Meaning and Usage
The word '점원' refers to a shop assistant or sales clerk, someone who works in a store helping customers. It is a common noun used in everyday shopping contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '점원' when asking for help in stores, such as locating items, asking about prices, or during checkout.
Politeness and Register
'점원' is a neutral term and can be used in both formal and informal situations. When speaking to the shop assistant, polite language is usually used, but the word itself does not carry formality.
Common Collocations
- 점원에게 물어보다: to ask the shop assistant
- 친절한 점원: a kind shop assistant
- 점원이 도와주다: the shop assistant helps
Learner Tips
A common mistake is confusing '점원' with '사원' (employee) or '직원' (staff member). '점원' specifically refers to someone working in a retail store, so use it when talking about sales assistants or clerks in shops.