Grocery shopping is an essential part of our lives, no matter where we are. Whether you’re in Seoul, Busan, or any other city in South Korea, knowing how to say “grocery list” in Korean can be incredibly useful. In this guide, we’ll explore both formal and informal ways to express this phrase, provide regional variations if necessary, and include tips and examples to help you understand and use the vocabulary correctly.
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Formal Ways to Say “Grocery List”
When communicating formally, it’s important to use polite language to show respect. Here are the formal ways to say “grocery list” in Korean:
1. 식료품 목록 (sik-ryo-pum mok-nyok)
The phrase 식료품 목록 is the most common formal way to say “grocery list” in Korean. It consists of 식료품 (sik-ryo-pum), which means “groceries,” and 목록 (mok-nyok), which means “list” or “inventory.”
Example: 제가 오늘 식료품 목록을 작성해야 해요. (Je-ga o-neul sik-ryo-pum mok-nyo-geul jak-song-hae-ya he-yo.)
Translation: I need to make a grocery list today.
2. 장보기 명부 (jang-bo-gi myeong-bu)
The phrase 장보기 명부 is another formal way to express “grocery list” in Korean. 장보기 (jang-bo-gi) refers to “grocery shopping,” and 명부 (myeong-bu) means “list” or “roll.”
Example: 장보기 명부를 써야 합니다. (Jang-bo-gi myeong-bu-reul sseo-ya ham-ni-da.)
Translation: You need to write a grocery list.
Informal Ways to Say “Grocery List”
When speaking with friends, family, or in casual situations, you can use less formal vocabulary. Here are some informal ways to say “grocery list” in Korean:
1. 장보기 리스트 (jang-bo-gi ri-seu-teu)
The phrase 장보기 리스트 is a casual or informal way to say “grocery list” in Korean. 장보기 (jang-bo-gi) still means “grocery shopping,” and 리스트 (ri-seu-teu) translates to “list.”
Example: 오늘 장보기 리스트 만들어야 해. (O-neul jang-bo-gi ri-seu-teu man-deu-reo-ya hae.)
Translation: We need to make a grocery list today.
2. 식품 쇼핑 리스트 (sik-pum syo-ping ri-seu-teu)
식품 쇼핑 리스트 is another informal option to say “grocery list” in Korean. 식품 (sik-pum) refers to “food” or “comestibles,” 쇼핑 (syo-ping) means “shopping,” and 리스트 (ri-seu-teu) remains as “list.”
Example: 내일 식품 쇼핑 리스트 작성해야 돼. (Nae-il sik-pum syo-ping ri-seu-teu jak-song-hae-ya dwae.)
Translation: We have to write a grocery list tomorrow.
Regional Variations
Korean is not only spoken in South Korea but also in North Korea and among Korean communities around the world. While the formal and informal ways mentioned above are generally used across regions, some minor variations may exist. Here are a few:
1. 평양 dialect (North Korea)
In the 평양 dialect spoken in North Korea, the term for “grocery list” is 애거 (ae-geo). Similarly, 애 (ae) can be used on its own to represent “groceries,” and 거 (geo) means “list” in this context.
2. Korean-American communities
In Korean-American communities, due to the influence of English, you may hear the term 그로서리 리스트 (geu-ro-seo-ri ri-seu-teu), which is a direct transliteration of “grocery list” into Korean.
Useful Tips for Conversations
When discussing your grocery list in Korean, it’s helpful to keep these tips in mind:
- When asking someone about their grocery list, you can use the phrase 식료품 목록이 뭐예요? (sik-ryo-pum mok-ryo-gi mwo-ye-yo?), which means “What is on your grocery list?”
- If you want to offer help or suggest adding specific items to a grocery list, you can say something like 이거 식료품 목록에 추가해보세요. (i-geo sik-ryo-pum mok-ryo-ge choo-gi-hae-bo-se-yo), which translates to “Try adding this to your grocery list.”
- To express urgency, you can use the phrase 식료품 목록이 급하게 필요해요. (sik-ryo-pum mok-ryo-gi geup-ha-ge pil-yo-hae-yo), meaning “I urgently need a grocery list.”
Remember, practice makes perfect! Learning Korean vocabulary takes time, but with regular usage and exposure to the language, you will become more comfortable communicating about your grocery list and daily needs.
