How can I tell whether loose fruit at a Korean supermarket needs to be weighed before checkout?
If a foreign resident in Daejeon wants to buy loose apples but the display label is difficult to read, how can they ask whether the price is per apple, per bag or by weight? How can they check whether a staff member needs to weigh the fruit and attach a label before they go to the checkout? What Korean phrase can they use to ask whether they may choose individual apples rather than a prepared bag?
1 Answer
Before picking up the apples, show a produce staff member the display label and ask, “이 가격은 사과 한 개 가격인가요, 한 봉지 가격인가요, 아니면 무게로 계산하나요?” This means, “Is this price for one apple, one bag, or based on weight?” Check that the label refers to the apples you want rather than a nearby product. A unit such as 1개 refers to one item, while 100g or 1kg indicates a weight unit; if the display is unclear, ask staff rather than assuming the checkout price.
To check the weighing procedure, ask, “계산하기 전에 여기서 무게를 재고 가격표를 붙여야 하나요, 아니면 계산대에서 해 주시나요?” This means, “Do these need to be weighed and given a price label here before checkout, or is that done at the checkout?” The procedure can vary by store and product, so confirm before joining the checkout queue.
To ask about choosing individual apples, say, “포장된 봉지 말고 사과를 낱개로 골라서 살 수 있나요?” This means, “Can I choose and buy individual apples instead of a prepared bag?” If loose selection is available, ask which bag to use and whether you should bring the selected fruit back to the staff member for weighing. Do not open a prepared bag unless staff confirm that you may.