Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this essential phrase to ask for your food to be packed for takeout or to wrap up leftovers.
- Means: 'Please wrap/package this for me' (Takeout).
- Used in: Restaurants, cafes, and street food stalls.
- Don't confuse: With '배달' (baedal), which specifically means home delivery.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
Requesting food to be packaged to be taken away.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
Asking for leftovers to be packed is highly common and seen as practical. Restaurants will often provide high-quality plastic containers even for small amounts of food. Due to environmental regulations, cafes cannot give plastic cups to customers dining in. If you say '포장해 주세요', they will give you a disposable cup, but you must leave the premises. When you 'pojang' a large order, it's common to receive a 'service' (free) drink or extra side dish as a thank you for the business. At street stalls (Pojangmacha), 'pojang' is the default. The food is often put in a plastic bag, which is then wrapped in newspaper to keep it warm.
The 'Leftover' Nuance
If you are asking for leftovers, add '좀' (jom - a little/please) to sound more natural: '포장 좀 해 주세요'.
Eco-Rules
If you say 'pojang' at a cafe, don't sit down at a table. It's against the law in Korea to use disposable cups while sitting inside.
The 'Leftover' Nuance
If you are asking for leftovers, add '좀' (jom - a little/please) to sound more natural: '포장 좀 해 주세요'.
Eco-Rules
If you say 'pojang' at a cafe, don't sit down at a table. It's against the law in Korea to use disposable cups while sitting inside.
Service Banchan
Don't be surprised if your takeout bag is heavier than expected; Koreans often pack side dishes for free with takeout orders.
खुद को परखो
Complete the sentence to ask for takeout politely.
비빔밥 하나 (______) 주세요.
'포장해 주세요' is the standard way to ask for takeout.
Match the situation to the correct phrase.
You have finished your meal but have half a pizza left. What do you say?
When asking for leftovers, you specify '남은 것' (remaining things).
Fill in the barista's question.
Barista: (______)? Customer: 포장해 주세요. 가져갈 거예요.
This is the standard 'For here or to go?' question in Korean.
Which phrase is used for gift wrapping?
백화점에서 선물을 샀습니다. 어떻게 말할까요?
'선물 포장' specifically means gift wrapping.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
When to use 'Pojang'
Food
- • Takeout
- • Leftovers
- • Street food
Shopping
- • Gift wrapping
- • Boxed sets
अभ्यास बैंक
5 अभ्यास비빔밥 하나 (______) 주세요.
'포장해 주세요' is the standard way to ask for takeout.
You have finished your meal but have half a pizza left. What do you say?
When asking for leftovers, you specify '남은 것' (remaining things).
Barista: (______)? Customer: 포장해 주세요. 가져갈 거예요.
This is the standard 'For here or to go?' question in Korean.
백화점에서 선물을 샀습니다. 어떻게 말할까요?
'선물 포장' specifically means gift wrapping.
🎉 स्कोर: /5
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालYes, it is perfectly polite. If you want to be extra formal, you can say '포장해 주시겠어요?' (Could you please pack it?).
Usually, '포장' for non-food items implies gift wrapping. If you just want a bag, say '봉투에 넣어 주세요' (Please put it in a bag).
'포장' is the native/Sino-Korean term used everywhere. '테이크아웃' is Konglish, mostly used in modern cafes and fast-food chains.
Usually no, but some small shops might charge 100-500 won for the container or bag.
You can say '봉투 하나 주세요' (Please give me one bag).
Yes! Koreans hate wasting food. Even a few pieces of kimbap can be packed.
It means 'Takeout Available'.
It's better to stick to '포장해 주세요' in formal settings. '싸 주세요' is better for street food or casual diners.
Say '일회용 수저 안 주셔도 돼요' (You don't need to give me disposable cutlery).
You can ask for a container: '용기 하나만 주시겠어요? 제가 담을게요.'
संबंधित मुहावरे
싸 주세요
synonymPlease wrap it up.
배달해 주세요
contrastPlease deliver it.
가져가다
builds onTo take/carry away.
선물 포장
specialized formGift wrapping.
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
At a Fried Chicken Shop
Customer: 양념치킨 한 마리 포장해 주세요.
Staff: 네, 20분 정도 걸립니다. 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Finishing a Meal
Customer: 저기요, 남은 것 좀 포장해 주실 수 있나요?
Server: 네, 그럼요. 금방 싸 드릴게요.
At a Trendy Cafe
Barista: 드시고 가세요, 아니면 포장이세요?
Customer: 포장해 주세요. 아이스 아메리카노 한 잔요.
Street Food Stall
Customer: 아줌마, 떡볶이 1인분만 포장해 줘요.
Vendor: 그래, 여기 있다. 조심히 가!
Bakery Gift
Customer: 이 케이크 선물용으로 포장해 주세요.
Staff: 네, 리본 예쁘게 묶어 드릴게요.
Phone Order
Customer: 여보세요, 족발 중 자 하나 포장 주문할게요.
Staff: 네, 성함이랑 연락처 알려주시겠어요?
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of a 'PO-tato' in a 'JANG' (jar). You want to pack it to go!
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a shiny silver foil swan (common for leftovers) being handed to you in a sturdy paper bag with a smiley face.
