택배 언제 와요? Korean for Tracking Your Online Trades
Hello! This is [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever bought something online from a Korean seller? Maybe a cool K-pop album or a unique item from a second-hand market? The excitement is real, but so is the anxiety of waiting! Today, we’re going to learn the essential Korean phrases you need to confidently ask about your package and track its journey to your doorstep.
Nowadays in Korea, using second-hand trading apps like Karrot (당근마켓) or Bunjang (번개장터) is a huge trend. People trade everything from electronics to rare K-pop photocards! So, if you’ve just scored an amazing deal, these phrases will be your new best friend. Let’s get started!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three key phrases to master your online trading game.
1. 언제 보내셨어요? (When did you send it?)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Eonje bonaesyeosseoyo?
- English Meaning: When did you send it?
- Detailed Explanation: This is a polite and direct way to ask the seller when they shipped your item. The
–셨어요 (-syeosseoyo)ending is a respectful way to speak to someone you don’t know personally, which is perfect for online transactions. It’s the first question you’ll likely ask after making a payment. - 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The syllable
셨 (syeot)is pronounced like [shyeot]. In Korean, when the consonantㅅ(s)is followed by vowels likeㅣ(i),ㅑ(ya),ㅕ(yeo),ㅛ(yo), orㅠ(yu), it often makes a “sh” sound instead of a simple “s” sound. So, instead of “syeo,” think “shyeo” for a more natural pronunciation!
2. 송장 번호 좀 알려주세요. (Could you please give me the tracking number?)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Songjang beonho jom allyeojuseyo.
- English Meaning: Could you please give me the tracking number?
- Detailed Explanation: This is the magic phrase! 송장 번호 (songjang beonho) means “tracking number.” Adding 좀 (jom), which means “a little” or “please,” softens the request and makes it sound more polite and friendly. 알려주세요 (allyeojuseyo) means “please let me know” or “please tell me.”
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: Notice the word 번호 (beonho). The
ㅎ(h)sound is very weak when it comes after a consonant likeㄴ(n). As a result, many Koreans pronounce it closer to [beono], with the ‘h’ sound being almost silent. Try saying it smoothly, as if the ‘h’ isn’t there, and you’ll sound much more like a native speaker!
3. 아직 도착 안 했어요. (It hasn’t arrived yet.)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Ajik dochak an haesseoyo.
- English Meaning: It hasn’t arrived yet.
- Detailed Explanation: If you’ve been waiting and your package is late, this is how you inform the seller. 아직 (ajik) means “still” or “(not) yet.” 도착 안 했어요 (dochak an haesseoyo) is the past tense negative form of “to arrive” (
도착하다). It literally means “arrival did not do.” - 💡 Pronunciation Tip: Let’s look at 도착 (dochak). The final consonant
ㅊ(ch)is an “aspirated” sound. This means you need to release a strong puff of air when you say it. Put your hand in front of your mouth and say “chak.” You should feel a distinct burst of air! This is different from the Koreanㅈ(j)sound, which has no air puff. Practicing this will make your pronunciation much clearer.
Example Dialogue
Here’s how these phrases might be used in a real chat between a buyer (B) and a seller (A) on a trading app.
A (Buyer): 안녕하세요! 어제 주문한 아이유 앨범 때문에 연락드렸어요. 혹시 언제 보내셨어요?
(Annyeonghaseyo! Eoje jumunhan IU aelbeom ttaemune yeollakdeuryeosseoyo. Hoksi eonje bonaesyeosseoyo?)
(Hello! I’m contacting you about the IU album I ordered yesterday. By any chance, when did you send it?)
B (Seller): 네, 안녕하세요! 오늘 아침에 바로 보냈습니다.
(Ne, annyeonghaseyo! Oneul achime baro bonaetseumnida.)
(Yes, hello! I sent it out first thing this morning.)
A (Buyer): 감사합니다! 그럼 송장 번호 좀 알려주세요.
(Gamsahamnida! Geureom songjang beonho jom allyeojuseyo.)
(Thank you! In that case, could you please give me the tracking number?)
B (Seller): 물론이죠. 123-4567-8900 입니다. 아마 내일 도착할 거예요.
(Mullonijyo. [Tracking number] imnida. Ama naeil dochakal geoyeyo.)
(Of course. It’s 123-4567-8900. It will probably arrive tomorrow.)
(The next day…)
A (Buyer): 저기… 아직 도착 안 했어요. 제가 조회를 다시 해볼게요.
(Jeogi… Ajik dochak an haesseoyo. Jega johoereul dasi haebolgeyo.)
(Excuse me… It hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll check the tracking again.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea’s famous “빨리빨리 (ppalli-ppalli / hurry-hurry)” culture, speed is key, even in second-hand trading!
- Proof Shots are Standard: Sellers on apps like Karrot (당근마켓) will almost always send you the
송장 번호 (songjang beonho)immediately after shipping. It’s also very common for them to send a “proof shot” (인증샷 – injeungsyat)—a photo of the packaged item at the post office or convenience store, often with the shipping receipt visible. This builds trust and is considered good manners. - Know the Lingo: To sound like a trading pro, learn these abbreviations!
- 택포 (Taekpo): Short for 택배비 포함 (taekbaebi poham), meaning “shipping fee included.”
- 운포 (Unpo): Short for 운송비 포함 (unsongbi poham), also meaning “shipping fee included.”
- If you see an item listed for
