Understanding the terminology for online shopping and digital business is crucial in today’s connected world, especially in tech-savvy South Korea. This guide covers the essential Korean term for e-commerce, along with related vocabulary and phrases you’ll need to navigate online shopping platforms, discuss digital transactions, and understand the thriving Korean e-commerce landscape.
Table Of Content
Core Term for E-commerce
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Expression: 전자상거래
Pronunciation: jeon-ja-sang-geo-rae
Meaning: E-commerce (literally ‘electronic commerce’)
Basic E-commerce Vocabulary
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Expression: 온라인 쇼핑
Pronunciation: on-la-in syo-ping
Meaning: Online shopping -
Expression: 쇼핑몰
Pronunciation: syo-ping-mol
Meaning: Shopping mall (often used for online shopping websites) -
Expression: 인터넷 쇼핑
Pronunciation: in-teo-net syo-ping
Meaning: Internet shopping -
Expression: 상품
Pronunciation: sang-pum
Meaning: Product, goods -
Expression: 주문
Pronunciation: ju-mun
Meaning: Order -
Expression: 결제
Pronunciation: gyeol-je
Meaning: Payment -
Expression: 배송
Pronunciation: bae-song
Meaning: Delivery, shipping -
Expression: 장바구니
Pronunciation: jang-ba-gu-ni
Meaning: Shopping cart -
Expression: 회원가입
Pronunciation: hoe-won-ga-ip
Meaning: Membership registration -
Expression: 로그인
Pronunciation: ro-geu-in
Meaning: Login -
Expression: 고객센터
Pronunciation: go-gaek-sen-teo
Meaning: Customer service center -
Expression: 후기
Pronunciation: hu-gi
Meaning: Review
Online Shopping Phrases
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Expression: 이 상품을 장바구니에 담아주세요.
Pronunciation: i sang-pum-eul jang-ba-gu-ni-e dam-a-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please add this product to the shopping cart. -
Expression: 온라인으로 주문하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: on-la-in-eu-ro ju-mun-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to order online. -
Expression: 회원가입은 어떻게 하나요?
Pronunciation: hoe-won-ga-ib-eun eo-tteo-ke ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How do I sign up for membership? -
Expression: 다른 색상도 있나요?
Pronunciation: da-reun saek-sang-do it-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there other colors available? -
Expression: 사이즈를 확인하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: sa-i-jeu-reul hwa-gin-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to check the size. -
Expression: 이 제품 후기가 좋은가요?
Pronunciation: i je-pum hu-gi-ga jo-eun-ga-yo?
Meaning: Does this product have good reviews? -
Expression: 주문을 취소하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: ju-mun-eul chwi-so-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would like to cancel my order. -
Expression: 할인 쿠폰을 사용할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: hal-in ku-pon-eul sa-yong-hal su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I use a discount coupon? -
Expression: 품절된 상품인가요?
Pronunciation: pum-jeol-doen sang-pum-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this product sold out? -
Expression: 배송 주소를 변경하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: bae-song ju-so-reul byeon-gyeong-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to change the delivery address. -
Expression: 비슷한 상품을 추천해 주세요.
Pronunciation: bi-seut-han sang-pum-eul chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please recommend similar products.
Payment and Delivery Expressions
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Expression: 결제는 어떻게 하나요?
Pronunciation: gyeol-je-neun eo-tteo-ke ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How do I make the payment? -
Expression: 신용카드로 결제할게요.
Pronunciation: sin-yong-ka-deu-ro gyeol-je-hal-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll pay by credit card. -
Expression: 무통장 입금도 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: mu-tong-jang ip-geum-do ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is bank transfer (without a bankbook) possible? -
Expression: 배송비는 얼마인가요?
Pronunciation: bae-song-bi-neun eol-ma-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: How much is the shipping fee? -
Expression: 배송은 얼마나 걸리나요?
Pronunciation: bae-song-eun eol-ma-na geol-li-na-yo?
Meaning: How long does delivery take? -
Expression: 배송 조회를 하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: bae-song jo-hoe-reul ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to track my delivery. -
Expression: 상품을 반품하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: sang-pum-eul ban-pum-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would like to return the product. -
Expression: 환불 절차는 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: hwan-bul jeol-cha-neun eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the refund procedure? -
Expression: 오늘 주문하면 언제 받을 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: o-neul ju-mun-ha-myeon eon-je bad-eul su it-na-yo?
