Key Facts
- Korean: 포장, Revised Romanization pojang
- Part of speech: noun; verb form 포장하다
- Origin: Sino-Korean, 包裝 (包 wrap + 裝 pack)
- Register: neutral; in restaurants it means takeout
- Senses: takeout; packaging, wrapping
Takeout in Korean: What Does 포장 Mean?
포장 has two senses. In food service, it means takeout. Everywhere else it means packaging or wrapping, such as a gift or a parcel.
How Do You Pronounce 포장?
포장 has two syllables, [po-jang]. The ㅍ is aspirated, with a clear puff of air, and the final ㅇ is "ng".
Example Sentences with 포장
포장해 주세요.
Pojanghae juseyo.
Please pack it to go.
The standard request at a counter. 포장해 comes from 포장하다, and 주세요 makes it a polite request.
포장이 가능해요?
Pojangi ganeunghaeyo?
Is takeout possible?
가능해요 means "is possible". Ask this before ordering if you are unsure the restaurant packs food.
선물을 예쁘게 포장해요.
Seonmureul yeppeuge pojanghaeyo.
I wrap the gift nicely.
The wrapping sense. 예쁘게 means "nicely" or "prettily".
Phrases with 포장
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 포장하다 | to pack / take out |
| 포장 주문 | takeout order |
| 포장지 | wrapping paper |
| 포장 용기 | takeout container |
포장 주문 appears in delivery apps as the pick-up option. 포장지 and 포장 용기 show the packaging sense.
A Common Mistake with 포장
- Wrong: assuming 포장 always means food to go.
- Correct: 포장 also means wrapping, as in 선물을 예쁘게 포장해요.
If a shop assistant asks about 포장 while you buy a present, they are offering gift wrapping.
포장 Compared with 배달 and 테이크아웃
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 포장 | takeout | You take it away yourself |
| 배달 | delivery | Brought to you |
| 테이크아웃 | takeout | Loanword, mostly for cafe drinks |
At a restaurant counter, 포장 is the natural choice.
At a Restaurant Counter: Eating in or Taking Out
A customer has chosen the food. Before finishing the order, the cashier checks where the customer will eat it.
Cashier
드시고 가세요, 포장해 드릴까요?
Deusigo gaseyo, pojanghae deurilkkayo?
Will you eat here, or shall I pack it to go?
Customer
포장해 주세요.
Pojanghae juseyo.
Please pack it to go.
Cashier
수저도 필요하세요?
Sujeodo piryohaseyo?
Do you need utensils too?
Customer
네, 한 벌 주세요.
Ne, han beol juseyo.
Yes, one set, please.
드시고 가세요 refers to eating before leaving. 포장해 드릴까요 offers to pack the order for the customer; 드릴까요 is a courteous way for staff to offer a service. The reply 포장해 주세요 selects takeout without repeating the name of the food.
수저 means a spoon and chopsticks together, and 도 adds “too”. 한 벌 counts one set here. The exchange settles packaging and utensils, but it does not change the food order. If several people will share the meal, the number of utensil sets may differ from the number of dishes.
Reading Takeout Labels and Counter Questions
포장 가능 means takeout is available. 가능 describes whether the service is possible; it does not say it is free or that every menu item can be packed. At a counter you can use the existing question 포장이 가능해요 to ask about the dish you want.
포장 주문 is an order for pickup. An app may put it beside 배달, delivery. Choosing between the two changes who collects the food. The word 포장 describes how the order leaves the restaurant; a separate time or collection notice tells you when it is ready.
매장 means the shop or premises. In a food-ordering question it can point to eating on site, especially when paired with 포장. Listen for the choice being offered rather than treating every mention of 매장 as a new restaurant name.
Packaging Phrases beyond the Food Counter
선물 포장 means gift wrapping. The first noun identifies what the wrapping is for. 포장지 is wrapping paper, while 포장 용기 is a packaging container. Both belong to the broad packing meaning, but paper and a food container are different objects.
개별 포장 means individual wrapping. On a box of snacks, it says the contents are wrapped separately. It does not mean the whole box contains only one snack. The description is useful when you want to share items without opening every piece at once.
과대 포장 means excessive packaging. You may see it in discussion of products with more packaging than their contents seem to need. Here 포장 describes the material around the product, not a restaurant service. The added word 과대 gives the phrase its critical meaning.
Words That Help You Finish the Order
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 봉투 | bag | The bag for carrying the packed items. |
| 수저 | spoon and chopsticks | A utensil set, rather than the food itself. |
| 용기 | container | Holds food or another product. |
| 영수증 | receipt | The purchase record you may receive at payment. |
The restaurant vocabulary lesson teaches words for the full ordering scene. Keep the packaging request separate from requests for bags, utensils or a receipt: saying 포장 tells staff to pack the order, but does not specify every extra you need.
Quick Self-Test
- You collect the order yourself. Which option fits: 포장 or 배달?
- Does 개별 포장 mean there is only one item in the box?
- At a gift shop, what does 선물 포장 refer to?
Show answers
- 포장 is the pickup option; 배달 is delivery.
- No. It means the items are individually wrapped.
- Gift wrapping.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Say "to Go" in Korean?
Say 포장해 주세요, "please pack it to go". Staff may ask whether you will eat in or take out, and 포장 is the answer for takeout. The phrase works at restaurants, bakeries and fast-food counters. To check first whether takeout is offered, ask 포장이 가능해요?
Does 포장 Only Mean Takeout?
No. 포장 means packing or wrapping in general. At a restaurant it means takeout, but at a gift shop 포장해 주세요 means "please gift-wrap it". Wrapping paper is 포장지. The setting tells you which meaning is intended.
What Is the Difference between 포장 and 배달?
With 포장 you go to the restaurant and carry the food away yourself. With 배달 the food is brought to your door, usually by a rider. Say 포장 at the counter and use 배달 when ordering through an app or by phone.
Do Koreans Say 테이크아웃?
Yes, mainly at cafes. 테이크아웃 is a loanword used for drinks to go, and you will see it on coffee shop signs and cups. For food at restaurants, 포장 is more common and sounds more natural, so it is the safer word to learn first.
Related Words and Next Steps
- See the restaurant words list for more ordering phrases.
- Find more single words like takeout in the Korean words A to Z index.
- Review takeout (포장) with the vocabulary flashcard decks.