쇼핑
syoping[ɕ͈opʰiŋ]
The Korean word for shopping is 쇼핑 (syoping). Wiktionary also lists 물건사기 (mulgeonsagi) and 장보기 (jangbogi).
Meaning: activity of buying (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 쇼핑 | syoping | [ɕ͈opʰiŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 물건사기 | mulgeonsagi | |
| 장보기 | jangbogi |
쇼핑 is a noun used to describe the activity of shopping. To express the verb 'to shop', you combine this noun with the verb '하다' (to do) to form 쇼핑하다 or use the phrase 쇼핑을 하다.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 물건사기 is composed of 물건, meaning thing or object and 사기, which refers to the act of buying.
Which one should you use?
쇼핑 is a loanword from English used for general leisure shopping. In contrast, 장보기 is used specifically for the activity of buying household necessities and food.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express a purpose, such as going out in order to shop, you can add the suffix '-러' to the verb stem '쇼핑하-' to create 쇼핑하러.
How do you pronounce it?
syoping
Did you know?
- In Korea, the traditional market 장 (jang) used in 장보기 once operated on a five-day cycle, meaning specific markets were only open every five days.
- In modern Korean cities, 쇼핑 often takes place in massive underground shopping centers that connect subway stations, creating subterranean cities for buyers.
- The phrase 장보기 is closely tied to the concept of 살림 (sallim), a word for household management that English has no single equivalent for.
Examples in context
- 그 쇼핑센터는 몇 시에 열어?What hours is the shopping center open?This sentence uses 쇼핑 to ask about the opening hours of a shopping center.Tatoeba #4708177 by rainbow4us, translation #61014 by Zifre
- 우리랑 쇼핑 갈래?You want to come shopping with us?This sentence uses 쇼핑 to invite someone to go shopping.Tatoeba #13206412 by Uwe, translation #12896303 by rul
- 아버지는 쇼핑을 싫어하셔서 늘 어머니 혼자 백화점에 가신다.My father hates shopping, so my mother always goes to the department store alone.This sentence uses 쇼핑 to describe a person's dislike for the activity.
- 오늘은 쇼핑을 하러 백화점에 갈 거예요.Today, I will go to the department store to go shopping.
- 여행에서 쇼핑은 중요한 부분입니다.Shopping is an important part of traveling.
- 오늘은 쇼핑하러 몇 곳을 돌아다닐까?How about going to a few places to go shopping today?
- 이 옷은 쇼핑할 때 샀어요.I bought this clothes while shopping.
- 조금 더 싸게 해주세요.Please give me a little more discount.
- 이 가게는 몇 시에 열리나요?What time does this store open?
- 이 가게는 몇 시에 닫아요?What time does this store close?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their weekend plans in a cafe.
- 서연 Seo-yeon주말에 쇼핑할 거야?jumare shopping-hal geoya?Are you going shopping this weekend?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니, 나는 쇼핑보다 쉬는 게 좋아.ani, naneun shopping-boda swineun ge joa.No, I prefer resting over shopping.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈이는 정말 집돌이구나.Jihoon-ineun jeongmal jipdori-guna.Jihoon, you really are a homebody.
- 지훈 Ji-hun응, 집에서 쉬는 게 제일 편해.eung, jib-eseo swineun ge jeil pyeonhae.Yeah, resting at home is the most comfortable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shopping” translations and entries 쇼핑, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
