Korean · Real conversations
Cafés: Korean conversation practice
Order a drink and clarify a small detail. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A customer ordering at a café.
Goal: Order a drink and clarify a small detail.
Read the conversation
Partner
커피에 무엇을 넣어 드릴까요?keopie mueoseul neoeo deurilkkayo?
Show English translation
What would you like in your coffee?
You
설탕 빼고 주실 수 있어요?seoltang ppaego jusil su isseoyo?
Show English translation
Could I have it without sugar?
Partner
드시고 가세요, 아니면 포장이세요?deusigo gaseyo, animyeon pojangiseyo?
Show English translation
Is this for here or to take away?
You
포장해 주세요.pojanghae juseyo.
Show English translation
To take away, please.
Partner
네. 일반 커피로 드릴까요?ne. ilban keopiro deurilkkayo?
Show English translation
Certainly. Would you like regular coffee?
You
디카페인으로 해 주실 수 있어요?dikapeineuro hae jusil su isseoyo?
Show English translation
Could you make it decaf?
Partner
네, 가능해요. 더 마실 것은 없으세요?ne, ganeunghaeyo. deo masil geoseun eopseuseyo?
Show English translation
Yes, we can do that. Anything else to drink?
You
수돗물을 받을 수 있을까요?sudonmureul badeul su isseulkkayo?
Show English translation
Can I have tap water?
Partner
여기 물이요. 총금액은 여기에 나와 있어요.yeogi muriyo. chonggeumaegeun yeogie nawa isseoyo.
Show English translation
Here's your water. The total is shown here.
You
서비스 요금이 포함되어 있어요?seobiseu yogeumi pohamdoeeo isseoyo?
Show English translation
Is service included?
Try your part first
Partner says: What would you like in your coffee? Your goal: Could I have it without sugar?
Reveal a sample reply
설탕 빼고 주실 수 있어요?seoltang ppaego jusil su isseoyo?
Could I have it without sugar?
Partner says: Is this for here or to take away? Your goal: To take away, please.
Reveal a sample reply
포장해 주세요.pojanghae juseyo.
To take away, please.
Partner says: Certainly. Would you like regular coffee? Your goal: Could you make it decaf?
Reveal a sample reply
디카페인으로 해 주실 수 있어요?dikapeineuro hae jusil su isseoyo?
Could you make it decaf?
Partner says: Yes, we can do that. Anything else to drink? Your goal: Can I have tap water?
Reveal a sample reply
수돗물을 받을 수 있을까요?sudonmureul badeul su isseulkkayo?
Can I have tap water?
Partner says: Here's your water. The total is shown here. Your goal: Is service included?
Reveal a sample reply
서비스 요금이 포함되어 있어요?seobiseu yogeumi pohamdoeeo isseoyo?
Is service included?
Make it your own
- Change the drink.
- Ask for a different ingredient to be left out.
- Stay at the café instead of taking the order away.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Korean
Most examples use polite 해요-style endings. A more formal ending may appear when addressing staff or making a careful request. Do not switch to casual speech with a stranger simply because the English translation sounds friendly.
Hangul is the main text; romanization helps you read along. Korean often leaves a clear subject unstated. Particles and endings carry information that English may express with separate words.
