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“Can I buy this tax-free” in Korean: 면세로 살 수 있어요?
면세로 살 수 있어요?
myeonsero sal su isseoyo?
Meaning
Can I buy this tax-free?
Usage note
Use it to check if a purchase qualifies for tourist tax-free shopping. A passport is usually needed.
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
Practical guide
When to use it
A tourist question at stores. Have your passport ready, since staff usually need it to process the tax-free or refund paperwork.
Watch out
Ordinary shops often handle this as a refund (환급) after purchase rather than deducting at the till. 면세점 is the separate word for a duty-free store.
How to pronounce it
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 면세로 | ||
| 면 | ㅁ+ㅕ+ㄴ | myeon |
| 세 | ㅅ+ㅔ | se |
| 로 | ㄹ+ㅗ | ro |
| 살 | ㅅ+ㅏ+ㄹ | sal |
| 수 | ㅅ+ㅜ | su |
| 있어요 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 있어 → [이써]
Speech style
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in this phrase
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
Phrases that use the same word
Phrases with “있어요”
- 낯을 가려서 처음엔 어색할 수 있어요I’m shy with new people, so I may seem awkward at first
- 덕분에 잘 지내고 있어요I’m doing well, thanks to you
- 덜 맵게 해 주실 수 있어요?Could you make it less spicy?
- 여기서 걸어서 갈 수 있어요?Can I walk there from here?
Quick self-check
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 What does “면세로 살 수 있어요?” mean?
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Answer: Can I buy this tax-free?
Question 2 How do you say “Can I buy this tax-free?” in Korean?
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Answer: 면세로 살 수 있어요? myeonsero sal su isseoyo?
Reinforce what you learn with typing drills and quizzes.
Practice nowMore phrases for this situation
- 가격 대비 품질이 좋네요The quality is good for the price
- 깎아 주시면 사겠습니다If you give me a discount, I’ll buy it
- 하자가 있어서 반품하고 싶습니다It’s defective, so I’d like to return it
- 할부로 결제하고 싶습니다I’d like to pay in installments
- 눈 딱 감고 질렀어요I shut my eyes and splurged on it
- 품절된 상품의 재입고 일정을 문의드립니다I’m inquiring about the restock date for the sold-out item
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