Rhyme
Pojang-hae, take it away!
Story
You are at a busy Korean market. You see delicious spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki). You want to eat them at your hotel while watching a drama. You point and say 'Pojang-hae juseyo!' The vendor smiles, wraps them in plastic, and hands you a bag. Success!
In Other Languages
In Japanese, 'O-mochikaeri' serves the same social function. In English, 'To go' is the closest equivalent, though 'Pojang' is more descriptive of the physical act of wrapping.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Next time you are at a cafe, even if you plan to stay, look at the takeout containers and whisper 'Pojang-hae juseyo' to yourself to build muscle memory.
Review on Day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the 'Juseyo' ending as it applies to hundreds of other verbs.
उच्चारण
The 'p' is aspirated (breath of air). The 'j' is soft, like 'j' in 'jar'.
The 'hae' sounds like 'hay' but shorter. 'Ju-se-yo' is smooth and melodic.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
포장해 주십시오. (General takeout request)
포장해 주세요. (General takeout request)
포장해 줘. (General takeout request)
포장 고고 (Pojang Go-Go) (General takeout request)
Derived from the Sino-Korean word 'Pojang' (包裝). {包} (po) means to wrap or cover, and {裝} (jang) means to pack, load, or adorn.
रोचक तथ्य
The word 'Pojangmacha' (street food tent) literally means 'packaged wagon' because of the orange tarps that 'wrap' the cart.
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
Asking for leftovers to be packed is highly common and seen as practical. Restaurants will often provide high-quality plastic containers even for small amounts of food.
“치킨 세 조각 남았는데 포장해 주세요. (There are three pieces of chicken left, please pack them.)”
Due to environmental regulations, cafes cannot give plastic cups to customers dining in. If you say '포장해 주세요', they will give you a disposable cup, but you must leave the premises.
“포장 주문하시면 매장 내에서 드실 수 없습니다. (If you order takeout, you cannot consume it inside the store.)”
When you 'pojang' a large order, it's common to receive a 'service' (free) drink or extra side dish as a thank you for the business.
“포장하니까 콜라 서비스로 드릴게요. (Since you're taking it to go, I'll give you a cola as a 'service'.)”
At street stalls (Pojangmacha), 'pojang' is the default. The food is often put in a plastic bag, which is then wrapped in newspaper to keep it warm.
“떡볶이 비닐봉지에 포장해 주세요. (Please pack the tteokbokki in a plastic bag.)”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
한국 식당에서 음식이 많이 남으면 어떻게 말해요?
카페에서 '드시고 가실 거예요?'라고 물어보면 뭐라고 대답해요?
सामान्य गलतियाँ
배달해 주세요 (when you are at the shop)
포장해 주세요
L1 Interference
포장해 주세요 (at a buffet)
(None - you shouldn't ask)
L1 Interference
포장해요
포장해 주세요
L1 Interference
테이크아웃 주세요
테이크아웃 해 주세요
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
To go / Takeout
Korean focuses on the act of wrapping, English on the act of leaving.
お持ち帰り (O-mochikaeri)
Japanese is slightly more focused on the destination (home).
打包 (Dǎbāo)
The Chinese term is more informal/colloquial than the Korean '포장'.
Para llevar
Spanish uses a verb infinitive (llevar) instead of a noun (packaging).
À emporter
French is more focused on the 'removal' of the item.
Zum Mitnehmen
German focuses on the 'with-ness' of the action.
سفري (Safari)
The conceptual root is 'travel' rather than 'wrapping'.
Para levar
Lacks the specific 'packaging' noun found in Korean.
Spotted in the Real World
“치킨 두 마리 포장해 주세요!”
Bok-joo ordering chicken from her father's shop to take to her friends.
“남은 거 포장해 갈게요.”
The protagonist, a food expert, ensuring no delicious food goes to waste.
“행복하자, 우리... (contextual use of home/comfort)”
While not the main lyric, the music video features scenes of 'pojang' food being brought home to family.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Both involve food leaving the restaurant.
Pojang = You carry it. Baedal = A driver carries it.
Learners might use the noun for the paper instead of the action.
Pojang-ji is the physical wrapping paper. Pojang is the act.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)
Yes, it is perfectly polite. If you want to be extra formal, you can say '포장해 주시겠어요?' (Could you please pack it?).
usage contextsUsually, '포장' for non-food items implies gift wrapping. If you just want a bag, say '봉투에 넣어 주세요' (Please put it in a bag).
practical tips'포장' is the native/Sino-Korean term used everywhere. '테이크아웃' is Konglish, mostly used in modern cafes and fast-food chains.
comparisonsUsually no, but some small shops might charge 100-500 won for the container or bag.
practical tipsYou can say '봉투 하나 주세요' (Please give me one bag).
basic understandingYes! Koreans hate wasting food. Even a few pieces of kimbap can be packed.
cultural usageIt means 'Takeout Available'.
basic understandingIt's better to stick to '포장해 주세요' in formal settings. '싸 주세요' is better for street food or casual diners.
grammar mechanicsSay '일회용 수저 안 주셔도 돼요' (You don't need to give me disposable cutlery).
practical tipsYou can ask for a container: '용기 하나만 주시겠어요? 제가 담을게요.'
usage contexts
