Level 1 · Unit 4 · Shopping · 7 min

Size and Color

Ask a shop for a different size, request permission to try something on, and name basic colors.

사이즈: another borrowed word

사이즈 comes from English 'size' and covers clothes, shoes, everything. Korean sizing systems don't always match what you're used to — women's clothing often uses numbers like 44/55/66 instead of S/M/L — so trying things on matters more here than in many countries. That's exactly what this lesson gets you ready to do.

~ 거 있어요?: 'do you have a ___ one?'

거 means 'thing/one' and 있어요? asks 'is there/do you have.' Drop a descriptive word in front of 거 and you can ask for almost anything: 더 큰 거 있어요? ('do you have a bigger one?'), 더 작은 거 있어요? ('do you have a smaller one?'). 더 means 'more,' so 더 큰 = 'bigger,' 더 작은 = 'smaller.'

더 큰 거 있어요? deo keun geo isseoyo? Do you have a bigger one?

Use this when a size runs too small — hold up the item or point at the rack while you ask.

더 작은 거 있어요? deo jageun geo isseoyo? Do you have a smaller one?

The flip side of 더 큰 거 있어요? — same pattern, just swap 큰 (big) for 작은 (small).

입어 봐도 돼요?: a fixed chunk for 'can I try it on?'

This comes from a pattern that means roughly 'try doing X and see' + 'is it okay?' — but for now, just memorize 입어 봐도 돼요? as one block meaning 'can I try this on?' 입다 means 'to wear,' so swapping the front part lets you ask about other things later, but the full grammar can wait until a later level.

입어 봐도 돼요? ibeo bwado dwaeyo? Can I try this on?

Say this before heading to the fitting room — clerks expect it and will usually point you there right away.

Basic colors

Korean color words end in 색 ('color'): 검은색 (black), 흰색 (white), 빨간색 (red), 파란색 (blue). Attach 있어요? to ask if a shop carries an item in that color, like 파란색 있어요? ('do you have it in blue?').

파란색 있어요? paransaek isseoyo? Do you have this in blue?

Same ~있어요? pattern from 더 큰 거 있어요? — just swap in a color instead of a size word.

Trying on clothes at a shop

이거 더 큰 거 있어요?

igeo deo keun geo isseoyo? — Do you have this in a bigger size?

네, 잠시만요. 파란색도 있어요.

ne, jamsimanyo. paransaekdo isseoyo. — Sure, one moment. We also have it in blue.

좋아요! 입어 봐도 돼요?

joayo! ibeo bwado dwaeyo? — Great! Can I try it on?

그럼요, 탈의실 저기예요.

geureomyo, tarisil jeogieyo. — Of course, the fitting room is right there.

Say it out loud