얼마입니까?
eolma-imnikka?
In Korean, how much is expressed as 얼마입니까? (eolma-imnikka?) Wiktionary also lists 얼마에요? (eolma-eyo?) and 이거 얼마에요? (igeo eolma-eyo?).
Meaning: what is the cost/price? (det)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 얼마입니까? | eolma-imnikka? |
| 얼마에요? | eolma-eyo? |
| 이거 얼마에요? | igeo eolma-eyo? |
The phrase is used to inquire about the cost or price of an item or service.
What does it mean word for word?
The core word 얼마 means how much or how many and can function as a noun or an adverb.
Which one should you use?
얼마입니까? is the formal, polite version used in professional settings or when speaking to strangers in a very respectful manner. The phrase 이거 얼마에요? specifically includes the word for 'this' to ask 'How much is this?'
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Seoul and the surrounding areas, the informal expression 얼마야? is commonly used, while in Busan, the equivalent of 얼마야? is 얼마냐?
How does it change in a sentence?
The core word 얼마 functions as a noun or an adverb meaning how much or how many.
How do you pronounce it?
eolma-imnikka?
Did you know?
- If a vendor replies to 얼마에요? with 서비스예요 ('it is service'), it means the item is free of charge as a gift to the customer.
- While 얼마에요? asks for the price, Koreans often use the word 깎아주세요 ('please cut it') immediately after to politely ask for a discount in traditional markets.
- The word 얼마 can be used to express deep gratitude or a great amount of emotion, such as saying 얼마나 고마운지 몰라요 to mean 'you don't know how thankful I am'.
Examples in context
- 이 셔츠 얼마에요?How much is the shirt?This sentence shows how to use 얼마에요? to ask about the price of a specific item, like a shirt.Tatoeba #4749607 by kimhkng, translation #4429993 by eeyinn
- 얼마에요?How much is it?This sentence is a simple way to use 얼마에요? to ask for a price.Tatoeba #2242579 by boscowitch, translation #2418 by brauliobezerra
- 요금이 얼마입니까?How much is the fare?This sentence demonstrates using the formal 얼마입니까? to ask about a fare.Tatoeba #13188504 by atitarev, translation #13188507 by atitarev
- 이것은 얼마예요?How much is this?
- 이 물건의 가격이 어떻게 되나요?What is the price of this item?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Seoyeon asks Minjun about the price of a book in a bookstore.
- 서연 Seo-yeon이 책은 얼마입니까?i chaeg-eun eolma-imnikka?How much is this book?
- 민준 Min-jun만 오천 원입니다.man o cheon won-imnida.It is 15,000 won.
- 서연 Seo-yeon조금 비싸네요.jogeum bissaneyo.It is a bit expensive.
- 민준 Min-jun베스트셀러라서 그래요.be-seu-teu-sel-leo-ra-seo geuraeyo.It's because it is a bestseller.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how much” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
