Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite way for staff to ask if you're ready to pay your bill.
- Means: 'Shall I calculate the bill for you?' or 'Ready to pay?'
- Used in: Restaurants, cafes, and retail shops at the checkout.
- Don't confuse: Don't use this if you are the customer paying.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
A polite offer to process payment for a customer.
Contexte culturel
In Korea, it is common for one person to pay for the whole group. When the staff asks '계산해 드릴까요?', they are often looking for the 'leader' of the group who will hand over their card. With the rise of kiosks, you might see this phrase on a screen. However, in person, it's a sign of high-quality service (인적 서비스). In business meetings, the person who invited the others usually pays. The staff will wait for a signal before asking '계산해 드릴까요?' to avoid interrupting the conversation. While 'Dutch Pay' is becoming more common among younger Koreans, the staff will still ask '계산해 드릴까요?' first, and then the customers will ask to split it.
The 'Nunchi' Timing
Wait for the customer to make eye contact or step toward the counter before saying this. Saying it too early can feel like you're rushing them.
The Bow
In Korea, a slight head nod or bow while saying '계산해 드릴까요?' adds a layer of professional sincerity.
The 'Nunchi' Timing
Wait for the customer to make eye contact or step toward the counter before saying this. Saying it too early can feel like you're rushing them.
The Bow
In Korea, a slight head nod or bow while saying '계산해 드릴까요?' adds a layer of professional sincerity.
Don't say it to elders
If you are a younger person paying for an elder, don't use this phrase. Use '제가 내겠습니다' (I will pay).
Teste-toi
You are a cashier at a convenience store. A customer brings a bottle of water to the counter. What do you say?
손님, ________?
As a staff member, you must use the humble '드리다' and the polite question form '-(으)ㄹ까요?'.
Complete the sentence using the correct form of '드리다'.
식사 다 하셨으면 바로 계산해 (______)까요?
The humble auxiliary '드리다' is required in service contexts.
Complete the dialogue between a waiter and a customer.
점원: 식사 맛있게 하셨나요? 손님: 네, 정말 맛있었어요. 점원: 다행입니다. ________?
The waiter is offering to process the payment after the meal.
Match the phrase to the correct person.
Who would say '계산해 드릴까요?'
A taxi driver is a service provider who would offer to process the fare.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
5 exercices손님, ________?
As a staff member, you must use the humble '드리다' and the polite question form '-(으)ㄹ까요?'.
식사 다 하셨으면 바로 계산해 (______)까요?
The humble auxiliary '드리다' is required in service contexts.
점원: 식사 맛있게 하셨나요? 손님: 네, 정말 맛있었어요. 점원: 다행입니다. ________?
The waiter is offering to process the payment after the meal.
Who would say '계산해 드릴까요?'
A taxi driver is a service provider who would offer to process the fare.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it sounds too formal and like a business transaction. Use '내가 낼게' (I'll pay) instead.
계산 is 'calculating the bill', while 결제 is 'processing the payment' (like swiping a card). Both are used, but 결제 is slightly more modern/technical.
Not at all! It's the standard way for a customer to ask for the bill.
It is the humble form of 'juda' (to give). It shows that you are giving the service of calculation to the customer.
You can say this to a friend if you are both deciding to pay now, but a staff member should not say it to a customer.
You can say '따로 계산해 주세요' (Please calculate separately).
Tipping is not common in Korea, so this phrase refers only to the actual bill amount.
You can say '네' (Yes), '카드로 해주세요' (By card, please), or '현금 여기요' (Here is the cash).
No, online shopping uses buttons like '결제하기' (Do payment) or '구매하기' (Do purchase).
Only if you are role-playing as a service worker. Otherwise, it has no place in an interview.
Expressions liées
결제 도와드릴까요?
similarShall I help you with the payment?
계산해 주세요
contrastPlease calculate it for me.
얼마예요?
builds onHow much is it?
계산서 주세요
similarPlease give me the bill.
잘 먹었습니다
builds onI ate well.
Où l'utiliser
At a Cafe
Staff: 주문하시겠어요? 아니면 바로 계산해 드릴까요?
Customer: 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 계산해 주세요.
At a Restaurant
Staff: 식사 다 하셨나요? 계산해 드릴까요?
Customer: 네, 여기 카드로 해 주세요.
At a Clothing Store
Staff: 이 셔츠로 결정하셨나요? 계산해 드릴까요?
Customer: 네, 선물 포장도 가능한가요?
In a Taxi
Driver: 다 왔습니다. 계산해 드릴까요?
Customer: 네, 티머니로 할게요.
At a Hospital
Receptionist: 진료 끝나셨습니다. 계산해 드릴까요?
Patient: 네, 처방전도 같이 주시나요?
At a Hair Salon
Stylist: 머리 마음에 드세요? 계산해 드릴까요?
Customer: 네, 정말 마음에 들어요. 감사합니다.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Gyesan' as 'Guess-on'. The cashier is 'guessing' (calculating) the price on your items.
Association visuelle
Imagine a cashier holding a calculator (계산기) and bowing slightly while offering to take your credit card.
Rhyme
Gyesan-hae, pay the way, deurilkkayo, have a nice day!
Story
You are at a busy K-pop merch store. You have a pile of albums. The friendly staff sees you and says '계산해 드릴까요?' to help you get through the line faster.
