Suh ChangWhoon
Written by 서 창훈, a certified Korean teacher with 14+ years of experience in Japan. He previously worked as a government officer, cybersecurity consultant, and English interpreter. Today, he teaches Korean in real classrooms without complex grammar explanations — instead, he trains students’ brains to speak naturally. His unique method is now the foundation of all his Korean courses.
Table of Contents
장을 보다 Meaning in English
The Korean expression 장을 보다 translates to “grocery shopping” in English. Literally, it combines 장 (market or grocery) and 보다 (to see, look, or do), forming a phrase that means “to do the groceries” or “to go grocery shopping.”
This phrase is commonly used in everyday life and applies to the act of shopping for food and household items, usually in traditional markets, supermarkets, or convenience stores. Whether you’re planning a Korean BBQ feast or just grabbing some essentials, 장을 보다 is an essential verb for Korean daily life!
장을 보다 Nuances and Usage
The phrase 장을 보다 meaning in English emphasizes a routine activity, often implying preparation for meals or household needs. It’s versatile and can be used in various contexts, such as discussing chores, meal planning, or simply a casual conversation about one’s day.
In modern usage, while traditional markets still hold a special place in Korean culture, 장을 보다 is just as applicable when referring to shopping at supermarkets like E-Mart or Costco.
Additionally, the verb 보다 is conjugated based on tense and politeness levels, making it adaptable for different situations:
- 장을 봅니다 (formal)
- 장을 봐요 (polite)
- 장을 봐 (casual)
장을 보다 Example 1
Original Korean Sentence
주말마다 가족과 함께 장을 보러 가요.
Pronunciation Guide
주말마다 (ju-mal-ma-da) 가족꽈 (ga-jok-ggwa) 함께 (ham-gge) 장을 (jang-eul) 보러 (bo-reo) 가요 (ga-yo).
Meaning and Context
주말 (weekend) 마다 (every) 가족 (family) 과 (with; used with words ending in consonants) 함께 (together) 장을 보러 가요 (go grocery shopping): 장 (market/groceries) + 을 (object particle) + 보 (to see/shop) + * 러 가 (to go in order to) 아요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 가 + 아 = 가. Rapidly pronouncing ‘가’ and ‘아’ results in ‘가’.
Grammar
* 러 가다: Expresses the purpose of going
English Translation
Every weekend, I go grocery shopping with my family.
Literal Translation
Every weekend, with family, (I) go to see market.
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장을 보다 Example 2
Original Korean Sentence
파티 준비 때문에 아침 일찍 장을 보러 갔어요.
Pronunciation Guide
파-티 (pa-ti) 준-비 (jun-bi) 때-문-에 (ttae-mun-e) 아-침 (a-chim) 일-찍 (il-jjik) 장-을 (jang-eul) 보-러 (bo-reo) 갓-써-요 (gat-sseo-yo).
Meaning and Context
파티 (party) 준비 (preparation) * 때문에 (because of) 아침 일찍 (early in the morning): 아침 (morning) + 일찍 (early) 장을 보러 갔어요 (went grocery shopping): 장 (market/groceries) + 을 (object particle) + 보다 (to see/shop) + * 러 가다 (to go in order to) + 았 (past tense) 어요 (I’m telling you polite and friendly).
Pronunciation Patterns for Conjugations
⊳ 가 + 았 = 갔. Rapidly pronouncing ‘가’ and ‘았’ results in ‘갔’.
Grammar
* 때문에: Indicates reason
* 러 가다: Purpose of going
Culture
In Korea, grocery shopping early in the morning is common when preparing for special events to get the freshest ingredients.
English Translation
Because of the party preparation, I went grocery shopping early in the morning.
Literal Translation
Because of party preparation, early morning, (I) went to see market.
장을 보다 Example 3
Original Korean Sentence
오늘 저녁 먹을 재료를 사려고 장을 봤어.
Pronunciation Guide
오늘 (o-neul) 저녁 (jeo-nyeok) 머글 (meo-geul) 재료를 (jae-ryo-reul) 사려고 (sa-ryeo-go) 장을 (jang-eul) 봣써 (bwat-sseo).
Meaning and Context
오늘 (today) 저녁 (dinner) 먹다 (to eat) 을 (that I will) 재료 (ingredients) 사려고 (to buy): 사다 (to buy) + 려고 (in order to) 장을 봤어 (went grocery shopping): 장 (market/groceries) + 보다 (to see, but also used for shopping) + 았 (past tense) 어 (I’m telling you casually).
English Translation
I went grocery shopping to buy ingredients for tonight’s dinner.
Literal Translation
In order to buy dinner ingredients that I will eat, (I) saw market.
Conclusion
Understanding 장을 보다 meaning in English is a great way to expand your vocabulary and connect with everyday Korean culture. Whether you’re living in Korea or simply enjoying K-dramas and Korean food, mastering phrases like this makes your Korean journey more relatable and fun.
Learning Korean through practical examples like 장을 보다 is helpful, but imagine understanding these phrases naturally through stories! Check out my Story Courses to make learning Korean engaging, easy, and unforgettable.
What do you usually buy when you 장을 보다? Share your grocery shopping stories in the comments below! 😊
