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A2 verb #3,000 most common 13 min read

장보다

jangboda
At the A1 level, learners are introduced to the verb 장보다 as a fundamental vocabulary word for daily survival and routine activities. The focus is on basic sentence structures, such as stating one's current action or immediate plans. Learners are taught to conjugate 장보다 in the simple present tense (장봐요) and past tense (장봤어요). The primary context is the supermarket (마트) or the traditional market (시장). At this stage, the vocabulary is kept simple, pairing 장보다 with basic time words like 오늘 (today), 내일 (tomorrow), and 주말 (weekend). Learners practice saying phrases like '저는 마트에서 장봐요' (I go grocery shopping at the mart) or '내일 장보러 가요' (I am going grocery shopping tomorrow). The distinction between 장보다 (for food) and 쇼핑하다 (for clothes) is heavily emphasized to prevent early fossilization of errors. Teachers often use visual aids of shopping carts and food items to reinforce the meaning. The goal at A1 is simply to recognize the word, pronounce it correctly, and use it to describe a very common daily chore. Role-playing basic interactions, such as asking a friend '어디 가요?' (Where are you going?) and responding '장보러 가요' (I am going grocery shopping), is a standard exercise. By mastering this word early on, A1 learners gain the ability to communicate about essential needs and daily schedules, forming a crucial building block for more complex conversations about food, cooking, and lifestyle in Korean.
At the A2 level, the usage of 장보다 expands significantly to include more detailed descriptions of the shopping experience. Learners begin to incorporate frequency adverbs, quantities, and specific reasons for shopping. They learn to say things like '일주일에 한 번 장봐요' (I go grocery shopping once a week) or '저녁을 만들려고 장봤어요' (I went grocery shopping to make dinner). The grammatical structures become more complex, integrating patterns like -(으)러 가다 (to go in order to) and -아/어야 하다 (must/have to). This allows learners to express obligation, such as '냉장고가 비어서 장봐야 해요' (The fridge is empty, so I have to go grocery shopping). Vocabulary related to specific food items (과일, 채소, 고기) and sections of the supermarket is introduced, enabling learners to specify what they are buying. Furthermore, A2 learners practice separating the compound verb to insert modifiers, learning the structure '장을 많이/조금 보다' (to buy a lot/a little groceries). Conversations at this level might involve planning a party or a meal, requiring learners to coordinate who will do the shopping. The cultural context of Korean supermarkets, such as the prevalence of tasting corners (시식 코너) and the use of reusable shopping bags (장바구니), is also introduced to provide a richer understanding of the word in its natural environment. Mastery at A2 means being able to navigate routine shopping scenarios with confidence.
At the B1 level, learners are expected to use 장보다 in more nuanced and varied contexts, moving beyond simple descriptions to discussing preferences, habits, and comparisons. They can articulate the pros and cons of different shopping methods, such as comparing traditional markets (전통시장) with large discount stores (대형마트) or online grocery shopping (온라인 장보기). Vocabulary related to prices, discounts (할인), freshness (신선도), and budgeting (예산) becomes integral to conversations about 장보다. Learners practice expressing opinions, for example, '시장에서 장보는 것이 마트보다 더 저렴해요' (Grocery shopping at the market is cheaper than at the mart). Grammatical structures involve conditionals and complex sentences, such as '시간이 없으면 보통 인터넷으로 장을 봐요' (If I don't have time, I usually buy groceries online). The ability to narrate a sequence of events related to shopping and cooking is developed. B1 learners also encounter idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms related to shopping. They might discuss the stress of rising food prices (물가 상승) and how it affects their grocery shopping habits. Role-plays involve more complex scenarios, such as returning an item, asking for specific cuts of meat, or inquiring about the origin of produce. At this intermediate stage, 장보다 is not just a vocabulary word, but a gateway to discussing lifestyle choices, economic realities, and cultural practices in modern Korea.
At the B2 level, the discussion surrounding 장보다 becomes highly analytical and culturally embedded. Learners can fluently discuss consumer behavior, trends in the retail industry, and the socio-economic impacts of different shopping habits. They explore topics such as the rise of dawn delivery services (새벽배송) like Market Kurly, the decline of traditional markets, and the environmental impact of packaging in grocery shopping. Vocabulary is advanced, including terms like 유기농 (organic), 친환경 (eco-friendly), 대량 구매 (bulk buying), and 소비 습관 (consumption habits). B2 learners can read and comprehend articles or watch news segments about inflation affecting the cost of 장보기. They can engage in debates about the convenience of online shopping versus the community aspect of local markets. Grammatical accuracy is expected when using complex modifiers and passive structures related to the retail supply chain. A typical B2 task might involve writing an essay on how the concept of 장보기 has evolved in Korean society over the last decade, or giving a presentation on sustainable grocery shopping practices. The focus is on expressing detailed opinions, supporting arguments with facts, and understanding the broader implications of this everyday activity. At this level, 장보다 serves as a thematic anchor for advanced discussions on modern Korean society and economy.
At the C1 level, learners possess a near-native command of the nuances surrounding 장보다. They can effortlessly navigate highly complex texts, academic papers, or in-depth news reports analyzing the macroeconomics of the grocery retail sector. Discussions involve intricate vocabulary related to supply chain logistics, agricultural policies, market monopolies, and consumer psychology. C1 learners can analyze how demographic changes, such as the increase in single-person households (1인 가구), have fundamentally altered the patterns of 장보기 in Korea, leading to the proliferation of meal kits (밀키트) and small-portion packaging. They can understand and use highly idiomatic or culturally specific references related to shopping, such as the seasonal massive grocery shopping required for Kimjang (김장 - the traditional process of making kimchi for the winter) or Chuseok (추석 - Korean Thanksgiving). The ability to detect subtle shifts in tone, register, and implication in media discussing food prices or retail trends is crucial. Learners at this stage might engage in sophisticated debates regarding government regulations on large hypermarkets designed to protect small local vendors. The verb 장보다 is utilized not just to describe an action, but as a lens through which to examine complex socio-cultural and economic phenomena in contemporary Korea, requiring a high level of linguistic precision and cultural fluency.
At the C2 level, the mastery of 장보다 and its related concepts is absolute, reflecting a deep, academic, and intuitive understanding of the Korean language and culture. Learners can produce highly sophisticated, nuanced discourse on the historical evolution of the Korean marketplace, tracing the etymology of 장 (market) from historical periodic markets (오일장) to modern digital platforms. They can critically evaluate literary or cinematic representations of 장보기, analyzing how the act is used as a narrative device to explore themes of family dynamics, poverty, or societal shifts. Vocabulary at this level includes highly specialized economic and sociological terminology. C2 learners can effortlessly switch registers, from discussing the macroeconomic impact of global supply chain disruptions on local grocery prices in a formal academic setting, to using regional dialects or historical slang related to market bartering in a creative writing context. They possess the ability to deconstruct the cultural semiotics of the Korean supermarket, understanding the implicit social contracts and behaviors expected within that space. At this pinnacle of proficiency, the word 장보다 is fully integrated into the learner's linguistic repertoire, allowing them to manipulate it with the same dexterity, humor, and profound cultural awareness as a highly educated native speaker, using it to articulate the most complex aspects of human commerce and daily existence.
Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

