TOPIK I Core Vocabulary · Shopping & Money ④

Cards, cash & bargaining — 카드, 현금, 가격, 깎다, 바꾸다

These words are about paying, prices, discounts, and exchanges. 카드 and 현금 are two common ways to pay.

01카드kadeu

card · a bank or credit card.

Note 카드가 되다 means the shop takes card payment.

Examples 카드로 내다 (to pay by card) · 카드가 되다 (cards are accepted) · 신용카드 (credit card)

여기 카드 돼요? Do you take cards here?  |  Here 되다 means to be possible  |  The way you pay takes 로/으로

02현금hyeongeum

cash · notes and coins.

Examples 현금으로 내다 (to pay in cash) · 현금이 없다 (to have no cash)

현금으로 내면 좀 싸게 해 주세요. If I pay in cash, please make it a little cheaper.  |  -(으)면 = if · 싸게 = at a lower price  |  You can say this at a traditional market

03가격gagyeok

price · the amount marked on something.

Note 값 means the same thing. In speech, 값 sounds more natural. 가격 appears more in writing and on signs.

Examples 가격이 비싸다 (the price is high) · 가격을 물어보다 (to ask the price)

이 가방은 가격이 좀 비싸네요. The price of this bag is a bit high, isn't it?  |  -네요 adds mild surprise. It is close to English isn't it?

04깎다kkakda🔊 [깍따]

to lower a price · also to peel fruit.

Pronunciation [깍따]. The final consonant ㄲ sounds like ㄱ. The next ㄷ is said as the strong (tense) sound ㄸ.

Note You can ask for a lower price at a traditional market. In a large store, it is hard.

Examples 값을 깎다 (to lower the price) · 사과를 깎다 (to peel an apple)

조금만 깎아 주시면 안 돼요? Could you lower the price a little?  |  -(으)면 안 돼요? makes your request softer

05바꾸다bakkuda

to change, to exchange · to swap one thing for another.

Forms 바꿔요 · 바꿉니다 · 바꿨어요

Note Use 바꾸다 to swap one thing for another (옷을 바꾸다). You can also change money into other money (돈을 바꾸다) or change your mind (생각을 바꾸다).

Examples 옷을 바꾸다 (to exchange clothes) · 돈을 바꾸다 (to change money) · 생각을 바꾸다 (to change your mind)

사이즈가 작은데 바꿀 수 있어요? The size is too small. Can I exchange it?  |  사이즈 = size  |  You need the receipt to exchange an item

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean. Every answer appears above.

1. 여기 __________ 돼요? (Do you take ______ here?)
2. 이 가방은 __________이 좀 비싸네요. (The ______ is a bit high.)
3. 사이즈가 작은데 __________ 수 있어요? (Could I ______ it?)

Show answers

1. 카드   2. 가격   3. 바꿀

Study tip Use 로/으로 to show how you pay: 카드로, 현금으로. Use 로 after a vowel and 으로 after a final consonant. The same rule works for transport and tools: 지하철로 가다, 젓가락으로 먹다.