A2 Expression رسمي

현금만 돼요?

Hyeongeumman dwaeyo?

Only cash?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to ask if a shop or stall accepts only cash payments instead of cards.

  • Means: 'Is it only cash?' or 'Do you only take cash?'
  • Used in: Traditional markets, street food stalls, or small independent shops.
  • Don't confuse: With '현금 돼요?' which simply asks if cash is an option.
💵 + ❓ = 🛒 (Cash + Question = Shopping Clarity)

Explanation at your level:

This phrase is very simple. '현금' means cash. '만' means only. '돼요?' means 'Is it okay?'. Use this when you want to pay with paper money at a small shop. It is a polite way to ask about payment.
At the A2 level, you should understand that '만' is a particle that limits the choice. '현금만 돼요?' is used to confirm if a place does not accept credit cards. It uses the polite '-요' ending, which is perfect for talking to shop owners in Korea.
This expression is essential for navigating traditional markets. While '되다' usually means 'to become,' here it functions as 'to be feasible.' You might also hear variations like '현금밖에 안 돼요?' (Is it nothing but cash?), which expresses a similar constraint but with a slightly different nuance of limitation.
In more complex social interactions, '현금만 돼요?' serves as a pragmatic check. It's often preceded by '혹시' (by any chance) to soften the inquiry. Understanding the sociolinguistic context—such as why a vendor might prefer cash for a '현금가' (cash price)—is key to using this phrase naturally in a business or shopping context.
From a linguistic perspective, this phrase demonstrates the high-context nature of Korean. The subject and object are often omitted. The use of '되다' as a modal verb for permission and possibility reflects a broader grammatical pattern where state-change verbs describe situational availability. It also touches on the legal and economic tensions between tax transparency laws and traditional market practices.
Mastery involves recognizing the subtle shift in Korean commerce toward 'unmanned' (무인) kiosks that are strictly '카드 전용' (card only). A C2 learner understands that asking '현금만 돼요?' in a modern Seoul cafe might be interpreted as a critique of their digital-only policy, whereas in a rural 'jang-teo' (market), it is a standard logistical necessity. The phrase encapsulates the duality of Korea's hyper-modernity and its lingering traditional roots.

المعنى

Asking if only cash payment is accepted.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

Traditional markets ({市場|시장}) are the most common places where you will hear this. Even though many vendors now have card readers, they prefer cash for small amounts (under 10,000 KRW). The 'Cash Discount' culture in underground malls. Vendors might offer a lower price if you pay in cash to avoid the 10% VAT or card fees. Modern 'Card-Only' Cafes. In trendy areas like Seongsu or Gangnam, some cafes are 'No Cash' zones. They will have signs saying '현금 없는 매장'. Bank Transfers ({計座移替|계좌이체}). If you don't have cash, almost every vendor will have their bank account number posted. You can transfer money instantly using a Korean banking app.

💡

Carry 10,000 won bills

Always keep a few 1,000 and 10,000 won bills when visiting markets. It makes using this phrase much less stressful.

⚠️

Spelling Alert

Never write '되요'. It's always '돼요' when ending a sentence.

المعنى

Asking if only cash payment is accepted.

💡

Carry 10,000 won bills

Always keep a few 1,000 and 10,000 won bills when visiting markets. It makes using this phrase much less stressful.

⚠️

Spelling Alert

Never write '되요'. It's always '돼요' when ending a sentence.

💬

The ' 혹시' Magic

Adding '혹시' (hok-si) at the beginning makes you sound much more polite and natural.

اختبر نفسك

Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.

여기 현금___ ___?

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 만 돼요

'만' means 'only' and '돼요' is the correct spelling for the polite form of '되다'.

Which sentence is the most natural way to ask if a street vendor accepts cards?

Which one is correct?

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 카드 돼요?

'카드 돼요?' asks 'Does card work?'. '현금만 돼요?' asks if *only* cash works.

Complete the dialogue at a traditional market.

Vendor: 이 오이 삼천 원이에요. Learner: 아, 지갑에 현금이 없어요. 혹시 ________?

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 카드 돼요

Since the learner has no cash, they should ask if cards are accepted.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are at a 'Card Only' kiosk.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: 카드만 돼요?

At a card-only kiosk, you might ask for confirmation if you only have cash.

🎉 النتيجة: /4

وسائل تعلم بصرية

Where to use '현금만 돼요?'

