The Magic Phrase to Get the Bill in Korea!

Hello! This is [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Today, we’re going to learn one of the most essential skills for enjoying your time in Korea: how to ask for the bill! Whether you’re at a restaurant, a cafe, or a bar, you’ll need these phrases. Lately in Korea (요즘 한국에서는…), unique and trendy dessert cafes are incredibly popular. After you’ve finished enjoying a delicious bingsu (shaved ice) or a modern yakgwa (honey cookie), you’ll want to pay smoothly and confidently. Let’s learn how to do it like a local!

Key Expressions You MUST Know!

Here are three simple but powerful expressions to help you pay.

1. 저기요 (Jeogiyo)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Jeo-gi-yo
* English Meaning: Excuse me! / Over here!
* Detailed Explanation: This is the magic word to get anyone’s attention in a restaurant or shop. It’s polite and is the equivalent of raising your hand to call a waiter. Before you can ask for the bill, you need to get their attention, and 저기요 (Jeogiyo) is the perfect way to do it.

2. 계산서 주세요 (Gyesanseo juseyo)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Gye-san-seo ju-se-yo
* English Meaning: Bill, please. / Check, please.
* Detailed Explanation: This is the most standard and polite way to ask for the bill. Let’s break it down:
* 계산서 (gyesanseo) means “bill” or “check.”
* 주세요 (juseyo) is a polite way to say “please give me.”
* Combine them, and you have the perfect phrase for any dining situation!

3. 얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: Eol-ma-ye-yo?
* English Meaning: How much is it?
* Detailed Explanation: This is another super useful phrase. You can use it when you are already at the cash register, or at a market or street food stall where there might not be a printed bill. It’s a direct and polite way to ask for the total price.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation at a trendy cafe in Seoul!

• A (You): 저기요! (Jeogiyo!)
  (Excuse me!)
• B (Staff): 네, 손님. 무엇을 도와드릴까요? (Ne, sonnim. Mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo?)
  (Yes, customer. How can I help you?)
• A (You): 케이크가 정말 맛있어요! 계산서 주세요. (Keikeuga jeongmal masisseoyo! Gyesanseo juseyo.)
  (The cake is delicious! Bill, please.)
• B (Staff): 네, 잠시만요. 여기 있습니다. (Ne, jamsimanyo. Yeogi itseumnida.)
  (Yes, just a moment. Here you are.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

Here’s a tip to make you sound even more like a local!

In many Korean cafes and casual restaurants, especially those popular with the Z-generation, it’s common to pay at the counter on your way out instead of at the table. You can just take the bill the waiter brought you (or sometimes there is no bill at all!) and go to the front.

Pro Tip: When you get to the counter, you can simply hand them your credit card. They will understand you’re ready to pay. If you want to use a phrase, you can ask “얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?)” to confirm the price. This is very common and natural. Knowing this little cultural detail will make you feel much more comfortable!

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned how to get a waiter’s attention with 저기요 (Jeogiyo) and ask for the bill with 계산서 주세요 (Gyesanseo juseyo).

Now, let’s test your knowledge!

1. Fill in the blank: You’ve finished your meal and want to pay. You first need to call the waiter. What do you say?

______! 계산서 주세요.

2. Quick Quiz (O/X): You can use “얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?)” to ask for the bill at your table. (Is this statement True (O) or False (X) based on the most common usage?)

Leave your answers and try making your own sentence with today’s expressions in the comments below! We can’t wait to see them