Sending a Parcel in Korea? Don’t Sweat the Weight!
Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever wanted to send a gift back home or mail some K-pop goodies to a friend overseas? Going to the post office (우체국) in a new country can be a little intimidating, but don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn the essential Korean phrases you need to confidently weigh your parcel and get it sent.
These days in Korea, with so many amazing pop-up stores and fan events, sending packages full of unique items to international friends is super common. Imagine you just got a special edition album of your favorite group and want to ship it safely. Let’s learn how to handle the first and most important step: weighing your package!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are the key phrases that will make your post office trip a breeze.
1. 소포 (Sopo)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: So-po
* English Meaning: Parcel / Package
* Detailed Explanation: This is the general word for a package or parcel you send through the mail. It’s a fundamental noun you absolutely need to know. You can use it like, “이 소포를 보내고 싶어요” (I want to send this parcel).
2. 무게를 재다 (Muge-reul jaeda)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Mu-ge-reul jae-da
* English Meaning: To weigh
* Detailed Explanation: This is the verb phrase for “to weigh” something. 무게 (muge) means “weight” and 재다 (jaeda) means “to measure.” You will hear the post office staff use this, or you can use it yourself if you need to ask a question about the weight.
3. 저울에 올려놓으세요 (Jeo-ul-e ollyeonoeuseyo)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Jeo-ul-e ol-lyeo-no-eu-se-yo
* English Meaning: Please place it on the scale.
* Detailed Explanation: This is the polite instruction you will most likely hear from the post office clerk. 저울 (jeo-ul) means “scale,” and 올려놓으세요 (ollyeonoeuseyo) is a polite way of saying “please put/place on.” Just listen for this phrase, and you’ll know exactly what to do!
4. 얼마나 나올까요? (Eolmana naol-kka-yo?)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Eol-ma-na na-ol-kka-yo?
* English Meaning: How much will it be? / How much does it weigh?
* Detailed Explanation: This is a super useful and versatile question! In this context, it can mean “How much does it weigh?” or “How much will the shipping cost be?” The clerk will understand from the situation. It’s a polite and natural way to ask for the result.
Example Conversation
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation at the post office. Here, Person A (you) is sending a gift to a friend.
- A (Customer): 안녕하세요. 이 소포를 미국에 보내고 싶어요.
- (Annyeonghaseyo. I sopo-reul migug-e bonaego sipeoyo.)
- Hello. I’d like to send this parcel to the USA.
- B (Staff): 네, 이쪽 저울에 올려놓으세요.
- (Ne, ijjok jeo-ul-e ollyeonoeuseyo.)
- Okay, please place it on the scale over here.
- (A places the parcel on the scale)
-
A (Customer): 무게가 얼마나 나올까요?
- (Muge-ga eolmana naol-kka-yo?)
- How much does it weigh?
- B (Staff): 1.5kg 나왔습니다. 요금은 25,000원입니다.
- (Il-jeom-o kilogram nawatsseumnida. Yogeum-eun i-man-o-cheon-won-imnida.)
- It came out to 1.5kg. The fee is 25,000 won.
Culture Tip & Trend Spotlight
Pro-Tip for K-Pop Fans!
When you go to the Korean post office (우체국), you’ll notice they sell everything you need for packing! This includes sturdy boxes (상자), bubble wrap (뽁뽁이 – ppokppogi), and tape. So, if you’ve just bought a new lightstick or a fragile photobook for your friend, you can buy a box and pack it securely right there.
Understanding the System: The Speed of 우체국 택배
The Korean postal service, especially its parcel delivery service called 우체국 택배 (Ucheguk Taekbae), is famous for being incredibly fast and reliable within Korea, often delivering packages the very next day. When you send something internationally, they will give you different shipping options (like EMS for fast delivery or standard airmail). The weight you just learned to ask about (무게) is the key factor in determining the price for these options! Knowing these phrases helps you navigate the process like a local.
Let’s Review and Practice!
Great job today! You’ve learned how to handle one of the most common tasks at the Korean post office: weighing a parcel. You now know the words for 소포 (parcel), how to ask 얼마나 나올까요? (how much will it be?), and what to do when you hear 저울에 올려놓으세요 (place it on the scale).
Quick Quiz:
Fill in the blank with the correct word you learned today.
You are at the post office, and the clerk says:
“이 _______을/를 저울에 올려주세요.” (Please put this _______ on the scale.)
What word goes in the blank?
Let us know your answer in the comments! And feel free to share what you would want to send from Korea using the phrases you learned today
