시장
sijang[ɕʰid͡ʑa̠ŋ]
The Korean word for market is 시장 (sijang).
The word 시장 refers to a gathering for trading. When referring specifically to local, open-air or street markets as opposed to modern supermarkets, the term 전통 시장 (traditional market) is commonly used.
Meaning: gathering for trading (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word 시장 is a homonym. Depending on the context, it can also mean 'mayor'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'at the market' or 'in the market', you add the particle '-에서' to the noun 시장.
How do you pronounce it?
sijang
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, the 전통 시장 is often a social hub where vendors offer 덤, which are small free extras given to loyal customers.
- The 'mayor' meaning of 시장 comes from the Chinese characters for 'town' and 'head'.
- The word 시장 also appears in the term 시장 경제, meaning 'market economy', showing its use in formal academic and financial contexts.
Examples in context
- 시장은 월요일마다 열립니다.The market is held every Monday.The sentence is useful for expressing when the 시장 is held.Tatoeba #13864722 by exqt, translation #246123 by sundown
- 시장에 들어갑니다.I go into the market.The sentence is useful for expressing the action of going into the 시장.Tatoeba #8648054 by crescat, translation #8850233 by alpucca
- 저는 시장에서 신선한 과일을 삽니다.I buy fresh fruits at the market.
- 이 도시에는 옛날부터 유명한 장터가 있습니다.This city has a famous market since old times.
- 오늘 시장에서 맛있는 음식을 먹었어.I ate delicious food at the market today.
- 전통 시장은 물건이 아주 저렴해요.jeontong sijangeun mulgeoni aju jeoryeomhaeyo.Traditional markets have very cheap goods.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Minjun are deciding where to go for groceries.
- 서연 Seo-yeon우리 오늘 시장에 갈까요?uri oneul sijang-e galkkayo?Shall we go to the market today?
- 민준 Min-jun좋아요. 무엇을 사고 싶어요?joayo. mueos-eul sago sipeoyo?Sure. What do you want to buy?
- 서연 Seo-yeon시장에서 채소를 좀 사려고 해요.sijang-eseon chaeso-reul jom saryeogo haeyo.I want to buy some vegetables at the market.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 지금 바로 출발해요.geureom jigeum baro chulbalhaeyo.Then let's leave right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 시장, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 시장, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