장보다 in 30 Seconds

  • Specifically means 'to buy groceries', not clothes.
  • Combines '장' (market) and '보다' (to see/do).
  • Can be used as one word (장보다) or separated (장을 보다).
  • Essential verb for daily life, cooking, and household chores.

The Korean verb 장보다 (jang-bo-da) is a fundamental vocabulary word that translates to 'to go grocery shopping' or 'to do the groceries'. It is an essential term for daily life in Korea, reflecting the routine activity of purchasing food, ingredients, and household necessities. Understanding this word requires looking at its components. The word is composed of two parts: the noun 장 (jang), which historically refers to a market, marketplace, or fair, and the verb 보다 (bo-da), which generally means 'to see' or 'to look'. When combined, the literal translation is 'to see the market' or 'to look around the market'. However, in modern usage, it specifically denotes the act of buying groceries rather than just window shopping. This concept is deeply ingrained in Korean culture, where fresh ingredients are highly valued for traditional cooking. Whether you are visiting a bustling traditional market (전통시장) filled with local vendors selling fresh produce, seafood, and side dishes (반찬), or navigating the aisles of a massive modern hypermarket (대형마트) like E-mart, Homeplus, or Lotte Mart, the action is universally referred to as 장보다. In recent years, the term has also expanded to include online grocery shopping, utilizing popular delivery apps and services such as Market Kurly or Coupang Fresh, which deliver groceries to your door by dawn. Despite the shift in the medium of shopping, the core meaning of acquiring food and daily supplies remains intact. When learning this word, it is crucial to note that it is typically used as a single compound verb, but it can also be separated by an object particle, as in 장을 보다 (jang-eul bo-da). Both forms are correct and widely used in everyday conversation. The context of 장보다 usually implies buying items for home consumption, distinguishing it from 쇼핑하다 (shopping-ha-da), which is generally reserved for buying clothes, electronics, cosmetics, or other non-grocery items. Therefore, if you tell a Korean friend you are going to 쇼핑하다, they will likely assume you are going to a department store or a boutique, not the supermarket. To specify grocery shopping, 장보다 is the precise and natural choice.

Etymological Breakdown
장 (jang) means market, and 보다 (boda) means to see or to do a task. Together, they mean to do the market shopping.
Cultural Significance
Grocery shopping in Korea is often a family activity, especially on weekends at large discount stores.
Modern Evolution
The term now seamlessly applies to online grocery shopping, known as 온라인으로 장보다.

주말에 가족과 함께 마트에서 장보다.

I go grocery shopping at the mart with my family on the weekend.

오늘 저녁을 만들기 위해 장봐야 해요.

I need to go grocery shopping to make dinner tonight.

시장에서 싸게 장을 봤어요.

