I can choose clothes and shoes in a store, say that something is too small or too long, ask for a bigger size, bargain at a market, and ask for an exchange.
Clothes: putting on, choosing, exchanging
Clothes: putting on, choosing, exchanging
Where English says “put on” or “wear”, Korean has three verbs, chosen by what you put on: 입다 for clothes, 신다 for shoes, 쓰다 for things on your head or face: a hat, glasses. You already know 쓰다 “to write”: it's a different word with the same spelling.
“What kind?” when choosing: 어떤 + noun: 어떤 모자? In a store, 작아요, 커요, and 길어요 alone already mean “too small”, “too big”, and “too long”; to say “too” outright, add 너무: 너무 길어요. To ask for a bigger one, learn the whole phrase 더 큰 거 있어요?; 거 (“thing”) is a separate word.
To try something on, say 입고 싶어요 or 신고 싶어요 (“I'd like to put it on”). The clerk calls you 손님 and points to the fitting room: 저기에서 입으세요.
At a market, call middle-aged vendors 아저씨 (a man) and 아주머니 (a woman); with strangers in general, 저기요 is safer. Bargain only at a market: 좀 싸게 해 주세요. In a department store (백화점) the price is fixed. To exchange something, bring the receipt (영수증): 교환하고 싶어요.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “신발을 입어요” → 신발을 신어요: shoes take 신다.
• NOT “모자를 입어요” → 모자를 써요.
• NOT “더 큰거 있어요?” → 더 큰 거 있어요?: 거 is a separate word.
• NOT “아저씨!” to a young clerk in a department store → 저기요!
Three verbs for “put on”
The verb depends on what you put on.
| Verb | What you put on | Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| 입다 | clothes: 옷, 바지, 치마, 티셔츠 | 옷을 입다 |
| 신다 | shoes: 구두, 운동화, 신발 | 운동화를 신다 |
| 쓰다 | on the head and face: 모자, 안경 | 모자를 쓰다 |
At the store: who says what
People bargain only at a market; in a department store the price is fixed.
| Who | Line | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| salesperson | 손님, 이거 어때요? | How about this one? |
| you | 사이즈가 조금 커요. | It's a little big. |
| you (at a market) | 아주머니, 좀 싸게 해 주세요. | Ma'am, can you give me a discount? |
| you | 영수증이 있어요. 교환하고 싶어요. | I have the receipt. I'd like to exchange it. |
Lesson notes
Clothes: putting on, choosing, exchanging
Where English says “put on” or “wear”, Korean has three verbs, chosen by what you put on: 입다 for clothes, 신다 for shoes, 쓰다 for things on your head or face: a hat, glasses. You already know 쓰다 “to write”: it's a different word with the same spelling.
“What kind?” when choosing: 어떤 + noun: 어떤 모자? In a store, 작아요, 커요, and 길어요 alone already mean “too small”, “too big”, and “too long”; to say “too” outright, add 너무: 너무 길어요. To ask for a bigger one, learn the whole phrase 더 큰 거 있어요?; 거 (“thing”) is a separate word.
To try something on, say 입고 싶어요 or 신고 싶어요 (“I'd like to put it on”). The clerk calls you 손님 and points to the fitting room: 저기에서 입으세요.
At a market, call middle-aged vendors 아저씨 (a man) and 아주머니 (a woman); with strangers in general, 저기요 is safer. Bargain only at a market: 좀 싸게 해 주세요. In a department store (백화점) the price is fixed. To exchange something, bring the receipt (영수증): 교환하고 싶어요.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “신발을 입어요” → 신발을 신어요: shoes take 신다.
• NOT “모자를 입어요” → 모자를 써요.
• NOT “더 큰거 있어요?” → 더 큰 거 있어요?: 거 is a separate word.
• NOT “아저씨!” to a young clerk in a department store → 저기요!