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The term “얼마” (eolma) means ‘how much’ in Korean.
The phrases “얼마예요?” (eolma-yeyo?) and “얼마입니까?” (eolma-imnikka?) both mean “How much is it?” in Korean, but they differ in formality and usage because of their endings. 예요 (yeyo) is a polite ending while 입니까 (imnikka) is a formal ending.
- 얼마예요? (eolma-yeyo?) is a casual way of asking ‘how much is it’ and is used in everyday conversations. It is appropriate for most casual and semi-formal situations.
- 얼마입니까? (eolma-imnikka?) is a formal way of asking ‘how much is it’ and is used in formal or official contexts, such as when speaking to someone of higher status, in business settings, or when giving a speech.