I did the grocery shopping cheaply at the market.

온라인으로 장보는 것이 편리합니다.

Grocery shopping online is convenient.

퇴근길에 잠깐 장보러 갈게요.

I will go grocery shopping for a moment on my way home from work.

Using 장보다 correctly in Korean sentences involves understanding its grammatical properties as an action verb (동사). Because it is an action verb, it can be conjugated into various tenses and combined with numerous grammatical patterns to express different intentions, obligations, or experiences. In the present tense, it conjugates to 장봐요 (jang-bwa-yo) in the polite/informal register, and 장봅니다 (jang-bom-ni-da) in the formal register. In the past tense, it becomes 장봤어요 (jang-bwat-seo-yo) or 장봤습니다 (jang-bwat-seum-ni-da). For the future tense or to express intention, you would use 장볼 거예요 (jang-bol geo-ye-yo) or 장보겠습니다 (jang-bo-get-seum-ni-da). A very common grammatical structure used with this verb is the purposive form -(으)러 가다, which means 'to go in order to do something'. Therefore, 'to go grocery shopping' is frequently expressed as 장보러 가다 (jang-bo-reo ga-da). For example, '마트에 장보러 가요' (I am going to the supermarket to buy groceries). Another important aspect of using 장보다 is knowing the appropriate particles. When used as a single compound verb, it does not require an object particle. However, if you separate the noun 장 and the verb 보다, you must use the object particle 을 (eul), resulting in 장을 보다. This separation is particularly useful when you want to insert an adverb or an adjective to modify the noun, although modifying the verb directly is more common. For instance, you can say '장을 많이 봤어요' (I bought a lot of groceries). Furthermore, 장보다 is often used with time and location markers. You use the location particle 에서 (e-seo) to indicate where the shopping takes place, such as 시장에서 (at the market) or 백화점에서 (at the department store). You use time markers like 주말에 (on the weekend) or 퇴근 후에 (after work). Combining these elements allows for rich, descriptive sentences. For example: '저는 보통 일요일 아침에 집 근처 마트에서 일주일 치 장을 봅니다' (I usually do a week's worth of grocery shopping at the mart near my house on Sunday mornings). It is also common to use this verb with obligation patterns like -아/어야 하다 (must/have to), as in '냉장고가 비어서 장봐야 해요' (The fridge is empty, so I have to go grocery shopping). Understanding these conjugations and combinations is key to mastering the use of 장보다 in everyday Korean conversation.

Present Tense
장봐요 (polite), 장봅니다 (formal), 장봐 (casual). Used for habitual actions or current state.
Past Tense
장봤어요 (polite), 장봤습니다 (formal), 장봤어 (casual). Used to indicate completed shopping trips.
Future Tense
장볼 거예요 (polite), 장보겠습니다 (formal), 장볼 거야 (casual). Used for planned grocery trips.

내일 아침 일찍 장보러 갈 예정입니다.

I plan to go grocery shopping early tomorrow morning.

어제 마트에서 장을 너무 많이 봤어요.

I bought too many groceries at the mart yesterday.

지금 장보고 있는 중이라 나중에 전화할게요.

I am grocery shopping right now, so I will call you later.

우리는 보통 주말에 한 번에 장봅니다.

We usually do our grocery shopping all at once on the weekend.

과일이 떨어져서 장봐야 겠어요.

We are out of fruit, so I guess I need to go grocery shopping.

The verb 장보다 is ubiquitous in Korean daily life and media, reflecting its status as a core survival and lifestyle vocabulary word. You will hear it constantly in everyday conversations among family members, roommates, and friends. In a typical Korean household, discussions about what to eat for dinner inevitably lead to questions about whether someone needs to 장보다. For example, a mother might call her child and say, '엄마 지금 마트에서 장보는데, 뭐 먹고 싶은 거 있어?' (Mom is grocery shopping at the mart right now, is there anything you want to eat?). Roommates might divide household chores by saying, '이번 주는 내가 청소할 테니까, 네가 장봐' (I will clean this week, so you do the grocery shopping). Beyond personal conversations, you will encounter this word frequently in Korean media. In television dramas, scenes of couples or families grocery shopping together are common tropes used to depict domestic bliss, relationship development, or everyday realism. In these scenes, characters will often discuss their budget, compare prices, or playfully argue over what snacks to buy while engaging in the act of 장보기. Variety shows, especially those focused on cooking, travel, or independent living (like 'I Live Alone' or 'Three Meals a Day'), heavily feature this vocabulary. Cast members are frequently given missions to go to the local market to 장보다 for specific ingredients within a set budget, leading to entertaining interactions with local vendors. Furthermore, the rise of food delivery and online grocery platforms has introduced new contexts for hearing and seeing this word. Advertisements for services like SSG, Market Kurly, or Baemin B Mart frequently use phrases like '이제 집에서 편하게 장보세요' (Now do your grocery shopping comfortably from home) or '새벽 배송으로 신선하게 장보기' (Grocery shopping freshly with dawn delivery). You will also see the word on supermarket signage, promotional flyers, and in cooking blogs or YouTube videos where chefs explain their ingredient sourcing process. In educational contexts, it is one of the first verbs taught to Korean language learners in the context of daily routines and errands, solidifying its importance across all levels of fluency. Whether in a bustling traditional market in Seoul, a modern app interface, or a casual chat with a friend, 장보다 is a word you cannot avoid.

