Phrase in 30 Seconds
Master the art of paying and counting in Korea.
- Means: To calculate the total cost or literally count physical money.
- Used in: Restaurants, shops, and when splitting bills with friends.
- Don't confuse: '계산하다' (calculate/pay) with '내다' (simply to pay/give).
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To tally up an amount of currency.
Contexte culturel
The 'Bill Fight': It is common to see people arguing over who gets to pay. It's a sign of 'Jeong' (affection/bonding). N-bbang (엔빵): Derived from '1/N', this is the standard for splitting bills among younger Koreans to ensure fairness. Hoesik (Company Dinners): Usually, the highest-ranking person or the company card '계산's for everyone. Mobile Payments: Apps like KakaoPay and Toss have made '계산' a digital notification rather than a physical exchange.
Redundancy
You can often drop '돈을' and just say '계산할게요'. It sounds more natural and concise.
Stinginess
Be careful using this phrase to describe people. Saying someone '계산적이다' (is calculating) is a significant insult in Korea.
Redundancy
You can often drop '돈을' and just say '계산할게요'. It sounds more natural and concise.
Stinginess
Be careful using this phrase to describe people. Saying someone '계산적이다' (is calculating) is a significant insult in Korea.
The Magic Phrase
If you want to treat a group, say '제가 쏠게요!' instead of '제가 계산할게요' for a much warmer, friendlier vibe.
The Receipt
After you '계산', the staff will ask '영수증 필요하세요?' (Do you need a receipt?). You can say '아니요, 괜찮아요'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '계산하다'.
식당에서 밥을 다 먹고 나서 ____.
After eating at a restaurant, you 'calculate' (pay) the bill.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
A: 오늘 점심은 내가 낼게. B: 아니야, 지난번에도 네가 했잖아. 오늘은 ____.
B is suggesting they split the bill or pay together since A paid last time.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Situation: You are at the checkout counter of a supermarket.
This is the standard polite request to the cashier to process your payment.
Which sentence uses the phrase metaphorically?
Choose the sentence that describes a person's personality.
This implies the person is 'calculating' or pragmatic/selfish in their social life.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Paying vs. Counting
Banque d exercices
5 exercices식당에서 밥을 다 먹고 나서 ____.
After eating at a restaurant, you 'calculate' (pay) the bill.
A: 오늘 점심은 내가 낼게. B: 아니야, 지난번에도 네가 했잖아. 오늘은 ____.
B is suggesting they split the bill or pay together since A paid last time.
Situation: You are at the checkout counter of a supermarket.
This is the standard polite request to the cashier to process your payment.
Choose the sentence that describes a person's personality.
This implies the person is 'calculating' or pragmatic/selfish in their social life.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes! '수학 문제를 계산하다' means to solve/calculate a math problem.
Use '계산하다' when YOU are doing the action. Use '계산되다' when the amount is being processed by a machine.
You can say '각자 계산해 주세요' (Please calculate individually).
'계산' is the general act of tallying/paying. '결제' is the technical term for the transaction being approved.
Yes, it's better to say '식사 대접하겠습니다' (I will treat you to a meal).
No, for time we use '시간을 재다' (measure time) or '계획하다' (plan time).
It can mean someone is good at mental math OR someone is quick to see where their profit lies.
In Korea, the price on the menu almost always includes VAT, so the '계산' is straightforward.
Yes, '위험을 계산하다' is used in business and strategy.
'계산' is the initial payment. '정산' is the final balancing of accounts (e.g., at the end of the month).
'계산이 틀렸어요' or '계산이 잘못됐어요'.
Yes, they are used interchangeably, but '계산대' is the native/Sino-Korean term.
Expressions liées
돈을 내다
similarTo pay money
결제하다
specialized formTo settle/process payment
정산하다
builds onTo settle up accounts
한턱내다
similarTo treat someone
값을 치르다
synonymTo pay the price
Où l'utiliser
At a Restaurant
Customer: 저기요, 계산해 주세요.
Staff: 네, 총 2만 원입니다.
Splitting with Friends
Minji: 우리 돈 어떻게 계산할까?
Sumi: 그냥 엔빵(N-bbang)하자!
At a Grocery Store
Cashier: 봉투 필요하세요? 계산 도와드릴게요.
Customer: 네, 카드로 계산할게요.
Business Meeting
Manager: 예산을 다시 계산해 봐야겠어요.
Employee: 네, 내일까지 보고하겠습니다.
Dating
A: 오늘 즐거웠어. 내가 계산할게.
B: 아니야, 같이 계산하자.
Online Shopping
User: 왜 계산이 안 되지?
Support: 결제 수단을 다시 확인해 주세요.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Gye-san' as 'Guessing the Sum' (though it's more precise than guessing!).
Association visuelle
Imagine a person holding a smartphone (돈) over a calculator (계산) at a restaurant counter.
Rhyme
돈을 계산, 기분은 비상! (Calculate money, mood is soaring! - usually when you have enough!)
Story
You go to a cafe. You see the 'Don' (money) in your wallet. You use a 'Gyesan-gi' (calculator) to 'Gyesan' (calculate) if you can afford the cake. The cashier smiles and says 'Gyesan' is done!
In Other Languages
Similar to 'Hacer la cuenta' in Spanish or 'O-kanjo' in Japanese, where the focus is on the 'account' or 'calculation' of the meal.
