판매자
panmaeja[pʰa̠nmɛd͡ʑa̠]
The Korean word for vendor is 판매자 (panmaeja). Wiktionary also lists 판매인 (panmaein).
Meaning: a person or a company that vends or sells (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 판매자 | panmaeja | [pʰa̠nmɛd͡ʑa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [pʰa̠nme̞d͡ʑa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 판매인 | panmaein | [pʰa̠nmɛin] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [pʰa̠nme̞in] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
판매자 is the standard term used in business, e-commerce and general contexts to describe a person or entity that sells goods or services.
Which one should you use?
판매자 is a more general term for a seller or vendor, whereas 판매인 is often used in more formal or legal contexts to refer to a salesperson or an individual agent.
How do you pronounce it?
panmaeja
Did you know?
- While 판매자 is used for business, a street vendor is called 노점상. The term 노점 refers to a 'roadside shop', and 상 denotes a 'merchant' or 'business'.
- The syllable 자 in 판매자 is a common way in Korean to turn an action into a person, similar to how the English suffix '-er' works in 'seller'.
- Both versions of the word are Sino-Korean, meaning they are built from Chinese-derived characters rather than native Korean roots.
Examples in context
- 저 판매자가 제품을 기다리고 있어요.The vendor is waiting for the product.
- 이 장사꾼은 항상 고객을 만족시키기 위해 노력해요.This vendor always strives to satisfy customers.
- 이 쇼핑몰에서 상인들이 여러 제품들을 팔고 있어요.Vendors in this shopping mall sell various products.
- 이 제품의 판매자를 알고 싶어요.i je-pum-ui pan-mae-ja-reul al-go si-peo-yo.I want to know the vendor of this product.
- 그 판매자는 매우 친절했습니다.geu pan-mae-ja-neun mae-u chin-jeol-haet-seum-ni-da.That vendor was very kind.
- 새로운 판매자를 찾아야 해요.sae-ro-un pan-mae-ja-reul cha-ja-ya hae-yo.We need to find a new vendor.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a logistics issue in an office.
- 서연 Seo-yeon새로운 판매자를 찾았어요?sae-ro-un pan-mae-ja-reul cha-jat-seo-yo?Did you find a new vendor?
- 도현 Do-hyeon아직 판매자를 결정하지 못했어요.a-jik pan-mae-ja-reul gyeol-jeong-ha-ji mot-hae-sseo-yo.I haven't decided on a vendor yet.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 서둘러야 해요.Do-hyeon ssi, seo-dul-leo-ya hae-yo.Dohyeon, we need to hurry.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 내일까지 알아볼게요.ne, nae-il-kka-ji a-ra-bol-ge-yo.Yes, I will look into it by tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vendor” translations and entries 판매자, 판매인, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 판매인, 판매자, CC BY-SA 4.0.
