Asking Prices
Ask how much something costs while browsing a shop, react to the price, and say you're just looking without buying.
이거 얼마예요?: review, now in a shop
You already learned 얼마예요? for asking prices back in Numbers & Time — this is the exact same phrase, just paired with 이거 ('this,' pointing at whatever you're holding or looking at). 이거 얼마예요? literally means 'this — how much is it?' and it's the single most useful phrase for shopping in Korea. Point at any item, ask 이거 얼마예요?, and you're set.
이거 points at a specific item — hold it up or point while you say this. It's the shopping version of the 얼마예요? you already know from asking prices in general.
너무 means 'too/very' and 비싸요 means 'expensive.' A natural reaction after hearing a price — clerks won't be offended, it's a completely normal thing to say.
싸요 is the opposite of 비싸요 — 'cheap.' Useful for a pleasant surprise at checkout, or when you spot a good deal on the rack.
세일: a borrowed word
세일 comes straight from English 'sale' — you'll see it on signs everywhere, from 반값 세일 (half-price sale) to 시즌 세일 (season sale). Like many shopping loanwords, it's pronounced close to the English original, so your ear will pick it up fast. It still needs an ending like 이에요/예요 to become a full sentence, as in 이거 세일이에요 ('this is on sale').
A clerk might say this to point out a discount. Notice 세일이에요 links smoothly as [세이리에요] — the same linking pattern you trained your ear on in Level 0.
The magic phrase for browsing without pressure. 그냥 = 'just,' 구경하다 = 'to look around, browse.' Say this when a clerk approaches and you don't want help yet — it's polite, not dismissive.
Browsing a clothing shop
Say it out loud
Listen, then repeat aloud. Matching the rhythm matters more than perfection.