Buying Clothes
Use these essential phrases to confidently navigate clothing stores in Korea, from finding the fitting room to asking for different sizes or colors.
Key Phrases
그냥 구경하는 중이에요.
neutralgeunyang gugyeonghaneun jungieyo.
I'm just looking around.
The most common polite-enough way to tell staff you don't need help yet.
이거 입어봐도 돼요?
neutraligeo ibeobwado dwaeyo?
Can I try this on?
Standard phrase to ask permission before heading to the fitting room.
혹시 이거 입어봐도 될까요?
politehoksi igeo ibeobwado doelkkayo?
Would it perhaps be okay to try this on?
Adding '혹시' (by any chance) makes the request softer and more polite.
저기요, 피팅룸이 어디에 있어요?
neutraljeogiyo, pitingrumi eodie isseoyo?
Excuse me, where is the fitting room?
'피팅룸' (fitting room) or '탈의실' (changing room) are both widely used.
입어보시니까 사이즈가 잘 맞으세요?
politeibeobosinikka saijeuga jal majeuseyo?
Now that you've tried it on, does the size fit well?
Staff will often ask this using honorifics when you step out of the fitting room.
핏은 예쁜데 저한테 너무 큰 것 같아요.
neutralpiseun yeppeunde jeohante neomu keun geot gatayo.
The fit is nice, but I think it's too big on me.
Uses the '-는데' connector to soften the complaint by starting with a positive.
이거 나한테 너무 작아서 불편해.
casualigeo nahante neomu jagaseo bulpyeonhae.
This is too small on me so it's uncomfortable.
Casual form using '-아서/어서' (reason); only use this with a close friend you are shopping with.
이거 한 사이즈 더 큰 거 있어요?
neutraligeo han saijeu deo keun geo isseoyo?
Do you have this in one size larger?
이 바지 작은 사이즈로 찾아주시겠습니까?
politei baji jageun saijeuro chajajusigesseumnikka?
Could you find this in a smaller size for these pants?
A formal request to a staff member, utilizing the formal '합쇼체' (-습니다/습니까) ending.
디자인은 마음에 드는데 다른 색깔도 있나요?
neutraldijaineun maeume deuneunde dareun saekkkaldo innayo?
I like the design, but do you have other colors too?
Another natural use of '-는데' to express partial satisfaction before asking for options.
비슷한 디자인으로 검은색은 없어?
casualbiseutan dijaineuro geomeunsaegeun eopseo?
Is there no black one in a similar design?
Asking a friend or shopping partner for their opinion.
사이즈가 딱 맞으니까 이걸로 할게요.
neutralsaijeuga ttak majeunikka igeollo halgeyo.
Since the size fits perfectly, I'll take this one.
생각보다 안 어울려서 조금 더 둘러볼게요.
neutralsaenggakboda an eoullyeoseo jogeum deo dulleobolgeyo.
It doesn't look as good on me as I thought, so I'll look around a bit more.
A polite, standard way to hand items back and leave without buying.
이거 두 개 다 해서 얼마예요?
neutraligeo du gae da haeseo eolmayeyo?
How much is it for both of these?
A natural way to ask for the total price when taking multiple items to the register.