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Korean for your trip in three months

7 Korean Cashier Questions You May Hear — and How to Answer

Korean checkout conversations are usually short, but the question can arrive before you know what the cashier is asking. Practice these seven common counter questions so you can recognize the key word and answer without translating a full sentence in your head.

Recognize the checkout question and give one calm, useful reply.

These are common interaction patterns, not a fixed script. Staff may shorten a question, use different wording, point instead of speaking, or skip an optional question entirely.

Hear it, then answer

Questions to practice before your trip

The cashier checks for a store membership

You may hear

멤버십 있으세요?

Membeosip isseuseyo?

Do you have a membership?

Listen for

The final word rises like a short yes-or-no question. The English loanword at the start is the easiest anchor.

Your short replies

아니요, 없어요.

Aniyo, eopseoyo.

No, I don't have one.

Use when: You are not a member and want to continue with payment.

네, 있어요.

Ne, isseoyo.

Yes, I have one.

Use when: You can present the store's accepted membership account.

A membership is store-specific. Declining it does not prevent you from completing an ordinary purchase.

The cashier asks whether to add reward points

You may hear

포인트 적립하세요?

Pointeu jeokriphaseyo?

Would you like to collect points?

Listen for

Listen for the loanword sounding like 'point' followed by a quick verb about adding or collecting it.

Your short replies

아니요, 괜찮아요.

Aniyo, gwaenchanayo.

No, I'm okay.

Use when: You do not have a supported rewards account.

네, 이 번호로 해 주세요.

Ne, i beonhoro hae juseyo.

Yes, please use this number.

Use when: The store accepts your account and you can show its registered number.

Do not read a phone number aloud in a crowded line. Show the supported membership screen when appropriate.

The cashier offers a shopping bag

You may hear

봉투 필요하세요?

Bongtu piryohaseyo?

Do you need a bag?

Listen for

The first word may be very short; the more recognizable ending means 'do you need it?'.

Your short replies

네, 하나 주세요.

Ne, hana juseyo.

Yes, one please.

Use when: You want one bag and accept that a store may charge for it.

아니요, 괜찮아요.

Aniyo, gwaenchanayo.

No, I'm okay.

Use when: You have your own bag or can carry the purchase without one.

Some stores charge for bags. The cashier may mention a price before adding one.

The cashier offers a receipt

You may hear

영수증 필요하세요?

Yeongsujeung piryohaseyo?

Do you need a receipt?

Listen for

The receipt word is followed by the same 'do you need it?' ending used in the bag question.

Your short replies

네, 주세요.

Ne, juseyo.

Yes, please give it to me.

Use when: You want proof of purchase or may need the receipt later.

아니요, 괜찮아요.

Aniyo, gwaenchanayo.

No, I'm okay.

Use when: You are certain you do not need the receipt.

Keep the receipt for returns, exchanges, parking validation, or any tax-refund documentation that applies.

The cashier asks how you will pay

You may hear

카드로 하세요, 현금으로 하세요?

Kadeuro haseyo, hyeongeumeuro haseyo?

Will you pay by card or cash?

Listen for

The two payment methods usually arrive back to back, with the card option first and the cash option second.

Your short replies

카드로 할게요.

Kadeuro halgeyo.

I'll pay by card.

Use when: You want to try an accepted credit or debit card.

현금으로 할게요.

Hyeongeumeuro halgeyo.

I'll pay in cash.

Use when: You are paying with Korean won in cash.

Card acceptance and overseas-card authorization vary. Carry a backup payment method.

The cashier confirms a single card payment

You may hear

일시불로 해 드릴까요?

Ilsibullo hae deurilkkayo?

Shall I put it through as one payment?

Listen for

Listen for ilsibul, the single-payment option, near the start of the question.

Your short replies

일시불로 해 주세요.

Ilsibullo hae juseyo.

Yes, please charge it as one payment.

Use when: You want to confirm the single-payment option explicitly.

네, 그렇게 해 주세요.

Ne, geureoke hae juseyo.

Yes, please do that.

Use when: You understood the question and want to accept the option the cashier just named.

This question is conditional, not universal. Card processing and available payment options depend on the store, terminal, and issuer.

Staff asks for a passport after you request tax-refund processing

You may hear

여권 있으세요?

Yeogwon isseuseyo?

Do you have your passport?

Listen for

This is a short passport question that may follow your request for tax-refund processing at an eligible store.

Your short replies

네, 여기 있어요.

Ne, yeogi isseoyo.

Yes, here it is.

Use when: You already requested tax-refund processing and can present the required original passport safely.

아니요, 지금은 없어요.

Aniyo, jigeumeun eopseoyo.

No, I don't have it with me right now.

Use when: You cannot present the passport requested for that processing flow.

This is not a universal checkout question and belongs only after you request tax-refund processing. A passport request does not itself prove eligibility; store participation, purchase rules, passport handling, and refund methods can change, so follow current official guidance.

Field notes

Listen for the noun first

You do not need to parse every ending. Catch the membership, points, bag, receipt, payment, single-charge, or passport anchor, then use the matching short reply. The cashier may point at the bag, receipt, terminal, or membership scanner at the same time.

Prepare two default answers before the trip

Prepare a polite default no and the payment-method reply you expect to use. Two ready answers reduce the urge to translate a full sentence while people are waiting behind you.

Single-payment and tax-refund questions are conditional

They appear only when the store, terminal, card, purchase, and traveler context makes them relevant. A passport question belongs only after you request tax-refund processing, and neither question promises that an option applies.

Exact wording varies

A convenience store, department store, pharmacy, and small shop will not use an identical script. These are common patterns to recognize, not a promise that every cashier will ask all seven questions.

Before you go

Practice checklist

  • Practice the seven question-and-reply pairs aloud and in random order
  • Save the longer reply cards offline before departure
  • Keep a backup payment method available
  • Keep receipts when a return, exchange, parking validation, or refund process may require them
  • Check current tourist tax-refund eligibility on an official source before a major purchase

Official source links and validation details

Source links were checked for availability on 2026-08-05. Korean text is locked to the registered phrase set; no native-speaker or field review is claimed. Store policies and traveler eligibility can change, so confirm time-sensitive details with the store and current official source.

Published by koko ai. The validation score measures deterministic content rules, not semantic, native-speaker, professional, or field review.

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