이거 얼마예요? (How much is this?)

상황: 편의점에서 물건을 사고 싶을 때

한국어 대화:

"이거 얼마예요?"

"How much is this?"

English

This expression is one of the most basic and useful questions when shopping in Korea. It's especially helpful when you find an item without a price tag at a convenience store or small shop.

주요 단어 및 표현:

• 이거 (igeo) = this (spoken form of "이것")
• 얼마 (eolma) = how much
• 예요 (yeyo) = is (polite expression)

발음 팁:

• "이거" is pronounced as [이거], but the '거' sound can be softer in casual speech.
• In "얼마예요?", the '얼' sound requires slightly opening your mouth wider than the typical '어' sound.
• "예요" can sound closer to [에요] in casual conversation, but pronouncing it clearly as "예요" is preferred in formal situations.

비슷한 표현:

• "이거 얼마야?" (Informal) = "How much is this?" (casual speech among friends)
• "이거 가격이 얼마예요?" = "What’s the price of this?" (more detailed expression)

문화적 팁:

In Korea, bargaining is uncommon in most stores, but it can sometimes be possible at traditional markets or street vendors. In such cases, saying "조금만 깎아주세요." (Can you give me a little discount?) can be helpful.