Negotiation Korean: 견적, 납기, 조건, 조율
The reader can understand Korean negotiation emails and messages around quotations, unit price, delivery deadlines, conditions, adjustment, review, discounts, orders, and polite business pushback.
Core examples: 견적; 납기; 조건; 조율; 단가; 발주; 협의; 검토; 할인.
The problem this article solves
A supplier email says:
요청하신 사양 기준으로 견적서를 전달드립니다. 다만 현재 재고 상황상 기존 납기 조건으로는 진행이 어려워 일정 조율이 필요합니다.
Nothing here is rude. But the seller is pushing back: the quote is ready, the delivery condition cannot be met, and the schedule must be renegotiated.
The key principle is:
Negotiation Korean often moves hard constraints through soft words.
Core vocabulary and system
견적
견적
means quotation/estimate.
Related:
견적서
견적 요청
견적 금액
최종 견적
견적 is not a contract by itself; it is a price/condition proposal.
단가
단가
means unit price.
단가 조정
단가 인하
단가표
In procurement and sales, 단가 may matter more than total price.
납기
납기
means delivery deadline or committed delivery timing.
납기 단축
납기 지연
납기 준수
납기 is a commitment word.
조건
조건
means condition/terms.
It may refer to price, delivery, payment, quantity, warranty, specifications, or contract terms.
조율
조율
means coordination/adjustment.
It is a polite negotiation word when parties must reconcile schedule, price, or scope.
협의
협의
means consultation/negotiation/discussion toward agreement.
별도 협의
추후 협의
협의 후 결정
This often means not decided yet.
검토
검토
means review/examination.
내부 검토 후 회신드리겠습니다.
검토 can be genuine review or polite delay.
할인
할인
means discount.
Related:
할인율
추가 할인
대량 구매 할인
Discount language requires conditions.
발주
발주
means placing an order. A negotiation often moves from 견적 to 발주 only after terms are accepted.
Genre and function table
| Negotiation item | Korean signal | Reader question |
|---|---|---|
| quote | 견적, 견적서 | price proposal? |
| unit price | 단가 | per-unit basis? |
| order | 발주 | order placed or pending? |
| delivery | 납기 | deadline or lead time? |
| conditions | 조건 | price/payment/scope? |
| coordination | 조율 | unresolved constraint? |
| consultation | 협의 | not final yet? |
| review | 검토 | decision pending? |
| discount | 할인 | condition and scope? |
Worked example
현재 단가로는 추가 할인 적용이 어렵습니다. 발주 수량이 1,000개 이상일 경우 조건 재검토가 가능합니다.
Breakdown:
현재 단가 current unit price
추가 할인 적용이 어렵습니다 additional discount is difficult
발주 수량 1,000개 이상 order quantity of 1,000 or more
조건 재검토 가능 conditions can be reviewed again
Plain reading:
Additional discount is difficult at the current unit price. If the order quantity is 1,000 or more, the conditions can be reviewed again.
This is a polite refusal plus conditional reopening.
Common learner traps
- 검토하겠습니다 may mean delay, refusal, or real review depending context.
- 어렵습니다 often functions as polite refusal.
- 협의 필요 means not agreed yet.
- 조건 can hide multiple commercial terms.
- 납기 is a commitment, not vague delivery hope.
Example bank walkthrough
견적
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
납기
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
조건
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
조율
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
단가
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
발주
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
협의
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
검토
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
할인
Learner action: identify its domain function before translating it literally.
Reusable reading workflow
- Identify offer or request.
- Extract price and 단가.
- Extract 납기 and quantity.
- List 조건.
- Mark soft refusal phrases: 어렵습니다, 검토 필요, 협의 필요.
- Find concession: 할인, 조정, 대체안.
- Identify what must be confirmed next.
- Respond with clear acceptance, counterproposal, or request for clarification.
Negotiation-force ladder
Business negotiation Korean often softens firm positions.
| Phrase | Likely force | Reader action |
|---|---|---|
| 가능할지 검토하겠습니다 | will review feasibility | not a promise |
| 조율이 필요합니다 | coordination needed | unresolved condition |
| 협의가 필요합니다 | needs discussion | not agreed |
| 어려울 것 같습니다 | likely difficult | polite refusal or obstacle |
| 진행이 어렵습니다 | difficult to proceed | refusal/constraint |
| 조건 변경 시 가능 | possible if conditions change | conditional concession |
| 최종 확인 부탁드립니다 | please final-confirm | ready for commitment |
| 확정 후 발주 가능 | order possible after confirmation | final step pending |
The word 어렵다 often carries the real refusal.
Commercial term distinction table
| Term | Function | Reader question |
|---|---|---|
| 견적 | quote/estimate | binding or preliminary? |
| 단가 | unit price | per item/unit basis? |
| 총액 | total amount | tax/shipping included? |
| 납기 | delivery deadline | committed date? |
| 조건 | terms | price/payment/delivery/scope? |
| 발주 | purchase order | has order been placed? |
| 협의 | negotiation/discussion | what remains open? |
| 할인 | discount | conditional? limited? |
| 대체안 | alternative proposal | acceptable substitute? |
Negotiation is about price, time, scope, and risk at once.
Reply-planning checklist
Before replying to a negotiation email, extract: requested change, current offer, constraint, proposed alternative, decision needed, deadline, and whether the other party is refusing, delaying, or inviting a counterproposal.
A strong tool for this article would include:
- Negotiation phrase force meter..
- Quote/condition extractor..
- Soft refusal detector..
- Counterproposal builder..
- Price-deadline-condition table..
- Plain-language email summary..
Final rule
Negotiation Korean: 견적, 납기, 조건, 조율 is not just a vocabulary topic. It is a real-source reading problem. Read the genre, actor, status, and consequence before choosing a translation.
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