Korean Dictionary
How to say "Traditional market" in Korean
“Traditional market” in Korean is 시장 (pronounced "Sijang").
시장
Sijang
Usage & Context
Traditional Korean markets offering fresh produce, street food, clothing, and household goods. Famous markets include 광장시장 (Gwangjang), 남대문시장 (Namdaemun), and 노량진 수산시장 (Noryangjin fish market). Prices are often negotiable and the atmosphere is vibrant and authentic.
Example Sentence
시장에서 사면 마트보다 더 싸고 신선해요.
Buying at the market is cheaper and fresher than at the supermarket.
How to use 시장 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Traditional market” is 시장, romanized as Sijang.
Usage tip
Shopping Korean usually sounds more natural when you use short polite questions instead of translating English directly.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 시장.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 'Si', sounds like 'see'. The second syllable, 'jang', sounds like 'jang' in 'jangly' or 'bang'. Emphasize the 'jang' slightly. So, see-jang.
More Example Sentences
Recommending specific street food at a famous market.
광장시장에 가면 맛있는 빈대떡이랑 마약김밥을 꼭 먹어봐야 해요.
If you go to Gwangjang Market, you must try the delicious Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and Mayak Gimbap (addictive mini gimbap).
Talking about a family outing to a traditional market for daily necessities.
주말에 엄마랑 같이 남대문 시장에 장 보러 갈 거예요.
This weekend, I'm going to Namdaemun Market with my mom to shop for groceries.
Discussing the unique experience of negotiating prices.
시장에서 흥정하는 재미가 쏠쏠해요.
Bargaining at the market is quite fun.
Cultural Context
Traditional Korean markets like Gwangjang Market or Namdaemun Market are vibrant cultural hubs, offering a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells. Unlike modern supermarkets, you can often haggle for prices, especially for clothing or household goods. They are also famous for their street food (길거리 음식, gilgeori eumsik), providing an authentic taste of Korean cuisine that's often featured in K-dramas and travel shows.
Editorial note
We review entries like 시장 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
시장에 가다
to go to the market
시장 구경
market sightseeing/browsing
전통 시장
traditional market
Related Expressions
마트
mateu
supermarket
상점
sangjeom
store, shop
노점상
nojeomsang
street vendor
재래시장
jaerae sijang
traditional market (more formal term)
More Shopping Words
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