How Much in Korean? (얼마예요) Explained
10-Second Answer
얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) means "How much is it?" — the single most useful shopping phrase in Korean. 얼마 means "how much," and 예요 is the polite "to be" ending you already know from other pages on this site.
Quick Examples
이거 얼마예요?
igeo eolmayeyo?
How much is this?
전부 얼마예요?
jeonbu eolmayeyo?
How much is it all together?
오천 원이에요.
ocheon won-ieyo.
It's 5,000 won.
The typical reply — money uses Sino-Korean numbers, as covered on the numbers page.
Understanding the Answer
The hard part usually isn't asking — it's understanding the price you're given, since Korean prices are read in Sino-Korean numbers and can come fast in casual conversation.
| Won | Sino-Korean reading |
|---|---|
| 1,000원 | 천 원 (cheon won) |
| 5,000원 | 오천 원 (ocheon won) |
| 10,000원 | 만 원 (man won) |
| 15,000원 | 만 오천 원 (man ocheon won) |
만 (10,000) is its own unit in Korean counting — Korean groups numbers by 10,000s, not 1,000s like English, which is why large prices can feel like they're read in an unfamiliar rhythm at first.
Related Shopping Phrases
좀 깎아 주세요.
jom kkakka juseyo.
Could you give me a discount?
More common at markets than fixed-price stores.
카드 되나요?
kadeu doenayo?
Do you take card?
이거 하나 주세요.
igeo hana juseyo.
One of these, please.
하나 — native Korean number, for counting the item.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Expecting native Korean numbers in the price
Prices are read in Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼…), not native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋…) — see the numbers comparison page.
Mistake #2 — Forgetting 만 = 10,000, not 1,000
만 원 is 10,000 won, not 1,000 — a common early confusion for English speakers used to comma-grouped thousands.
Mini Quiz
1. What does 얼마예요? mean?
2. How is 5,000 won read aloud in Korean?
3. What does 만 원 mean?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
Convenience Store Korean Phrases
얼마예요 is the core question — see the full set of phrases for an actual convenience store visit.
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.