in-hae ju-sil su it-eo-yo?
Meaning: How much can you discount it? -
Expression: 좀 더 싸게 살 수 없을까요?
Pronunciation: jom deo ssa-ge sal su eop-seul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Couldn’t I buy it a bit cheaper? -
Expression: 할인율이 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: hal-in-yul-i eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the discount rate? -
Expression: 이 가격에서 할인이 되나요?
Pronunciation: i ga-gyeok-e-seo hal-in-i doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I get a discount from this price?
Specifying the Item and Quantity
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Expression: 양말을 많이 사려고 하는데요.
Pronunciation: yang-mal-eul man-i sa-ryeo-go ha-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: I’m planning to buy a lot of socks. -
Expression: 이 양말 [수량]켤레 정도 살 건데요.
Pronunciation: i yang-mal [su-ryang]-kyeol-le jeong-do sal geon-de-yo.
Meaning: I’m going to buy about [quantity] pairs of these socks. (Replace [수량] with the number) -
Expression: 양말 50켤레 사면 할인해 주시나요?
Pronunciation: yang-mal o-sip-kyeol-le sa-myeon hal-in-hae ju-si-na-yo?
Meaning: If I buy 50 pairs of socks, will you give me a discount? -
Expression: 이 종류 양말로 여러 켤레 사고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: i jong-nyu yang-mal-lo yeo-reo kyeol-le sa-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to buy many pairs of this type of sock. -
Expression: 대량으로 주문하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: dae-ryang-eu-ro ju-mun-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would like to order in bulk. (Formal) -
Expression: 양말을 [수량]개 이상 사면 할인이 있나요?
Pronunciation: yang-mal-eul [su-ryang]-gae i-sang sa-myeon hal-in-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a discount if I buy more than [quantity] socks? (Note: ‘개’ (gae) is a general counter, ‘켤레’ (kyeol-le) is specific for pairs like socks/shoes) -
Expression: 이 디자인으로 많이 필요해요.
Pronunciation: i di-ja-in-eu-ro man-i pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need many in this design. -
Expression: 선물용으로 양말을 대량 구매하려고 합니다.
Pronunciation: seon-mul-yong-eu-ro yang-mal-eul dae-ryang gu-mae-ha-ryeo-go ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I intend to buy socks in bulk for gifts. -
Expression: 수량이 많으면 가격 조정이 가능한지 궁금합니다.
Pronunciation: su-ryang-i man-eu-myeon ga-gyeok jo-jeong-i ga-neung-han-ji gung-geum-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I’m wondering if a price adjustment is possible if the quantity is large.
Negotiating and Confirming
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Expression: 조금만 더 깎아주시면 안 될까요?
Pronunciation: jo-geum-man deo kkak-a-ju-si-myeon an doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Couldn’t you discount it just a little bit more? -
Expression: 그럼 총 얼마인가요?
Pronunciation: geu-reom chong eol-ma-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Then, what is the total amount? -
Expression: 할인 적용된 가격이 맞나요?
Pronunciation: hal-in jeok-yong-doen ga-gyeok-i mat-na-yo?
Meaning: Is this the price with the discount applied? -
Expression: 네, 그 가격으로 할게요.
Pronunciation: ne, geu ga-gyeok-eu-ro hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: Yes, I’ll take it at that price. -
Expression: 생각보다 할인이 적네요.
Pronunciation: saeng-gak-bo-da hal-in-i jeok-ne-yo.
Meaning: The discount is less than I thought. -
Expression: 최종 가격이 얼마인지 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: choe-jong ga-gyeok-i eol-ma-in-ji al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the final price. -
Expression: 이 조건으로 구매하겠습니다.
Pronunciation: i jo-geon-eu-ro gu-mae-ha-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will purchase under these conditions. (Formal) -
Expression: 현금으로 하면 더 할인되나요?
Pronunciation: hyeon-geum-eu-ro ha-myeon deo hal-in-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a further discount if I pay with cash? -
Expression: 포장은 어떻게 해주시나요?
Pronunciation: po-jang-eun eo-tteo-ke hae-ju-si-na-yo?
Meaning: How will it be packaged? -
Expression: 결제는 어떻게 할까요?
Pronunciation: gyeol-je-neun eo-tteo-ke hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: How should I pay?
