샘플 받을 수 있을까요?
saem-peul ba-deul su i-sseul-kka-yo
Can I get samples?
Critical phrase. K-beauty shops give generous samples for purchases. Always ask.
K-beauty shopping has its own vocabulary — skin-type categories, ingredient names, sample requests, and the all-important 'do you have a coupon' question. Whether you're at Olive Young, a department store, or a small independent shop in Hongdae, these phrases cover what actually comes up.
Translate something specific →샘플 받을 수 있을까요?
saem-peul ba-deul su i-sseul-kka-yo
Can I get samples?
Critical phrase. K-beauty shops give generous samples for purchases. Always ask.
제 피부는 건성이에요.
je pi-bu-neun geon-seong-i-e-yo
My skin is dry.
Skin types: 건성 (dry), 지성 (oily), 복합성 (combination), 민감성 (sensitive).
이거 어떤 효과가 있어요?
i-geo eo-tteon hyo-gwa-ga i-sseo-yo
What effect does this have?
Use to ask for product recommendations. 효과 = effect.
진정 효과가 있는 제품을 찾고 있어요.
jin-jeong hyo-gwa-ga in-neun je-pum-eul chat-go i-sseo-yo
I'm looking for a soothing product.
진정 = soothing/calming. Other goals: 미백 (whitening), 보습 (hydrating), 주름 개선 (anti-wrinkle).
쿠폰이나 할인 있어요?
ku-pon-i-na hal-in i-sseo-yo
Are there any coupons or discounts?
할인 = discount. Olive Young runs nearly continuous promotions; always ask.
현재 할인 상품은 어느 거예요?
hyeon-jae hal-in sang-pum-eun eo-neu geo-ye-yo
Which products are currently on sale?
할인 상품 = discounted items. Worth asking even when nothing looks marked down.
선크림은 어디에 있어요?
seon-keu-rim-eun eo-di-e i-sseo-yo
Where is the sunscreen?
선크림 = sunscreen. Other staples: 토너 (toner), 에센스 (essence), 세럼 (serum), 크림 (cream), 마스크팩 (sheet mask).
이거 자극적이지 않아요?
i-geo ja-geuk-jeo-gi-ji a-na-yo
Is this not irritating?
자극적 = irritating. Use when sensitive.
멤버십 가입할 수 있어요?
mem-beo-sip ga-ip-hal su i-sseo-yo
Can I sign up for a membership?
Olive Young has a tiered membership; gold-tier discounts are significant for repeat visitors.
결제는 카드로 할게요.
gyeol-jje-neun ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo
I'll pay by card.
결제 = payment. 현금 = cash, 카드 = card.
Korean cosmetics retail follows a routine: a salesperson greets you with 어서 오세요 (welcome), often hovers nearby, and may immediately propose products based on what you're looking at. It's normal to politely deflect with 그냥 보고 있어요 ('just looking'). Free samples are baked into the business model — cashiers will throw 5–15 sample packets in your bag for any purchase over ₩30,000 or so, and you're free to ask for specific categories. Many cosmetics use English loanwords (에센스, 세럼, 크림) so menu literacy is mostly about Hangul reading speed.
Use Panor's free Korean rhetoric translator to translate phrases not on this page. The translator preserves cultural register (반말, 존댓말, 비격식체) and explains rhetorical patterns specific to Korean — particularly useful for K-pop lyrics, drama dialogue, and marketing copy where literal translation misses the meaning.