Level 1 · Unit 4 · Shopping · 7 min

Paying and Exchange

Ask whether a shop takes cards or cash, and request an exchange or refund using your receipt.

카드 돼요?: review, now at checkout

You met 카드 돼요? back in Numbers & Time when learning about prices — it still means 'can I pay by card?' Almost every shop and even most street stalls in Korea take cards, but it's worth confirming before you order. If a place is cash-only, you'll hear 현금 (cash) in the reply.

카드 돼요? kadeu dwaeyo? Can I pay by card?

The same phrase from before — cards work almost everywhere in Korea, but small markets and some food stalls are still cash-only, so it's a handy check.

현금으로 계산할게요 hyeon-geumeuro gyesanhalgeyo I'll pay in cash

현금 means 'cash,' and 계산하다 ('to pay/calculate') is the same verb from 계산해 주세요 you learned for asking for the bill at a restaurant.

~해 주세요, now for exchanges and refunds

This is the same ~ 주세요 request pattern you already know — just attached to new verbs. 교환하다 (to exchange) + 주세요 = 교환해 주세요 ('please exchange this'). 환불하다 (to refund) + 주세요 = 환불해 주세요 ('please refund this'). Same building blocks, new situation.

교환해 주세요 gyohwanhae juseyo Please exchange this

Say this when you want a different size or color of the same item, not your money back.

환불해 주세요 hwanbulhae juseyo Please give me a refund

Use this when you want your money back instead of a different item. Both this and 교환해 주세요 almost always require your receipt.

영수증 있어요?: the receipt check

Without a receipt (영수증), most Korean shops won't accept an exchange or refund — it's how they confirm you actually bought the item there. Clerks will usually ask you first: 영수증 있어요? ('do you have the receipt?'). Keep receipts until you're sure you're keeping the item.

영수증 있어요? yeongsujeung isseoyo? Do you have the receipt?

Note the exact form: 영수증 있어요? — one 요 at the end, not two. This is what a clerk asks you before processing an exchange or refund.

Returning an item at a store

저기요, 이거 교환해 주세요.
jeogiyo, igeo gyohwanhae juseyo. — Excuse me, I'd like to exchange this.
네, 영수증 있어요?
ne, yeongsujeung isseoyo? — Sure, do you have the receipt?
네, 여기요.
ne, yeogiyo. — Yes, here you go.
확인했어요. 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
hwaginhaesseoyo. jamsiman gidaryeo juseyo. — Confirmed. Please wait just a moment.

Say it out loud

교환해 주세요 gyohwanhae juseyo Please exchange this

Listen, then repeat aloud. Matching the rhythm matters more than perfection.

Check yourself