In Other Languages
Similar to the Japanese 'O-kaikei itashimashou ka?' which also uses humble forms to offer a calculation service.
Word Web
Défi
Next time you are at a Korean restaurant, listen for the exact moment the staff says this. Try to reply with '네, 부탁합니다' (Yes, please).
Review this phrase before your next shopping trip or restaurant visit. Focus on the 'deurilkkayo' ending.
Prononciation
The 'gye' sound is like 'gy' in 'gym' but with a 'ye' vowel.
Short 'e' sound like in 'pet'.
The 'eu' sound is a flat 'u'. The 'kk' is a tensed 'k'.
Spectre de formalité
계산해 드릴까요? (Standard payment offer)
계산해 줄까요? (Standard payment offer)
계산해 줄까? (Standard payment offer)
계산 고? (Let's go pay?) (Standard payment offer)
The term {計算|계산} entered the Korean language via Classical Chinese. It has been used for centuries to describe the act of counting and accounting. The modern service usage emerged with the development of formal marketplaces.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'Gyesan' is also used in 'Gyesan-gi' (calculator), which literally means 'calculation machine'.
Notes culturelles
In Korea, it is common for one person to pay for the whole group. When the staff asks '계산해 드릴까요?', they are often looking for the 'leader' of the group who will hand over their card.
“부장님이 '내가 낼게'라고 하시면 점원이 '계산해 드릴까요?'라고 묻습니다.”
With the rise of kiosks, you might see this phrase on a screen. However, in person, it's a sign of high-quality service (인적 서비스).
“키오스크 대신 직원이 직접 '계산해 드릴까요?'라고 물으면 더 친절하게 느껴집니다.”
In business meetings, the person who invited the others usually pays. The staff will wait for a signal before asking '계산해 드릴까요?' to avoid interrupting the conversation.
“회의가 끝날 때쯤 점원이 다가와 조용히 '계산해 드릴까요?'라고 묻습니다.”
While 'Dutch Pay' is becoming more common among younger Koreans, the staff will still ask '계산해 드릴까요?' first, and then the customers will ask to split it.
“점원: '계산해 드릴까요?' 손님: '네, 따로따로 해주세요.'”
Amorces de conversation
How would you ask a customer if they are ready to pay at a busy cafe?
A customer is looking for their wallet at the counter. What do you say?
You need to tell a customer that the price has changed. How do you start?
Erreurs courantes
계산해 주세요? (to a customer)
계산해 드릴까요?
L1 Interference
계산해 줄까요? (to a customer)
계산해 드릴까요?
L1 Interference
계산할까요? (as a staff member)
계산해 드릴까요?
L1 Interference
계산해 드릴까요? (as a customer)
계산해 주세요.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¿Le cobro?
Korean focuses on the 'calculation' service, Spanish on the 'charging' action.
Je vous fais l'addition ?
French is slightly more informal in tone than the Korean humble form.
Soll ich abrechnen?
German feels more like a business transaction, Korean feels like a personal service.
お会計いたしましょうか？
Japanese often uses the noun 'Kaikei' while Korean uses the verb 'Gyesan-hada'.
هل أحاسبك؟
Arabic lacks the complex hierarchy of honorific endings found in Korean.
我为您结账吗？
Chinese is polite but doesn't have the specific 'humble' auxiliary verb '드리다'.
Shall I ring you up?
English is much more casual and direct.
Posso fechar a conta?
Portuguese uses 'can I' (posso) rather than the 'shall I' (-(으)ㄹ까요) suggestion form.
Spotted in the Real World
“손님, 계산해 드릴까요?”
A scene in the DanBam pub where a customer is leaving.
“김밥 두 줄 계산해 드릴까요?”
At the kimbap shop when a customer orders to-go.
“피자 박스 접은 거 계산해 드릴까요?”
When the manager is checking the work done by the Kim family.
“계산해 드릴까요, 아님 더 계실 건가요?”
Lyrics describing a breakup in a cafe.
Facile à confondre
Learners often forget the '해 드리다' part, making it sound too casual.
Always include '해 드릴까요' if you are working in a shop.
Using 'juda' instead of 'deurida' is a common honorific mistake.
Remember: Service = Deurida.
Questions fréquentes (10)
No, it sounds too formal and like a business transaction. Use '내가 낼게' (I'll pay) instead.
usage contexts계산 is 'calculating the bill', while 결제 is 'processing the payment' (like swiping a card). Both are used, but 결제 is slightly more modern/technical.
basic understandingNot at all! It's the standard way for a customer to ask for the bill.
practical tipsIt is the humble form of 'juda' (to give). It shows that you are giving the service of calculation to the customer.
grammar mechanicsYou can say this to a friend if you are both deciding to pay now, but a staff member should not say it to a customer.
common mistakesYou can say '따로 계산해 주세요' (Please calculate separately).
practical tipsTipping is not common in Korea, so this phrase refers only to the actual bill amount.
cultural usageYou can say '네' (Yes), '카드로 해주세요' (By card, please), or '현금 여기요' (Here is the cash).
practical tipsNo, online shopping uses buttons like '결제하기' (Do payment) or '구매하기' (Do purchase).
usage contextsOnly if you are role-playing as a service worker. Otherwise, it has no place in an interview.
usage contexts
