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How to Say Buy in Korean: Essential EPS-TOPIK Verb Quiz

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do Koreans say "Buy"?

사다([sa-da/buy]) is the basic verb for buying things. In polite speech, say 사요([sa-yo]). Example: 과일을 사요 (I buy fruit). The opposite is 팔다([pal-da]), "to sell".

Q2. How do I ask the price when I buy something?

Say 이거 얼마예요? (i-geo eol-ma-ye-yo?), which means "How much is this?". To say you will buy it, say 이거 주세요 (i-geo ju-se-yo), "Please give me this one". Both phrases are useful at a market or a shop.

Q3. Why can 사세요 be confusing?

사세요([sa-se-yo]) can come from two verbs. From 사다 (buy), it means "Please buy". From 살다 (live), it means "Do you live...?" or "You live...". Context decides: 어디에 사세요? means "Where do you live?". To avoid confusion, say 사 주세요 for "Please buy it for me".

EPS TOPIK Learn More: How to Say "Buy" in Korean - 사다([sa-da/buy])

What does "사다([sa-da/buy])" mean?

사다([sa-da/buy]) means "to buy". It is the basic verb for paying money and getting something at a shop or a market.

Casual: 사 (sa)
Polite: 사요 (sa-yo)
Formal: 삽니다 (sam-ni-da)

Grammar Breakdown

사다([sa-da/buy]) = 사 (stem: buy) + 다 (dictionary ending)
Same-vowel contraction: 사 + 아요 → 사요 (the two ㅏ merge into one)
샀어요([sa-sseo-yo/bought]) = 사 + 았어요 → 샀어요 (buy + past)
사고 싶어요([sa-go si-peo-yo/want to buy]) = 사 + 고 싶어요 (buy + want to)
사 주세요([sa ju-se-yo/please buy for me]) = 사 + 아 주세요 → 사 주세요 (buy + please do for me)
사지 마세요([sa-ji ma-se-yo/don't buy]) = 사 + 지 마세요 (buy + please don't)

When to Use It (EPS-TOPIK Style)

1. Shopping: “뭐 사요? (mwo sa-yo?)”
2. Past: 샀어요([sa-sseo-yo/bought]) bought.
3. Wish: 사고 싶어요([sa-go si-peo-yo/want to buy]) want to buy.
4. Favor: 사 주세요([sa ju-se-yo/please buy for me]) please buy for me.
5. Warning: 사지 마세요([sa-ji ma-se-yo/don't buy]) don't buy.

Real-Life Examples - A-B-A-B Dialogue (EPS-TOPIK)

A: 뭐 사요? A: mwo sa-yo?

A: What are you buying?

B: 과일을 사요. B: gwa-i-reul sa-yo.

B: I'm buying fruit.

A: 어디에서 사요? A: eo-di-e-seo sa-yo?

A: Where do you buy it?

B: 시장에서 사요. B: si-jang-e-seo sa-yo.

B: I buy it at the market. - 사다([sa-da/buy])

A: 어제 뭐 샀어요? A: eo-je mwo sa-sseo-yo?

A: What did you buy yesterday?

B: 신발을 샀어요. B: sin-ba-reul sa-sseo-yo.

B: I bought shoes.

A: 얼마였어요? A: eol-ma-yeo-sseo-yo?

A: How much was it?

B: 삼만 원이었어요. B: sam-man wo-ni-eo-sseo-yo.

B: It was thirty thousand won. - 샀어요([sa-sseo-yo/bought])

A: 마트에 가요? A: ma-teu-e ga-yo?

A: Are you going to the mart?

B: 네, 가요. B: ne, ga-yo.

B: Yes, I'm going.

A: 물 좀 사 주세요. A: mul jom sa ju-se-yo.

A: Please buy some water for me.

B: 네, 알겠어요. B: ne, al-ge-sseo-yo.

B: Yes, I understand. - 사 주세요([sa ju-se-yo/please buy for me])

Similar Expressions (EPS-TOPIK)

• 사다([sa-da/buy]) buy
- 샀어요([sa-sseo-yo/bought]) bought
- 사고 싶어요([sa-go si-peo-yo/want to buy]) want to buy
- 사 주세요([sa ju-se-yo/please buy for me]) please buy for me
- 사지 마세요([sa-ji ma-se-yo/don't buy]) don't buy

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