🛒

Markets

  • Traditional Market
  • Street Food
  • Flea Market
🛠️

Services

  • Coin Laundry
  • Arcade
  • Parking Lot

الأسئلة الشائعة

4 أسئلة

No, it's a very practical question. However, adding '혹시' (by any chance) makes it softer.

You can ask '근처에 ATM 있어요?' (Is there an ATM nearby?) or '계좌이체 돼요?' (Can I do a bank transfer?).

Usually to avoid card fees or because they are small, temporary street stalls without internet for card machines.

Yes! Just swap the word: '카드만 돼요?' (Is it only card?).

عبارات ذات صلة

🔗

카드 돼요?

contrast

Does card work?

🔗

계좌이체 돼요?

similar

Is bank transfer possible?

🔗

현금 영수증 해주세요

builds on

Please give me a cash receipt.

🔗

잔돈 있어요?

similar

Do you have change?

أين تستخدمها

🍢

Street Food Stall

Learner: 떡볶이 일 인분 얼마예요?

Vendor: 삼천 원이에요.

Learner: 혹시 현금만 돼요?

Vendor: 네, 카드는 안 돼요.

informal
🥬

Traditional Market

Learner: 이 사과 얼마예요?

Vendor: 만원이에요. 현금만 돼요.

neutral
👗

Underground Mall

Learner: 이 티셔츠 카드로 하면 얼마예요?

Vendor: 만 천 원인데, 현금만 하면 만 원이에요.

Learner: 아, 현금만 돼요?

neutral
🚕

Taxi (Old/Rural)

Learner: 기사님, 혹시 현금만 돼요?

Driver: 아니요, 카드도 됩니다.

formal
🧺

Coin Laundry

Learner: 여기 세탁기 현금만 돼요?

Owner: 네, 오백 원짜리 동전만 돼요.

neutral
💸

Splitting a Bill

Friend: 나 카드 없어. 현금만 돼.

Learner: 그래? 그럼 내가 카드로 낼게.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Hyeon-geum' as 'Handy-Gold'. If it's 'Handy-Gold-MAN', it's the 'Only' thing that 'Dwaeyo' (Does the job).

Visual Association

Imagine a small wooden stall with a big 'X' over a credit card and a bright green circle around a stack of bills.

Rhyme

Hyeon-geum-man, in the van, pay the man!

Story

You are at a beautiful market in Seoul. You see delicious spicy rice cakes. You reach for your card, but the grandma shakes her head. You ask, 'Hyeon-geum-man dwaeyo?' She smiles and nods. You find a 1,000 won bill in your pocket. Success!

Word Web

현금 (Cash)카드 (Card)결제 (Payment)거스름돈 (Change)지갑 (Wallet)영수증 (Receipt)ATM (Cash machine)계좌이체 (Bank transfer)

تحدٍّ

Next time you go to a small local shop, even if you see a card reader, ask '현금만 돼요?' just to practice the pronunciation and see their reaction.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Solo efectivo?

Spanish doesn't have the specific 'only' particle attached to the noun.

French moderate

C'est uniquement en espèces ?

French uses a prepositional phrase 'en espèces' rather than a single noun.

German high

Nur Barzahlung?

German focuses on the 'bar' (cash) aspect as an adjective/adverb.

Japanese high

現金のみですか?

Japanese uses the copula 'desu ka' instead of the verb 'to become' (되다).

Arabic moderate

هل تقبلون الكاش فقط؟

Arabic requires a verb of action (accepting) rather than a verb of state (working/being okay).

Chinese high

只收现金吗?

Chinese places 'only' before the verb, whereas Korean attaches it to the noun.

Portuguese moderate

É só em dinheiro?

Uses the preposition 'em' (in).

English high

Is it cash only?

English uses 'is it' (copula) while Korean uses 'does it work' (되다).

Easily Confused

현금만 돼요? مقابل 현금으로 돼요?

Learners mix up '만' (only) and '으로' (by/with).

Use '만' when you think cards are NOT allowed. Use '으로' when you are choosing to pay with cash.

현금만 돼요? مقابل 현금이 돼요?

Using the subject particle '이' instead of '만'.

'현금이 돼요' sounds like you are asking if the cash itself is 'becoming' something. It's grammatically awkward.

الأسئلة الشائعة (4)

No, it's a very practical question. However, adding '혹시' (by any chance) makes it softer.

You can ask '근처에 ATM 있어요?' (Is there an ATM nearby?) or '계좌이체 돼요?' (Can I do a bank transfer?).

Usually to avoid card fees or because they are small, temporary street stalls without internet for card machines.

Yes! Just swap the word: '카드만 돼요?' (Is it only card?).

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