Household Conversations
The most common place to hear it is at home, discussing meal preparations and daily chores.
Television & Media
Frequently used in K-dramas and reality shows to show everyday life and cooking preparations.
Advertisements
Prominently featured in ads for supermarkets and online grocery delivery applications.

엄마, 올 때 우유 좀 사다 주세요. 저 지금 장보러 가요.

Mom, please buy some milk on your way. I am going grocery shopping now.

예능 프로그램에서 연예인들이 시장에서 장보는 모습이 재미있어요.

It is fun to watch celebrities grocery shopping at the market on variety shows.

스마트폰 앱으로 간편하게 장볼 수 있는 시대입니다.

It is an era where you can easily go grocery shopping with a smartphone app.

이번 주말에는 코스트코에 가서 대량으로 장봐야 해요.

This weekend, we need to go to Costco and do bulk grocery shopping.

요리 유튜버가 신선한 해산물을 사기 위해 수산시장에서 장을 봅니다.

The cooking YouTuber goes grocery shopping at the fish market to buy fresh seafood.

When learning the verb 장보다, Korean language learners often make a few specific, predictable mistakes, primarily stemming from direct translation from their native languages or confusion with similar Korean vocabulary. The most prevalent error is confusing 장보다 with 쇼핑하다 (shopping-ha-da). In English, 'to go shopping' can encompass buying clothes, electronics, or food. However, in Korean, 쇼핑하다 is almost exclusively reserved for non-grocery items like apparel, cosmetics, or luxury goods. If a learner says '마트에서 쇼핑해요' (I am shopping at the supermarket), it sounds slightly unnatural to a native speaker, as if they are browsing for clothes inside the grocery store, rather than buying food. The correct phrasing is '마트에서 장봐요'. Another common mistake involves the misuse of object particles. Because 장보다 is a compound verb made of a noun (장) and a verb (보다), learners sometimes incorrectly attach the object particle to the entire compound, saying '장보다를 해요' or '장보기를 해요' instead of simply '장봐요' or '장을 봐요'. While '장보기' is a valid noun form, using it with '하다' is redundant and awkward in everyday speech. Additionally, learners often struggle with the verb 보다 in this context. Since 보다 primarily means 'to see', beginners might literally translate 'to buy groceries' as '식료품을 사다' (to buy groceries/foodstuffs). While grammatically correct and understandable, '식료품을 사다' sounds very formal, academic, or stiff compared to the highly natural and idiomatic 장보다. Native speakers rarely say '식료품을 사러 가요'; they almost always say '장보러 가요'. Another subtle error relates to the scope of the word. 장보다 implies buying a collection of items for general household use or meal preparation. If you are just running to the convenience store to buy a single bottle of water or a quick snack, it is more natural to say '물 사러 가요' (I am going to buy water) or '편의점에 가요' (I am going to the convenience store) rather than '장보러 가요', which implies a more substantial shopping trip. Understanding these nuances—distinguishing it from general shopping, using correct particle structures, preferring it over literal translations, and applying it to the right scale of shopping—will significantly improve a learner's naturalness and fluency when discussing daily routines in Korean.

쇼핑하다 vs 장보다
Do not use 쇼핑하다 for groceries. Use 장보다 for food and daily necessities, and 쇼핑하다 for clothes and goods.
Particle Errors
Avoid saying 장보다를 해요. Use 장봐요 or 장을 봐요 directly as the verb.
Scale of Shopping
Do not use 장보다 for buying a single small item at a convenience store; it implies a larger grocery trip.

Incorrect: 마트에서 쇼핑해요. / Correct: 마트에서 장봐요.

Use 장보다 when at the grocery store.

Incorrect: 식료품을 사러 가요. / Correct: 장보러 가요.

While understandable, 장보러 가요 is much more natural than the literal translation.

Incorrect: 편의점에 껌 하나 장보러 가요. / Correct: 편의점에 껌 하나 사러 가요.

Do not use 장보다 for single, minor purchases.

Incorrect: 장보다를 좋아해요. / Correct: 장보는 것을 좋아해요.

When making it a noun clause, use -는 것.

Incorrect: 시장에서 장을 구경해요. / Correct: 시장에서 장을 봐요.

Do not replace 보다 with 구경하다 unless you are strictly only looking and not buying.

