Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential phrase for paying at restaurants or shops in Korea, literally meaning 'to do the math.'
- Means: To pay the bill or settle a payment (max 15 words)
- Used in: Restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, and business deals (max 15 words)
- Don't confuse: With '돈을 주다' (to give money), which sounds like a gift (max 15 words)
Explicación a tu nivel:
Significado
To pay for goods or services, typically at a restaurant or store.
Contexto cultural
The 'Second Round' (2차) rule: If one person pays for dinner, it is polite for another person to pay for the coffee or drinks that follow. The 'Register Struggle': You will often see Koreans playfully pushing each other away from the cashier to be the one who pays. It's a sign of affection and respect. N-bang (1/N): This is the modern term for splitting the bill equally. It is very common among students and young professionals. Company Dinners (Hoesik): In a professional setting, the highest-ranking person or the company card almost always pays. A junior offering to pay might be seen as awkward.
Drop the 'Eul'
In 90% of spoken conversations, Koreans say '계산하다' or '계산할게요' without the '을'. It sounds much more natural.
Don't say 'Pay me'
If a friend owes you money, don't say '계산해.' Say '돈 보내 줘' (Send me the money) or '내 몫 줘' (Give me my share).
Drop the 'Eul'
In 90% of spoken conversations, Koreans say '계산하다' or '계산할게요' without the '을'. It sounds much more natural.
Don't say 'Pay me'
If a friend owes you money, don't say '계산해.' Say '돈 보내 줘' (Send me the money) or '내 몫 줘' (Give me my share).
The 'I'll Pay' Gesture
When you want to pay, simply standing up and walking toward the counter is the universal signal in Korea that you are 'calculating' for the group.
Check the Receipt
If you need to check the bill, ask for the '계산서' (Gyesanseo).
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '계산하다' to say 'I will pay.'
걱정 마세요. 오늘 점심은 제가 ( ).
'계산할게요' is the most natural way to offer to pay in the future/immediate moment.
Which sentence is the most polite way to ask to pay at a restaurant?
Choose the best option:
'계산해 주세요' uses the polite '주세요' ending, which is appropriate for service staff.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
가: 우리 너무 많이 먹었다. 어떻게 계산할까? 나: ( )
'따로 계산하자' (Let's pay separately) is a common informal response to 'How should we pay?'
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You think the waiter charged you for an extra drink you didn't have.
'계산이 좀 이상해요' (The calculation is a bit strange) is a polite way to flag a mistake.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Paying vs. Processing
Banco de ejercicios
5 ejercicios걱정 마세요. 오늘 점심은 제가 ( ).
'계산할게요' is the most natural way to offer to pay in the future/immediate moment.
Choose the best option:
'계산해 주세요' uses the polite '주세요' ending, which is appropriate for service staff.
가: 우리 너무 많이 먹었다. 어떻게 계산할까? 나: ( )
'따로 계산하자' (Let's pay separately) is a common informal response to 'How should we pay?'
Situation: You think the waiter charged you for an extra drink you didn't have.
'계산이 좀 이상해요' (The calculation is a bit strange) is a polite way to flag a mistake.
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasYes, but '결제하다' is more common for the final click on a website or app.
Not at all in modern Korea, but it's best to ask '따로 계산해도 될까요?' (Can we pay separately?) before the staff starts ringing things up.
'계산서' is the bill before you pay; '영수증' is the receipt after you pay.
You can say '제가 계산할게요' (polite) or '내가 쏠게' (informal slang).
No, it can also mean to solve a math problem or to strategically plan a move.
It's a cultural display of generosity and social bonding, showing that you value the relationship more than the money.
No, use '납부하다' for taxes or official fees.
Say '계산이 잘못된 것 같아요' (I think the calculation is wrong).
Yes, it comes from {計算}, meaning 'to count' and 'to calculate.'
No, that would be '뇌물을 주다.' '계산하다' is for legitimate transactions.
Say '나눠서 계산해요' or 'N분의 1로 해요.'
It's introduced at A1 for basic needs, but mastering its various forms and social nuances is A2.
Frases relacionadas
결제하다
similarTo process a payment
돈을 내다
synonymTo pay money
쏘다
specialized formTo treat (slang)
정산하다
builds onTo settle up / calculate the final balance
더치페이
contrastDutch pay
Dónde usarla
At a Cafe
Customer: 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. {計算|계산}은 어디서 해요?
Staff: 여기서 도와드릴게요.
Splitting the bill with friends
Friend A: 우리 이거 어떻게 {計算|계산}할까?
Friend B: 그냥 엔분의 일(1/N)로 {計算|계산}하자.
Treating a colleague
Junior: 잘 먹었습니다, 선배님!
Senior: 아니에요. 오늘은 제가 {計算|계산}할게요.
At a Convenience Store
Staff: 봉투 필요하세요?
Customer: 아니요, 괜찮아요. 카드로 {計算|계산}할게요.
In a Taxi
Passenger: 여기서 내려주세요. {計算|계산}은 티머니로 할게요.
Driver: 네, 알겠습니다.
Checking for a mistake
Customer: 저기요, {計算|계산}이 좀 잘못된 것 같은데요.
Staff: 아, 죄송합니다. 다시 확인해 드릴게요.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of a 'Cashier' doing 'Calculations' at the 'Counter' (C-C-C).
Asociación visual
Imagine a waiter bringing a bill on a small tray. Instead of a price, there's a giant calculator on the tray. You have to 'do the math' to leave the restaurant.
Rhyme
Pay the man, Gye-san-han (계산한)!
Story
You go to a Korean BBQ place. You eat so much you can't move. The waiter comes and asks if you are ready to 'calculate' your destiny. You pull out your card and say 'Gyesan-halgeyo!'