Word Web
Défi
Next time you are at a shop, look for the sign '계산대' and mentally say '여기서 돈을 계산해요'.
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week after your first restaurant visit in Korea.
Prononciation
The 'n' sound carries over to the 'eu' sound.
The 'gye' is a quick 'gy' sound followed by 'e'.
Standard flat tone.
Spectre de formalité
제가 계산하겠습니다. (Offering to pay)
제가 계산할게요. (Offering to pay)
내가 계산할게. (Offering to pay)
내가 쏜다! (Offering to pay)
The word 'Don' (money) is pure Korean, while 'Gyesan' (calculation) comes from Middle Chinese roots. In ancient times, 'Gyesan' referred to the use of counting rods (Sanchup).
Le savais-tu ?
The 'San' (算) in Gyesan contains the radical for 'bamboo', because ancient counting tools were made of bamboo sticks.
Notes culturelles
The 'Bill Fight': It is common to see people arguing over who gets to pay. It's a sign of 'Jeong' (affection/bonding).
“서로 계산하겠다고 카드를 내미는 모습 (The sight of people pushing their cards forward to pay).”
N-bbang (엔빵): Derived from '1/N', this is the standard for splitting bills among younger Koreans to ensure fairness.
“우리 그냥 엔빵해서 계산하자. (Let's just split the bill equally.)”
Hoesik (Company Dinners): Usually, the highest-ranking person or the company card '계산's for everyone.
“부장님이 오늘 회식비를 계산하셨다. (The department head paid for today's company dinner.)”
Mobile Payments: Apps like KakaoPay and Toss have made '계산' a digital notification rather than a physical exchange.
“카톡으로 계산 링크 보낼게. (I'll send the payment link via KakaoTalk.)”
Amorces de conversation
어제 친구랑 저녁 먹을 때 누가 돈을 계산했어요?
한국의 '엔빵' 문화에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?
돈을 너무 계산하는 사람과 친구가 될 수 있나요?
최근에 가장 크게 돈을 계산한 적은 언제인가요?
Erreurs courantes
돈을 세다 (when you mean to pay)
돈을 계산하다
L1 Interference
돈을 지불하다 (in a casual cafe)
돈을 계산하다
L1 Interference
돈을 계산해 주다 (to a cashier)
계산해 주세요
L1 Interference
돈을 계산해요 (to mean 'I'm rich')
돈이 많아요
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Hacer la cuenta
Spanish uses 'pagar' more frequently for the act of paying than Korean uses '내다' in commercial settings.
Faire l'addition
French 'addition' is specifically for restaurants, while '계산' is used for all types of shops.
Die Rechnung begleichen
German separates the act of 'counting' (zählen) strictly from 'paying' (bezahlen).
お会計をする (O-kaikei o suru)
Japanese often adds the honorific 'O' to 'Kaikei', whereas Korean rarely says '오계산'.
حساب المال (Hisab al-mal)
In Arabic, 'Hisab' can also mean 'judgment' or 'reckoning' in a religious sense more frequently than in Korean.
结账 (Jiézhàng)
Chinese uses '买单' (mǎidān) colloquially, which literally means 'buy the list', a nuance not present in Korean.
Fazer a conta
Portuguese speakers might use 'fechar a conta' (close the account) specifically when leaving a bar.
Settle the bill / Tally up
English rarely uses the word 'calculate' when standing at a cash register.
Spotted in the Real World
“계산은 제가 합니다.”
When Saeroyi insists on paying for his team or settling a debt of honor.
“돈을 계산해 보니까...”
When the family is calculating their potential earnings from working for the Park family.
“머리 꼭대기 위에서 놀아도 돼요? ... 계산해 봐요.”
IU challenges the listener to 'calculate' or figure her out.
“빨리 계산해! 시간 없어!”
During a mission where they have to buy items within a budget.
“오늘도 맛있게 먹고 계산 완료!”
A caption for a photo of a meal, indicating they paid (not a sponsored post).
Facile à confondre
Both involve numbers and money.
Use '세다' for the physical action of counting 1, 2, 3. Use '계산하다' for the total price or paying.
Both start with 'Don'.
'벌다' is to earn/make money. '계산하다' is to count or spend it.
Questions fréquentes (12)
Yes! '수학 문제를 계산하다' means to solve/calculate a math problem.
usage contextsUse '계산하다' when YOU are doing the action. Use '계산되다' when the amount is being processed by a machine.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '각자 계산해 주세요' (Please calculate individually).
practical tips'계산' is the general act of tallying/paying. '결제' is the technical term for the transaction being approved.
comparisonsYes, it's better to say '식사 대접하겠습니다' (I will treat you to a meal).
cultural usageNo, for time we use '시간을 재다' (measure time) or '계획하다' (plan time).
usage contextsIt can mean someone is good at mental math OR someone is quick to see where their profit lies.
basic understandingIn Korea, the price on the menu almost always includes VAT, so the '계산' is straightforward.
practical tipsYes, '위험을 계산하다' is used in business and strategy.
usage contexts'계산' is the initial payment. '정산' is the final balancing of accounts (e.g., at the end of the month).
comparisons'계산이 틀렸어요' or '계산이 잘못됐어요'.
common mistakesYes, they are used interchangeably, but '계산대' is the native/Sino-Korean term.
basic understanding