While 장보다 is the most specific and common term for grocery shopping, there are several related words and phrases in Korean that learners should know to expand their vocabulary and understand nuanced contexts. The most obvious related word is 쇼핑하다 (shopping-ha-da), which means 'to shop'. As previously discussed, this is a broader term used for purchasing clothes, shoes, electronics, and other non-food retail items. Another related concept is 물건을 사다 (mul-geon-eul sa-da), which literally translates to 'to buy things' or 'to buy goods'. This is a generic phrase that can apply to any type of purchase, including groceries, but lacks the specific cultural resonance and specificity of 장보다. When referring specifically to the items bought during a grocery trip, the word 식료품 (sik-ryo-pum) is used, meaning 'groceries' or 'foodstuffs'. You might see this word on store signs (식료품 코너 - grocery section), but as noted, people rarely say '식료품을 사다' in casual speech. Another highly relevant term is 시장을 보다 (si-jang-eul bo-da). This is essentially a slightly more formal or traditional variation of 장보다, where '시장' (market) replaces the abbreviated '장'. It carries the exact same meaning and is perfectly acceptable, though slightly less common in fast-paced modern speech than the shorter 장보다. In the context of online shopping, you will frequently encounter the term 주문하다 (ju-mun-ha-da), which means 'to order'. With the prevalence of grocery delivery apps, many Koreans now say '인터넷으로 식료품을 주문하다' (to order groceries online) interchangeably with '온라인으로 장보다'. Furthermore, the noun form 장보기 (jang-bo-gi) is crucial. It acts as a gerund, meaning 'the act of grocery shopping', and is used when shopping is the subject or object of a sentence, such as '장보기는 피곤해요' (Grocery shopping is tiring). Finally, understanding words related to the location of shopping is helpful: 마트 (ma-teu - supermarket/mart), 대형마트 (dae-hyeong-ma-teu - hypermarket), 전통시장 (jeon-tong-si-jang - traditional market), and 편의점 (pyeon-ui-jeom - convenience store). Knowing these synonyms, related verbs, and location nouns provides a comprehensive linguistic toolkit for navigating any shopping scenario in Korea, allowing learners to express themselves precisely whether they are buying a new outfit, ordering fresh produce online, or visiting a local street market.

쇼핑하다 (shopping-ha-da)
To shop (general retail, clothes, electronics). Not used for groceries.
물건을 사다 (mul-geon-eul sa-da)
To buy things. A generic term for purchasing any item.
주문하다 (ju-mun-ha-da)
To order. Commonly used when buying groceries online or through delivery apps.

오늘은 옷을 쇼핑하고, 내일은 마트에서 장볼 거예요.

Today I will shop for clothes, and tomorrow I will go grocery shopping at the mart.

시장에 가서 물건을 사는 것을 좋아합니다.

I like going to the market to buy things.

요즘은 마트에 가지 않고 앱으로 식료품을 주문해요.

These days, I don't go to the mart and just order groceries through an app.

주말의 주요 일과는 밀린 장보기입니다.

The main routine of the weekend is catching up on grocery shopping.

어머니는 항상 시장을 보러 전통시장에 가십니다.

My mother always goes to the traditional market to do the grocery shopping.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

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Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Examples by Level

1

저는 마트에서 장봐요.

I go grocery shopping at the mart.

Present tense polite form: 장봐요.

2

내일 장보러 가요.

I am going grocery shopping tomorrow.

-(으)러 가다 indicates purpose of going.

3

엄마가 시장에서 장봤어요.

Mom went grocery shopping at the market.

Past tense polite form: 장봤어요.

4

오늘 장봐야 해요.

I have to go grocery shopping today.

-아/어야 하다 indicates obligation (must/have to).

5

같이 장볼까요?

Shall we go grocery shopping together?

-(으)ㄹ까요 is used to make a suggestion.

6

어디에서 장봐요?

Where do you go grocery shopping?

에서 is the location particle for an action.

7

주말에 장봅니다.

I go grocery shopping on the weekend.

Formal present tense: 장봅니다.

8

장보기가 재미있어요.

Grocery shopping is fun.

-기 turns the verb into a noun (gerund).

1

일주일에 한 번 마트에서 장을 봅니다.

I buy groceries at the mart once a week.

Separating the verb with the object particle: 장을 보다.

2

저녁을 만들려고 장보러 갔어요.

I went grocery shopping to make dinner.

-(으)려고 indicates intention (in order to).

3

과일이 없어서 장봐야 겠어요.

We don't have fruit, so I guess I should go grocery shopping.

-아/어야 겠다 expresses a strong intention or realization of necessity.

4

퇴근하고 나서 장볼 거예요.

I will go grocery shopping after getting off work.

-고 나서 means 'after doing something'.

5

어제 장을 너무 많이 봤어요.

I bought too many groceries yesterday.

Adverb '많이' (a lot) placed before the verb.

6

온라인으로 장보는 것이 더 편해요.

Grocery shopping online is more convenient.

-는 것 turns the phrase into a noun clause acting as the subject.

7

친구와 함께 시장에 장보러 갈 예정입니다.

I plan to go grocery shopping at the market with a friend.

-(으)ㄹ 예정이다 expresses a scheduled plan.

8

장볼 때 항상 장바구니를 가져가요.

I always take a shopping bag when I go grocery shopping.

-(으)ㄹ 때 means 'when' or 'at the time of'.

