내다
naeda[ˈnɛ(ː)da̠]
To say pay in Korean, use 내다 (naeda), the everyday verb for giving money. If unsure, use 내다. Wiktionary also lists 지불하다 (jibulhada) and 계산하다 (gyesanhada).
Meaning: to give money in exchange for goods or services (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 내다 | naeda | [ˈnɛ(ː)da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈne̞(ː)da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 지불하다 | jibulhada | [t͡ɕibuɾɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 계산하다 | gyesanhada | [ˈkje̞(ː)sʰa̠nɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈke̞(ː)sʰa̠nɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
내다 is the most common choice in daily conversation. It is very often used with the object 돈을, giving 돈을 내다, to pay money.
Which one should you use?
지불하다 (jibulhada) is the standard formal verb, used in formal or official contexts such as paying a bill or a debt. 계산하다 (gyesanhada) literally means to calculate and is used for settling the bill at a restaurant or a store. 납부하다 is used for paying taxes, dues or contributions.
How does it change in a sentence?
내다 takes an object, the money or the bill, marked with the object particle, as in 돈을 내다.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as naeda.
Did you know?
- The common verb 내다 ('naeda') is actually the causative form of 나다 ('nada'), meaning 'to come out'. This frames the act of paying as making money 'come out' from your pocket.
- In a restaurant setting, rather than saying 'I will pay', it is very common to use the phrase 제가 할게요 (jega halgeyo), which literally translates to 'I will do [it]'.
- The verb 내다 is incredibly versatile and is used for 'paying' things that aren't money, such as 'paying' a price in effort or 'paying' attention.
Examples in context
- 이번에는 제가 내죠.Let me treat you (pay) this time.The polite 내죠 is a form of the verb, used here to offer to pay this time.
- 제가 어제 저녁 식사를 지불했어요.I paid for dinner yesterday evening.
- 회비를 매달 납부해야 합니다.You have to pay the membership fee every month.
- 매월 대금을 지급하기로 계약했습니다.We have a contract to make monthly payments.
- 현금으로 지불해야 할지, 카드로 지불해야 할지 어떻게 결정해야 할까요?How should I decide whether to pay in cash or by card?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pay” translations and entries 내다, 지불하다, 계산하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 계산하다, 내다, 지불하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