In Other Languages
Similar to the Japanese 'Kanjō o suru' (勘定をする) and Chinese 'Jiézhàng' (结账), both of which involve the concept of 'counting' or 'settling' an account.
Word Web
Desafío
Next time you are at a cafe, even if you are in your home country, whisper '계산할게요' to yourself as you hand over your card.
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week after your first restaurant visit in Korea.
Pronunciación
The 'gye' sound is like 'gy' in 'gym' but with a 'ye' vowel. In fast speech, it often sounds like 'ge' (/ke/).
The object marker. When followed by '하다', the 'l' sound carries over slightly.
Espectro de formalidad
제가 {計算|계산}하겠습니다. (Offering to pay the bill)
제가 {計算|계산}할게요. (Offering to pay the bill)
내가 {計算|계산}할게. (Offering to pay the bill)
내가 쏠게! (I'll shoot/treat!) (Offering to pay the bill)
Derived from the Middle Chinese 'kè-swàn' ({計算}). {計} originally depicted a mouth and a ten, signifying 'to count to ten.' {算} depicted hands holding a counting board made of bamboo.
Dato curioso
The 'san' ({算}) in 'gyesan' is the same 'san' in 'sansu' (arithmetic), which every Korean child learns in elementary school.
Notas culturales
The 'Second Round' (2차) rule: If one person pays for dinner, it is polite for another person to pay for the coffee or drinks that follow.
“1차는 제가 계산했으니까, 2차는 친구가 계산했어요.”
The 'Register Struggle': You will often see Koreans playfully pushing each other away from the cashier to be the one who pays. It's a sign of affection and respect.
“서로 계산하려고 실랑이를 벌여요.”
N-bang (1/N): This is the modern term for splitting the bill equally. It is very common among students and young professionals.
“우리 그냥 N분의 1로 계산하자.”
Company Dinners (Hoesik): In a professional setting, the highest-ranking person or the company card almost always pays. A junior offering to pay might be seen as awkward.
“부장님이 법인카드로 계산하셨어요.”
Inicios de conversación
점심 먹고 나서 누가 {計算|계산}했어요?
한국에서는 보통 어떻게 {計算|계산}해요? 따로 해요, 아니면 한 명이 해요?
어제 너무 비싼 저녁을 먹었는데, {計算|계산}할 때 깜짝 놀랐어요.
인간관계에서 너무 {計算|계산}적인 사람을 만나본 적 있나요?
Errores comunes
돈을 계산해 주세요.
계산해 주세요.
L1 Interference
계산을 지불하다.
계산하다 / 돈을 지불하다.
L1 Interference
계산해!
계산해 주세요. / 계산할게요.
L1 Interference
계산을 주다.
계산하다.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Pagar la cuenta
Korean uses 'calculate' while Spanish uses 'pay'.
Régler l'addition
French uses 'settle' (régler) while Korean uses 'do' (하다).
Die Rechnung bezahlen
German uses a specific noun for 'bill' rather than the general 'calculation'.
お勘定をする (O-kanjō o suru)
Japanese often adds the honorific 'o' prefix.
دفع الحساب (Dafa'a al-hisab)
Arabic uses the verb 'to push/pay' (dafa'a).
结账 (Jiézhàng)
Chinese focuses on 'settling' rather than 'calculating'.
Pagar a conta
Focuses on the 'account' as a noun rather than the 'calculation' as an action.
Settle the bill
English uses 'pay' for the action; 'calculate' sounds like a math class.
Spotted in the Real World
“오늘 저녁은 제가 {計算|계산}할게요.”
Ha-ri offers to pay for dinner to show her gratitude.
“너는 다 {計算|계산}이 있구나.”
The father praises his son for having a 'plan' or 'calculation' for their scheme.
“이건 아무런 {計算|계산} 없이...”
Lyrics about acting without calculation or hidden motives in love.
“{計算|계산}은 제가 하죠.”
Sang-woo offers to pay for a meal, highlighting his (former) status as a successful businessman.
“오늘의 내돈내산 {計算|계산} 완료!”
Used in 'Nae-don-nae-san' (My money, my purchase) posts to prove they aren't sponsored.
Fácil de confundir
They sound identical (homophones).
결제 (with 'ㅔ') is for money/payment. 결재 (with 'ㅐ') is for getting a boss's signature/approval.
Both involve numbers.
계산하다 is for math/paying. 세다 is for counting individual items (1, 2, 3...).
Preguntas frecuentes (12)
Yes, but '결제하다' is more common for the final click on a website or app.
usage contextsNot at all in modern Korea, but it's best to ask '따로 계산해도 될까요?' (Can we pay separately?) before the staff starts ringing things up.
cultural usage'계산서' is the bill before you pay; '영수증' is the receipt after you pay.
basic understandingYou can say '제가 계산할게요' (polite) or '내가 쏠게' (informal slang).
practical tipsNo, it can also mean to solve a math problem or to strategically plan a move.
grammar mechanicsIt's a cultural display of generosity and social bonding, showing that you value the relationship more than the money.
cultural usageNo, use '납부하다' for taxes or official fees.
usage contextsSay '계산이 잘못된 것 같아요' (I think the calculation is wrong).
practical tipsYes, it comes from {計算}, meaning 'to count' and 'to calculate.'
basic understandingNo, that would be '뇌물을 주다.' '계산하다' is for legitimate transactions.
common mistakesSay '나눠서 계산해요' or 'N분의 1로 해요.'
practical tipsIt's introduced at A1 for basic needs, but mastering its various forms and social nuances is A2.
basic understanding