1

물가가 올라서 장보기가 겁나요.

Prices have gone up, so I'm scared to go grocery shopping.

-아/어서 indicates cause and effect.

2

대형마트보다 동네 시장에서 장보는 걸 선호해요.

I prefer grocery shopping at the neighborhood market rather than a large mart.

보다 is used for comparison (rather than/more than).

3

시간을 절약하기 위해 주로 인터넷으로 장을 봅니다.

To save time, I mostly buy groceries on the internet.

-기 위해 means 'in order to' or 'for the sake of'.

4

장보러 가기 전에 냉장고에 뭐가 있는지 확인하세요.

Before going grocery shopping, check what is in the refrigerator.

-기 전에 means 'before doing something'.

5

할인 행사를 할 때 장을 보면 돈을 아낄 수 있어요.

If you buy groceries when there is a discount event, you can save money.

-(으)면 indicates a conditional statement (if/when).

6

어제 밤에 스마트폰 앱으로 새벽 배송 장보기를 마쳤어요.

Last night, I finished my dawn delivery grocery shopping via a smartphone app.

Using 장보기 as a compound noun object.

7

가족이 많아서 한 번 장볼 때마다 비용이 많이 듭니다.

Because I have a large family, it costs a lot every time I go grocery shopping.

-(으)ㄹ 때마다 means 'every time' or 'whenever'.

8

요즘은 밀키트가 잘 나와서 예전만큼 장을 많이 보지 않아요.

These days, meal kits are so good that I don't buy groceries as much as I used to.

만큼 is used to express extent or comparison (as much as).

1

1인 가구가 증가하면서 소량으로 장보는 소비자가 늘고 있습니다.

As single-person households increase, consumers who buy groceries in small quantities are growing.

-(으)면서 indicates simultaneous actions or trends (as/while).

2

환경을 생각해서 포장재가 적은 제품 위주로 장을 보려고 노력합니다.

Thinking of the environment, I try to buy groceries focusing on products with less packaging.

위주로 means 'focusing on' or 'centered around'.

3

명절을 앞두고 전통시장은 장보러 온 사람들로 인산인해를 이루었습니다.

Ahead of the holiday, the traditional market was crowded with people who came to buy groceries.

인산인해를 이루다 is an idiom meaning 'to be a sea of people'.

4

충동구매를 막기 위해 장보기 전에 반드시 구매 목록을 작성하는 편이에요.

To prevent impulse buying, I tend to make a shopping list without fail before grocery shopping.

-는 편이다 means 'to tend to' or 'to be on the side of'.

5

최근 신선식품의 온라인 장보기 시장 규모가 급격히 팽창하고 있습니다.

Recently, the market size for online grocery shopping of fresh foods is expanding rapidly.

Formal vocabulary (규모, 팽창) used in economic contexts.

6

유기농 식재료만 고집하다 보니 장보기 예산을 초과하는 경우가 잦아요.

Because I insist only on organic ingredients, cases of exceeding the grocery budget are frequent.

-다 보니 indicates a realization or result from a continuous action.

7

맞벌이 부부에게 주말 대형마트 장보기는 피할 수 없는 가사 노동 중 하나입니다.

For dual-income couples, weekend grocery shopping at a hypermarket is one of the unavoidable household chores.

Complex noun phrase modification (피할 수 없는 가사 노동).

8

물가 상승률이 가팔라지면서 서민들의 장바구니 체감 물가가 크게 올랐습니다.

As the inflation rate steepens, the perceived cost of groceries for ordinary people has risen significantly.

장바구니 체감 물가 is a specific economic term for 'perceived inflation based on grocery shopping'.

1

유통업계는 소비자들의 장보기 패턴 변화에 발맞춰 옴니채널 전략을 강화하고 있다.

The retail industry is strengthening its omnichannel strategy in step with changes in consumers' grocery shopping patterns.

-에 발맞춰 means 'in step with' or 'keeping pace with'.

2

신선도 유지 기술의 발달이 온라인 장보기의 폭발적인 성장을 견인한 핵심 요인이다.

The development of freshness maintenance technology is the core factor that drove the explosive growth of online grocery shopping.

견인하다 (to drive/pull) used metaphorically in an economic context.

3

정부의 대형마트 영업 규제가 전통시장 장보기 활성화로 직결되었는지에 대해서는 회의적인 시각이 지배적이다.

Skeptical views are dominant regarding whether the government's regulation on hypermarket operations directly led to the revitalization of traditional market grocery shopping.

-는지에 대해서는 indicates 'regarding whether or not'.

4

팬데믹 이후 비대면 장보기가 뉴노멀로 자리 잡으면서 오프라인 매장들은 체험형 공간으로의 탈바꿈을 꾀하고 있다.

As non-face-to-face grocery shopping settled as the new normal after the pandemic, offline stores are attempting a transformation into experiential spaces.

탈바꿈을 꾀하다 means 'to attempt a transformation'.

5

기후 변화로 인한 농작물 작황 부진이 밥상 물가 폭등으로 이어져 소비자들의 장보기 부담이 가중되고 있다.

