How to Split the Bill in Korean: 따로 계산해 주세요
따로 계산해 주세요
- Literally
- Please calculate separately
- Means
- Please split the bill so we can pay separately.
- Use it
- Polite and common when dining with friends at restaurants or cafes. Say it at the counter before paying, but avoid splitting during peak rush hours at crowded traditional eateries.
Survival KoreanThis week's phrases
A quick conversation
Standing at the Checkout Counter in Seongsu
Picture this common scenario in Seoul. You and a friend have just finished a delicious bowl of warm kalguksu at a bustling eatery in Seongsu-dong. You grab the small plastic clipboard holding your table's order slip and walk up to the front counter to pay. In many Western countries, a server might split the check directly at your table. In South Korea, however, payment almost always happens at the front register, where speed and efficiency reign supreme.
Both of you pull out your credit cards. You catch the eye of the cashier and say the magic survival phrase:
Customer: 저희 두 명인데 따로 결제해도 될까요? jeo-hui du myeong-in-de tta-ro gyeol-je-hae-do doel-kka-yo? "There are two of us; can we pay separately?"
Cashier: 네, 각자 얼마씩 결제해 드릴까요? ne, gak-ja eol-ma-ssik gyeol-je-hae deu-ril-kka-yo? "Sure, how much should I charge for each of you?"
Customer: 각자 만 오천 원씩 따로 계산해 주세요. gak-ja man o-cheon won-ssik tta-ro gye-san-hae ju-se-yo. "Please charge fifteen thousand won separately for each person."
Cashier: 네, 첫 번째 카드 먼저 단말기에 대 주세요. ne, cheot beon-jjae ka-deu meon-jeo dan-mal-gi-e dae ju-se-yo. "Yes, please tap your first card on the terminal first."
Notice how effortlessly the exchange flows once you state your intention right away. The customer begins with jeo-hui du myeong-in-de ("there are two of us"), giving the cashier immediate context. Asking ttaro gyeoljehaedo doelkkayo? checks whether splitting is convenient before handing over the plastic. When specifying the amount, man o-cheon won-ssik ("fifteen thousand won each") pairs directly with our core request: ttaro gyesanhae juseyo. The cashier confirms with standard honorific customer service phrasing, asking you to tap your card on the payment pad (danmalgi).
Breaking Down the Phrase Word by Word
To feel confident using this expression in the wild, let us unpack the linguistic pieces that make it tick:
- 따로 (tta-ro): An adverb meaning "separately," "apart," or "independently." Koreans use this versatile word whenever items or actions should be kept distinct, whether ordering sauce on the side or dividing a payment.
- 계산 (gye-san): A Sino-Korean noun that literally means "calculation" or "reckoning." In commercial contexts, it refers to calculating the bill or settling up. You will frequently spot the word gyesandae (계산대) written above the cashier counter.
- 해 주세요 (hae ju-se-yo): The polite imperative form of hada (to do) combined with juda (to give). It translates to "please do [something] for me."
When you put these components together, you get 따로 계산해 주세요 (tta-ro gye-san-hae ju-se-yo): "Please calculate [the bill] separately." The tone strikes the sweet spot of everyday Korean politeness—respectful enough for any hospitality staff without sounding stiff or overly formal.
How Splitting the Bill Works in Modern Seoul
Koreans say this ALL the time, especially among college students, coworkers grabbing casual lunches, and friends meeting up for coffee. You might have heard the Konglish slang term "Dutch pay" (더치페이) or the informal slang N-ppang (N빵), which refers to dividing an expense by N people.
While the culture traditionally celebrated one person generously footing the entire bill—a practice still common when dining with seniors or celebrating milestones—modern urban dining culture completely embraces individual settlement. Modern Korean Point of Sale (POS) software actually features built-in split-payment buttons that allow cashiers to divide a total evenly across two or more cards or ring up specific dishes on separate transactions.
The key nuance is timing. Always announce that you want to split before the cashier swipes or taps the first card. If you hand over a card silently, the cashier will assume you are paying the full amount, ring it up in one second, and print the receipt. Having to cancel an approved transaction and start over creates unnecessary friction.
Helpful Variations for Different Payment Situations
Depending on the setup of the shop or how you plan to divide the total, here are three natural variations you can use:
-
반반 나눠서 계산해 주세요. ban-ban na-nwo-seo gye-san-hae ju-se-yo. "Please split the bill in half." Use this when you shared dishes like pizza or fried chicken and simply want to divide the total cost 50/50 without itemizing.
-
제 몫만 따로 먼저 계산할게요. je mong-man tta-ro meon-jeo gye-san-hal-ge-yo. "I will pay for just my share separately first." Perfect when someone in your group needs to leave early and wants to settle their portion before heading out.
-
세 명이서 똑같이 나눠서 결제해 주세요. se myeong-i-seo ttok-ga-ti na-nwo-seo gyeol-je-hae ju-se-yo. "Please split the payment equally among the three of us." A great go-to when dining in a trio and paying equal shares.
Key Etiquette Tips to Keep in Mind
While splitting cards is standard across modern cafes, chain restaurants, and bakeries, exercise social awareness during peak lunch hours. If you visit a tiny family-run soup joint (gukbap-jip) with a single elderly owner handling both cooking and the register during the 12:30 PM rush, having five people line up to tap five separate cards can hold up a packed room. In those moments, having one friend tap their card while everyone transfers their share via a mobile banking app is the smoothest route.
When ordering at digital self-service kiosks, check the payment screen for a split option. If none exists, place separate individual orders from the start.
Mastering tta-ro gye-san-hae ju-se-yo will make your dining adventures across Seoul smooth, polite, and completely stress-free.
Written by Harin, an AI-generated virtual character. Reviewed by the site owner.
Examples you can hear
따로 계산해 주세요 vs. similar expressions
| Expression | How it differs |
|---|---|
| 따로 계산해 주세요 | Please split the bill so we can pay separately. |
| 각자 계산할게요 | Focuses on our intent to pay individually rather than requesting assistance. |
| 따로따로 계산해 주세요 | Doubles 따로 for extra emphasis when splitting multiple individual items. |
Quick quiz
What does '따로 계산해 주세요' mean at a Seoul restaurant counter?
- Please split the bill so we pay separately
- Please pack the leftover food to go
- Please bring the printed receipt to our table
Show the answer
A. Please split the bill so we pay separately — Polite and common when dining with friends at restaurants or cafes. Say it at the counter before paying, but avoid splitting during peak rush hours at crowded traditional eateries.
Sources
Keep learning
덜 맵게 해 주세요Please make it less spicy.
영수증 버려 주세요
Please throw away the receipt
여기서 내려 주세요
Please drop me off right here.