Lost in a Korean Store? Find Anything with ‘어디 있어요?’

Hello! This is Daily Korean, here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever walked into a huge Korean supermarket or a cool K-pop store and felt completely lost? You know what you want to buy, but you just can’t find it. Don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn the magic phrases you need to ask for help and find anything you’re looking for.

These days in Korea, pop-up stores for cute characters and K-pop idols are super popular! But they can be crowded, and finding that one special item can be a real challenge. With today’s lesson, you’ll be able to confidently ask a staff member for help. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions for Shopping

Here are the essential phrases you need to know.

1. 저기요 (Jeogiyo)

• Pronunciation: [Jeo-gi-yo]
• English Meaning: Excuse me.
• Detailed Explanation: This is the magic word to politely get a staff member’s attention. It’s like saying “Excuse me” to call someone over. Before you ask your question, always start with 저기요! to be polite. You can use it in restaurants, shops, or anywhere you need help.

2. … 어디 있어요? (… eodi isseoyo?)

• Pronunciation: [… eo-di iss-eo-yo?]
• English Meaning: Where is…?
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most direct and common way to ask for an item’s location. It’s your golden key! Just put the name of the item you want in the blank space at the beginning. It’s a polite expression that’s perfect for any shopping situation.
  • Example: 물 어디 있어요? (Mul eodi isseoyo?) – Where is the water?

3. … 찾고 있어요. (… chatgo isseoyo.)

• Pronunciation: [… chat-go iss-eo-yo.]
• English Meaning: I’m looking for…
• Detailed Explanation: This is another very natural and slightly softer way to ask for help. It literally means “I am in the process of finding…” You can use this after getting the staff’s attention with “저기요.” It sounds very fluent!
  • Example: 김치 찾고 있어요. (Gimchi chatgo isseoyo.) – I’m looking for kimchi.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation at a trendy character pop-up store!

• A (You): 저기요!
  • (Jeogiyo!)
  • Excuse me!
• B (Staff): 네, 손님. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
  • (Ne, sonnim. Mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo?)
  • Yes, customer. How may I help you?
• A (You): 요즘 유행하는 곰돌이 인형 어디 있어요?
  • (Yojeum yuhaenghaneun gomdori inhyeong eodi isseoyo?)
  • Where are the trendy teddy bear dolls?
• B (Staff): 아, 그 인형은 저쪽 계산대 옆에 있습니다.
  • (A, geu inhyeong-eun jeojjok gyesandae yeope itseumnida.)
  • Ah, those dolls are over there next to the counter.
• A (You): 네, 감사합니다!
  • (Ne, gamsahamnida!)
  • Okay, thank you!

See? Simple and effective!

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

Pro Tip for K-Pop Fans!

These days, pop-up stores for K-pop group merchandise, called ‘굿즈’ (gutjeu), are everywhere in Seoul. It can get very busy! Here’s a tip to sound like a local:

After you get a staff member’s attention with “저기요!”, show them a picture on your phone of the specific photocard or lightstick you want and say: “이거 찾고 있어요.” (Igeo chatgo isseoyo – I’m looking for this).

This is super efficient! The staff will immediately understand what you want, and you’ll look like a seasoned K-pop fan who knows exactly what they’re doing.

Wrap-up & Practice Time!

Awesome job today! You learned how to get attention (저기요), ask where something is (… 어디 있어요?), and say what you’re looking for (… 찾고 있어요). You are now ready to conquer any Korean shop!

Let’s practice what you’ve learned.

1. Fill in the Blank: You want to find milk (우유) in a supermarket. What do you say to the staff?
   

   저기요! _______________ 어디 있어요?

2. Make a Sentence: You are looking for a BTS album. How would you tell the store clerk using ‘…찾고 있어요’?

Try making your own sentence in the comments below! What item would you look for in a Korean store? Happy shopping