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.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Asking if only cash payment is accepted.
Contexte culturel
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.
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.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.
여기 현금___ ___?
'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?
'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 ________?
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.
At a card-only kiosk, you might ask for confirmation if you only have cash.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Where to use '현금만 돼요?'
Markets
- • Traditional Market
- • Street Food
- • Flea Market
Services
- • Coin Laundry
- • Arcade
- • Parking Lot
Banque d exercices
5 exercices여기 현금___ ___?
'만' means 'only' and '돼요' is the correct spelling for the polite form of '되다'.
Which one is correct?
'카드 돼요?' asks 'Does card work?'. '현금만 돼요?' asks if *only* cash works.
Vendor: 이 오이 삼천 원이에요. Learner: 아, 지갑에 현금이 없어요. 혹시 ________?
Since the learner has no cash, they should ask if cards are accepted.
You are at a 'Card Only' kiosk.
At a card-only kiosk, you might ask for confirmation if you only have cash.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsNo, 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?).
Expressions liées
카드 돼요?
contrastDoes card work?
계좌이체 돼요?
similarIs bank transfer possible?
현금 영수증 해주세요
builds onPlease give me a cash receipt.
잔돈 있어요?
similarDo you have change?
Où l'utiliser
Street Food Stall
Learner: 떡볶이 일 인분 얼마예요?
Vendor: 삼천 원이에요.
Learner: 혹시 현금만 돼요?
Vendor: 네, 카드는 안 돼요.
Traditional Market
Learner: 이 사과 얼마예요?
Vendor: 만원이에요. 현금만 돼요.
Underground Mall
Learner: 이 티셔츠 카드로 하면 얼마예요?
Vendor: 만 천 원인데, 현금만 하면 만 원이에요.
Learner: 아, 현금만 돼요?
Taxi (Old/Rural)
Learner: 기사님, 혹시 현금만 돼요?
Driver: 아니요, 카드도 됩니다.
Coin Laundry
Learner: 여기 세탁기 현금만 돼요?
Owner: 네, 오백 원짜리 동전만 돼요.
Splitting a Bill
Friend: 나 카드 없어. 현금만 돼.
Learner: 그래? 그럼 내가 카드로 낼게.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Hyeon-geum' as 'Handy-Gold'. If it's 'Handy-Gold-MAN', it's the 'Only' thing that 'Dwaeyo' (Does the job).
Association visuelle
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!
In Other Languages
In Japanese, 'Genkin nomi desu ka?' uses the same Hanja roots. In English, we simply say 'Cash only?'.
Word Web
Défi
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.
Review this phrase before visiting a 'Traditional Market' (Sijang) or 'Street Food' (Po-jang-ma-cha) area.
Prononciation
The 'n' in 'hyeon' and 'g' in 'geum' flow together smoothly.
Short and crisp.
The 'dw' sound is like 'do-way' but fast.
Spectre de formalité
현금 결제만 가능합니까? (General payment inquiry)
현금만 돼요? (General payment inquiry)
현금만 돼? (General payment inquiry)
현금뿐임? (General payment inquiry)
The phrase is a modern construction. {現金|현금} (Hyeongeum) entered the Korean lexicon via Sino-Japanese influence during the modernization period. The verb '되다' is an indigenous Korean word that has existed for over a millennium, originally meaning 'to become' or 'to reach a state.'
Le savais-tu ?
The '돼' in '돼요' is actually a contraction of '되어'. Writing '되요' is the #1 spelling mistake native Korean speakers make on social media!
Notes culturelles
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).
“시장에서는 현금만 되는 곳이 많아요. (There are many places in the market that only take cash.)”
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.
“현금으로 하면 더 싸요. (It's cheaper if you pay with cash.)”
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'.
“죄송합니다, 저희는 현금 없는 매장입니다. (Sorry, we are a no-cash store.)”
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.
“현금 없으면 계좌이체 해 주세요. (If you don't have cash, please do a bank transfer.)”
Amorces de conversation
전통 시장에서 물건을 살 때 뭐라고 물어봐요?
현금이 없을 때 상인에게 어떻게 말해요?
Erreurs courantes
현금만 되요?
현금만 돼요?
L1 Interference
현금만 있어요?
현금만 돼요?
L1 Interference
현금만 하세요?
현금만 받으세요?
L1 Interference
현금만 가능해요?
현금만 돼요?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¿Solo efectivo?
Spanish doesn't have the specific 'only' particle attached to the noun.
C'est uniquement en espèces ?
French uses a prepositional phrase 'en espèces' rather than a single noun.
Nur Barzahlung?
German focuses on the 'bar' (cash) aspect as an adjective/adverb.
現金のみですか？
Japanese uses the copula 'desu ka' instead of the verb 'to become' (되다).
هل تقبلون الكاش فقط؟
Arabic requires a verb of action (accepting) rather than a verb of state (working/being okay).
只收现金吗？
Chinese places 'only' before the verb, whereas Korean attaches it to the noun.
É só em dinheiro?
Uses the preposition 'em' (in).
Is it cash only?
English uses 'is it' (copula) while Korean uses 'does it work' (되다).
Spotted in the Real World
“여기 현금만 돼요? 아, 카드가 안 되네...”
The main character tries to pay at a small village shop and realizes her city habits don't work there.
“현금만 받아요.”
The pizza shop owner tells the Kim family about payment terms for their folding job.
Facile à confondre
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.
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.
Questions fréquentes (4)
No, it's a very practical question. However, adding '혹시' (by any chance) makes it softer.
practical tipsYou can ask '근처에 ATM 있어요?' (Is there an ATM nearby?) or '계좌이체 돼요?' (Can I do a bank transfer?).
usage contextsUsually to avoid card fees or because they are small, temporary street stalls without internet for card machines.
cultural usageYes! Just swap the word: '카드만 돼요?' (Is it only card?).
grammar mechanics
