Korean Dictionary
How to say "Impulse Buy" in Korean
“Impulse Buy” in Korean is 충동 구매 (pronounced "chung-dong gu-mae").
충동 구매
chung-dong gu-mae
Usage & Context
충동 구매 is an impulse purchase made without planning. Korean retailers often use attractive displays and promotions to encourage impulse buying.
Example Sentence
충동 구매를 했어요.
I made an impulse purchase.
How to use 충동 구매 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Impulse Buy” is 충동 구매, romanized as chung-dong gu-mae.
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 충동 구매.
Pronunciation Guide
'Chung-dong' sounds like 'choong-dong,' where 'choong' rhymes with 'moon' and 'dong' rhymes with 'song.' 'Gu-mae' sounds like 'goo-may,' with 'goo' like 'goose' and 'may' like the month of May.
More Example Sentences
Confiding in a friend about a regrettable purchase.
세일하길래 충동 구매했는데, 후회 중이야.
It was on sale, so I impulse bought it, and now I regret it.
Reflecting on personal spending habits.
편의점에서 충동 구매를 너무 많이 하는 것 같아요.
I think I do too much impulse buying at convenience stores.
Talking about a personal goal for self-improvement.
충동 구매를 줄이려고 노력하고 있어요.
I'm trying to reduce impulse buying.
Cultural Context
충동 구매 is a common phenomenon in Korea, especially with the prevalence of convenience stores (편의점) and online shopping apps. Many products are strategically placed at checkout counters or promoted with limited-time offers to encourage quick, unplanned purchases. K-pop merchandise or limited edition items also often trigger 충동 구매 among fans, driven by a fear of missing out (FOMO).
Editorial note
We review entries like 충동 구매 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
충동 구매하지 마세요.
Don't impulse buy.
충동 구매를 참기 어려워요.
It's hard to resist impulse buying.
이건 충동 구매였어.
This was an impulse buy.
Related Expressions
계획 구매
gye-hoek gu-mae
planned purchase (antonym)
과소비
gwa-so-bi
overspending
지름신
ji-reum-sin
'buying god' (slang for the urge to impulse buy)
소비 습관
so-bi seup-gwan
spending habits
More Shopping Words
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