Poor crop yields due to climate change have led to soaring food prices, adding to the grocery shopping burden of consumers.

가중되다 means 'to be added to' or 'to be aggravated'.

6

데이터 분석을 통해 개별 소비자의 장보기 주기를 예측하고 맞춤형 상품을 제안하는 AI 기술이 도입되었다.

AI technology has been introduced that predicts individual consumers' grocery shopping cycles through data analysis and suggests customized products.

Complex sentence structure with multiple clauses modifying the subject.

7

구독 경제의 확산으로 매번 장을 보는 번거로움 없이 정기적으로 식료품을 배송받는 서비스가 각광받고 있다.

With the spread of the subscription economy, services that regularly deliver groceries without the hassle of shopping every time are in the spotlight.

각광받다 is an idiom meaning 'to be in the spotlight' or 'to gain popularity'.

8

식재료의 원산지와 생산 과정을 꼼꼼히 따지는 가치 소비가 새로운 장보기 트렌드로 부상하였다.

Value consumption, which meticulously checks the origin and production process of ingredients, has emerged as a new grocery shopping trend.

부상하다 means 'to emerge' or 'to rise to the surface'.

1

현대 자본주의 사회에서 장보기란 단순한 재화의 획득을 넘어 개인의 계급적, 문화적 취향을 투사하는 고도의 기호 소비 행위로 격상되었다.

In modern capitalist society, grocery shopping has been elevated beyond the simple acquisition of goods to a highly symbolic consumption act that projects an individual's class and cultural tastes.

Advanced academic vocabulary (투사하다, 기호 소비, 격상되다).

2

골목 상권 침해 논란 속에서 대기업의 기업형 슈퍼마켓(SSM) 확장은 지역 공동체의 전통적인 장보기 생태계를 교란시키는 주범으로 지목받아 왔다.

Amidst the controversy over the infringement of alley commercial rights, the expansion of corporate super supermarkets (SSM) by conglomerates has been pointed out as the main culprit disrupting the traditional grocery shopping ecosystem of local communities.

Complex socio-economic terminology (골목 상권, 생태계 교란).

3

과거 오일장이 지녔던 축제성과 정보 교류의 장으로서의 기능은 현대의 파편화된 온라인 장보기 시스템 속에서 철저히 소거되고 파편화된 개인의 알고리즘적 선택만이 남았다.

The function of the past five-day markets as a place of festivity and information exchange has been thoroughly erased in the modern fragmented online grocery shopping system, leaving only the algorithmic choices of fragmented individuals.

Literary and sociological analysis structure using words like 소거되다 and 파편화되다.

4

플랫폼 노동자들의 심야 노동을 담보로 유지되는 새벽 배송 장보기의 편리함 이면에는 노동권 사각지대라는 우리 사회의 어두운 민낯이 자리하고 있다.

Behind the convenience of dawn delivery grocery shopping, which is maintained by the late-night labor of platform workers, lies the dark bare face of our society—a blind spot in labor rights.

Critical social commentary phrasing (담보로 유지되는, 어두운 민낯).

5

초가공식품 위주로 재편된 현대인의 장바구니는 다국적 식품 기업의 마케팅 전략에 포섭된 결과이며, 이는 필연적으로 공중 보건의 위기를 초래할 수밖에 없다.

Modern people's shopping baskets, reorganized around ultra-processed foods, are the result of being co-opted by the marketing strategies of multinational food corporations, and this inevitably leads to a public health crisis.

Use of strong causative and analytical verbs (포섭되다, 초래하다).

6

물가 폭등기에는 엥겔지수가 높은 저소득층일수록 장보기에서 느끼는 경제적 압박감이 기하급수적으로 증폭되는 양상을 띤다.

During periods of soaring inflation, the lower the income bracket with a high Engel's coefficient, the more the economic pressure felt during grocery shopping tends to amplify exponentially.

Economic specific terms (엥겔지수, 기하급수적으로).

7

전통시장의 쇠락을 막기 위한 관 주도의 하향식 장보기 장려 정책은 시장 상인들의 자생적 혁신 의지를 꺾는 역효과를 낳았다는 비판을 면하기 어렵다.

It is difficult to avoid the criticism that the government-led top-down policies encouraging grocery shopping to prevent the decline of traditional markets have had the adverse effect of breaking the market merchants' will for spontaneous innovation.

Complex policy analysis sentence structure (하향식, 자생적, 역효과).

8

결국 완벽한 장보기란 예산의 제약, 영양학적 균형, 그리고 생태적 윤리 사이에서 끊임없이 타협점을 모색하는 현대인의 지난한 일상적 투쟁이라 할 수 있다.

Ultimately, perfect grocery shopping can be described as modern people's exhausting daily struggle to constantly seek a compromise among budget constraints, nutritional balance, and ecological ethics.

Philosophical and summarizing tone using advanced adjectives (지난한).