Korean Culture Notes
Bargaining Culture: While haggling is common and expected in traditional markets (시장 – si-jang) like Namdaemun or Dongdaemun, it’s generally not acceptable in department stores, supermarkets, or brand stores where prices are fixed. Asking for a bulk discount, however, might be possible even in some fixed-price settings, especially smaller shops, but approach it politely.
Politeness is Key: When asking for a discount, always use polite language (-요 or -ㅂ니다/습니다 endings). Phrases like 혹시 (hok-si – perhaps) or 좀 (jom – a little) soften the request and make it sound less demanding. A friendly attitude increases your chances.
Cash vs. Card: Sometimes, small vendors or market stalls might offer a slightly better price or be more willing to discount if you pay in cash (현금 – hyeon-geum) rather than by credit card (카드 – ka-deu), as they avoid card processing fees. It doesn’t hurt to politely inquire.
“Service” (서비스): Sometimes, instead of a direct price discount, a vendor might offer something extra for free as “service” (서비스 – seo-bi-seu). For a bulk sock purchase, this could mean an extra pair or two. This is also a form of discount common in Korea.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A shopper wants to buy many pairs of socks at a store in a shopping area (not a high-end department store).
Roles: A: Shopper, B: Clerk
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Expression: A: 안녕하세요. 이 양말들 좀 보려고 하는데요.
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. i yang-mal-deul jom bo-ryeo-go ha-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: A: Hello. I’m looking at these socks. -
Expression: B: 네, 천천히 보세요. 디자인 다양하게 있어요.
Pronunciation: ne, cheon-cheon-hi bo-se-yo. di-ja-in da-yang-ha-ge it-eo-yo.
Meaning: B: Yes, take your time looking. We have various designs. -
Expression: A: 이 디자인으로 한 30켤레 정도 사고 싶은데, 혹시 대량으로 사면 할인이 좀 되나요?
Pronunciation: i di-ja-in-eu-ro han sam-sip-kyeol-le jeong-do sa-go sip-eun-de, hok-si dae-ryang-eu-ro sa-myeon hal-in-i jom doe-na-yo?
Meaning: A: I’d like to buy about 30 pairs of this design. If I buy in bulk, is there perhaps a bit of a discount? -
Expression: B: 아, 30켤레요? 네, 그렇게 많이 사시면 저희가 조금 할인해 드릴 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: a, sam-sip-kyeol-le-yo? ne, geu-reo-ke man-i sa-si-myeon jeo-hui-ga jo-geum hal-in-hae deu-ril su it-eo-yo.
Meaning: B: Oh, 30 pairs? Yes, if you buy that many, we can give you a small discount. -
Expression: A: 정말요? 얼마나 할인해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: jeong-mal-lyo? eol-ma-na hal-in-hae ju-sil su it-na-yo?
Meaning: A: Really? How much can you discount it? -
Expression: B: 원래 한 켤레에 2,000원인데, 30켤레 하시면 전체 금액에서 10% 할인해 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: won-lae han kyeol-le-e i-cheon-won-in-de, sam-sip-kyeol-le ha-si-myeon jeon-che geum-aek-e-seo sip-peo-sen-teu hal-in-hae deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: B: Originally, it’s 2,000 won per pair, but if you buy 30 pairs, I’ll give you a 10% discount on the total amount. -
Expression: A: 아, 네. 좋아요. 그럼 30켤레 주세요.
Pronunciation: a, ne. jo-a-yo. geu-reom sam-sip-kyeol-le ju-se-yo.
Meaning: A: Oh, okay. Sounds good. Then please give me 30 pairs. -
Expression: B: 네, 잠시만요. 포장해 드릴게요.
Pronunciation: ne, jam-si-man-yo. po-jang-hae deu-ril-ge-yo.
Meaning: B: Okay, just a moment. I’ll package them for you.
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect! Try role-playing the conversation with a friend or language partner~ Start by asking about discounts on smaller quantities and gradually increase the complexity. Listen carefully to how native speakers negotiate prices in markets or shops if you get the chance. Don’t be afraid to politely ask for a discount when buying in bulk – the worst they can say is no! Good luck with your shopping! 화이팅 (hwa-i-ting – Fighting)!
