Korean word

셀프

Pronunciation

Romanizationselpeu

Meaning

  • nounself-service

Example

주유소는 셀프라서 직원에게 부탁하지 않아도 돼요.chu yu so neun sel peu ra seo chi gwo ne ge pu ta ka ji a na do twae yo

The gas station is self-service, so you don't have to ask an employee.

Illustration for 셀프 (self-service)

More examples

가게에서는 셀프 계산대가 더 빨라요.ka ge e seo neun sel peu kye san dae ga teo ppal la yo

At the store, the self-service checkout is faster.

Core concept

A customer completes the service by operating the equipment directly instead of having staff do it.

Common phrases

  • 셀프 주유소sel peu chu yu so

    self-service gas station

  • 셀프 계산대sel peu kye san dae

    self-service checkout

  • 셀프 서비스sel peu seo bi seu

    self-service

Similar words

셀프서비스selpeuseobiseu: A service that customers handle from start to finish without employee help.
무인muin: A facility operated without staff being present on site.
셀프계산대selpeugyesandae: A checkout station where shoppers scan items and pay themselves.
무인결제muingyeolje: A payment process completed by customers through a terminal or app without a cashier.

Definition in Korean

직원이 없이 고객 자신이 기계나 설비를 직접 사용해 처리하는 방식이나 그 상태를 이르는 말.chi gwo ni eop ssi ko gaek cha si ni ki gye na seol bi reul chik jjeop sa yong hae cheo ri ha neun pang si gi na keu sang tae reul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The term comes from English self-service and is a shortened everyday form of the longer Korean expression for that concept.

Usage tips

  • In Korean, this word often labels a customer-operated option or place, so it can describe a service setup rather than a person's character.

Opposites

  • 풀서비스pulseobiseufull servicenoun
  • 대면 서비스taemyeon seobiseuin-person servicenoun

Related words

  • 셀프서비스selpeuseobiseuself-servicenoun
  • 셀프케어selpeukeeoself-carenoun

Word lists with this word