Korean Dictionary
How to say "Exchange / Return" in Korean
“Exchange / Return” in Korean is 교환 / 환불 (pronounced "Gyohwan / Hwanbul").
교환 / 환불
Gyohwan / Hwanbul
Usage & Context
Swapping for a different size/color or getting your money back. 교환해 주세요 (please exchange it), 환불해 주세요 (please refund it). Korean consumer rights are strong — most items can be returned within 7 days with receipt. Online purchases have 7-day return windows under Korean consumer protection law.
Example Sentence
이 제품 교환 가능한가요? 사이즈가 안 맞아서요.
Is it possible to exchange this product? The size doesn't fit.
How to use 교환 / 환불 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Exchange / Return” is 교환 / 환불, romanized as Gyohwan / Hwanbul.
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 교환 / 환불.
Pronunciation Guide
For 교환 (gyohwan), 'Gyo' sounds like 'yo' in 'yogurt' with a soft 'g' at the start. 'Hwan' is like 'hwan' in 'swan' but with a gentle 'h'. For 환불 (hwanbul), 'Hwan' is the same, and 'bul' rhymes with 'bull' (the animal).
More Example Sentences
At a shoe store, requesting a size exchange.
이 신발 사이즈가 작아서 교환하고 싶어요.
These shoes are too small, so I want to exchange them.
Discussing dissatisfaction with an online purchase.
온라인으로 산 옷인데 마음에 안 들어서 환불받으려고요.
It's clothes I bought online, but I don't like them, so I'm going to get a refund.
A store clerk explaining return policy.
영수증이 없으면 교환이나 환불이 어려울 수 있어요.
If you don't have the receipt, exchange or refund might be difficult.
Cultural Context
Korean consumer rights are quite strong, especially for online purchases, which typically have a 7-day return window by law. However, having the original packaging, tags, and receipt is usually essential. Unlike some Western countries, returning items just because you changed your mind after a long period is less common; returns are generally for defects or immediate dissatisfaction.
Editorial note
We review entries like 교환 / 환불 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
교환해 주세요.
Please exchange it.
환불 가능한가요?
Is a refund possible?
다른 색상으로 교환하고 싶어요.
I want to exchange it for a different color.
Related Expressions
반품
banpum
return (of goods)
교체
gyoche
replacement, substitution
환전
hwanjeon
currency exchange
수리
suri
repair
More Shopping Words
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