Meaning: If I order today, when can I receive it? -
Expression: 해외 배송도 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: hae-oe bae-song-do ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is international shipping available? -
Expression: 결제가 완료되었습니다.
Pronunciation: gyeol-je-ga wan-lyo-doe-eot-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Payment has been completed.
Korean E-commerce Culture Notes
Korea’s e-commerce market is one of the most advanced globally. Understanding a few cultural points can enhance your experience. Firstly, speed is paramount. Koreans expect extremely fast delivery, often same-day or next-day (총알배송 – cho-ngal-bae-song, ‘bullet delivery’).
Secondly, major domestic platforms like Coupang, Naver Shopping, Gmarket, and 11Street dominate the market. While international sites are used, familiarity with these local giants is key for accessing the widest variety of goods and deals.
Thirdly, detailed product reviews (후기 – hu-gi), often including photos and videos, heavily influence purchasing decisions. Many shoppers rely on these user-generated reviews more than official product descriptions.
Lastly, mobile commerce (모바일 쇼핑 – mo-ba-il syo-ping) is huge. Most online shopping is done via smartphones, so platforms are highly optimized for mobile use, and payment systems are seamlessly integrated.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Friend A asks Friend B about an item B bought online.
Roles:
A: Ji-hye (curious friend)
B: Min-jun (friend who bought something online)
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Expression: A: 민준아, 새로 산 신발 예쁘다! 어디서 샀어?
Pronunciation: Min-jun-a, sae-ro san sin-bal ye-ppeu-da! eo-di-seo sat-eo?
Meaning: Minjun, your new shoes are pretty! Where did you buy them? -
Expression: B: 아, 이거? 인터넷 쇼핑몰에서 샀어. 전자상거래가 진짜 편해.
Pronunciation: a, i-geo? in-teo-net syo-ping-mol-e-seo sat-eo. jeon-ja-sang-geo-rae-ga jin-jja pyeon-hae.
Meaning: Oh, these? I bought them from an online shopping mall. E-commerce is really convenient. -
Expression: A: 맞아. 나도 요즘 온라인 쇼핑 자주 해. 배송은 빨랐어?
Pronunciation: maj-a. na-do yo-jeum on-la-in syo-ping ja-ju hae. bae-song-eun ppal-lat-eo?
Meaning: Right. I often shop online these days too. Was the delivery fast? -
Expression: B: 응, 어제 주문했는데 오늘 바로 왔어. 배송 조회하니까 금방 오더라고.
Pronunciation: eung, eo-je ju-mun-haet-neun-de o-neul ba-ro wat-eo. bae-song jo-hoe-ha-ni-kka geum-bang o-deo-ra-go.
Meaning: Yeah, I ordered yesterday and it arrived today. When I tracked the delivery, it showed it was coming soon. -
Expression: A: 와, 진짜 빠르다! 나도 그 쇼핑몰 한번 봐야겠다. 회원가입해야 하나?
Pronunciation: wa, jin-jja ppa-reu-da! na-do geu syo-ping-mol han-beon bwa-ya-get-da. hoe-won-ga-ip-hae-ya ha-na?
Meaning: Wow, that’s really fast! I should check out that shopping mall too. Do I need to sign up for membership? -
Expression: B: 응, 회원가입하면 쿠폰도 주고 좋아. 결제도 간편하고.
Pronunciation: eung, hoe-won-ga-ip-ha-myeon ku-pon-do ju-go jo-a. gyeol-je-do gan-pyeon-ha-go.
Meaning: Yes, if you sign up, they give you coupons, which is nice. Payment is easy too.
Practice Tips
Ready to dive into Korean e-commerce? Try browsing popular Korean online shopping malls like Coupang or Gmarket, even if you don’t buy anything initially. Look for the terms like 장바구니 (jang-ba-gu-ni), 결제하기 (gyeol-je-ha-gi), and 배송조회 (bae-song-jo-hoe) to familiarize yourself~!
You can also practice by reading product descriptions and customer reviews (상품 후기 – sang-pum hu-gi). This helps you see how these terms are used naturally. Don’t be afraid to try making a small purchase if you feel comfortable! Happy shopping! 화이팅!
