Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cheap" in Korean
“Cheap” in Korean is 싸다 (pronounced "Ssada").
싸다
Ssada
Usage & Context
Useful when bargaining at Korean traditional markets like Namdaemun or Dongdaemun. The opposite is '비싸다 (bissada)' meaning expensive.
Example Sentence
여기가 더 싸요.
It's cheaper here.
How to use 싸다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cheap” is 싸다, romanized as Ssada.
Usage tip
Shopping Korean usually sounds more natural when you use short polite questions instead of translating English directly.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 싸다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'ssa-da' — 'ssa' has a tensed 'ss' with an open 'ah,' and 'da' ends flat. Very short, with a punchy start.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
쌉니다
ssamnida
Formal form, used in writing or formal speech
Casual (반말)
싸
ssa
Casual exclamation, often with emphasis
More Example Sentences
recommending a store
이 가게는 진짜 싸요.
This shop is really cheap.
showing off a deal
싸게 샀어요.
I bought it cheap.
discussing cheap products
싼 만큼 품질이 좀 떨어져요.
As it's cheap, the quality is a bit low.
Cultural Context
싸다 describes low price, without the negative connotation of 'cheap' in English. To call something 'low quality,' Koreans use 싸구려 or 저렴한 품질. The phrase 가성비 좋다 ('good price-to-performance ratio') is trendy and praises items that are cheap AND good. 다이소 is Korea's cheap-deal chain heaven.
Editorial note
We review entries like 싸다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
싸요!
It's cheap!
싸게 주세요.
Please give me a discount.
진짜 싸네요.
It's really cheap.
Related Expressions
저렴하다
jeoryeomhada
inexpensive (softer word)
비싸다
bissada
expensive (antonym)
가성비
gaseongbi
value for money
싸구려
ssagulyeo
cheap (negative — low quality)
More Shopping Words
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