Common Collocations

마트에서 장보다
시장에서 장보다
온라인으로 장보다
인터넷으로 장보다
주말에 장보다
장을 많이 보다
장을 조금 보다
장보러 가다
장봐야 하다
장보기를 마치다

Common Phrases

장보러 가요

장봐야 해요

장 다 봤어요?

같이 장볼래요?

장보는 중이에요

장바구니 챙기세요

오늘 저녁 장봐야 해

퇴근길에 장볼게

주말 장보기

밀린 장을 보다

Often Confused With

장보다 vs 쇼핑하다 (To shop - used for non-grocery items)

장보다 vs 사다 (To buy - a general verb for purchasing anything)

장보다 vs 구경하다 (To look around/window shop - does not imply buying)

Idioms & Expressions

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Easily Confused

장보다 vs 쇼핑하다

쇼핑하다 is for clothes, shoes, electronics. 장보다 is for food and groceries.

장보다 vs 사다

사다 is the simple act of buying. 장보다 is the entire event of grocery shopping.

장보다 vs 주문하다

주문하다 is to order (food at a restaurant or online). 장보다 can include online ordering but specifically for groceries.

장보다 vs 시장을 보다

Exact same meaning as 장보다, just a slightly longer, older form.

장보다 vs 아이쇼핑하다

Konglish for window shopping. 장보다 involves actual purchasing.

Sentence Patterns

How to Use It

nuance

Implies buying necessities for the home, usually food, rather than luxury items or personal treats.

formality

Can be used in all levels of formality by changing the verb ending.

regional variations

Universally understood across all regions of Korea.

Common Mistakes
  • Using 쇼핑하다 instead of 장보다 when talking about buying food at a supermarket.
  • Saying 장보다를 해요 instead of just 장봐요 or 장을 봐요.
  • Using 장보다 when buying a single small item like a candy bar at a convenience store.
  • Translating 'to buy groceries' literally as 식료품을 사다 in casual conversation.
  • Forgetting to use the location particle 에서 (e.g., 마트에 장봐요 instead of 마트에서 장봐요).

Tips

Never for Clothes

The golden rule: never use 장보다 when buying clothes. Always use 쇼핑하다 for apparel and 장보다 for food. Mixing these up is the most common beginner mistake.

Purpose Pattern

Memorize the phrase '장보러 가다' (to go grocery shopping). The -(으)러 가다 pattern is the most natural way to express that you are leaving the house to buy food.

Learn 장바구니

Learn the word 장바구니 (shopping basket/cart). You will see this word on every online shopping site and hear it at every physical checkout counter in Korea.

Online Shopping

Don't be afraid to use 장보다 for online shopping. Phrases like '새벽 배송으로 장보기' (grocery shopping with dawn delivery) are extremely common in modern Korea.

Splitting the Verb

If you want to say you bought 'a lot' of groceries, split the verb: 장을 많이 봤어요. Do not say 많이 장봤어요, as it sounds slightly less natural.

Listen for '장'

Train your ear to catch the syllable '장' in daily conversations. It is often spoken quickly, but it is the key indicator that the topic is food or household chores.

Casual Invitations

To sound like a native, invite your roommate or partner by saying '이따 같이 장볼래?' (Wanna go grocery shopping together later?). It's a very natural domestic phrase.

Know Your Stores

Pair 장보다 with the right locations: 마트 (supermarket), 대형마트 (hypermarket), or 전통시장 (traditional market). Avoid using it with 백화점 (department store) unless they have a food hall.

Budgeting

You will often hear 장보다 in the context of money. '장보기 겁난다' (I'm scared to go grocery shopping) is a common idiom used when food prices are high due to inflation.

Noun Form

Use the noun form '장보기' when making lists. If you are writing a to-do list in Korean, simply write '장보기' instead of the full sentence '장보러 가기'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you are at a JANG (market) and you BODA (see) all the delicious food you want to buy for groceries.

Visual Association

Picture a traditional Korean market (장) where you are looking (보다) at fresh vegetables to buy.

Word Origin

Native Korean + Sino-Korean root

Cultural Context

Usually closed on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month due to government regulations protecting small businesses.

Dawn delivery (새벽배송) has revolutionized 장보기, making it possible to have fresh ingredients for breakfast ordered the night before.

Often cheaper for fresh produce and offer 'deom' (덤) - extra items given for free by friendly vendors.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"보통 어디에서 장봐요?"

"일주일에 몇 번 장보러 가요?"

"온라인으로 장보는 것을 좋아해요?"

"오늘 저녁 메뉴를 위해 뭘 장봐야 할까요?"

"장볼 때 가장 중요하게 생각하는 것은 뭐예요?"

Journal Prompts

Write about your typical grocery shopping routine.

Describe the difference between grocery shopping in your home country and in Korea.

List the items you need to buy the next time you go grocery shopping.

Write a story about a time you bought too many groceries.

Discuss the pros and cons of online grocery shopping.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should not use 장보다 when buying clothes. 장보다 is strictly reserved for buying groceries, food ingredients, and daily household necessities. If you are buying clothes, shoes, or electronics, you must use the verb 쇼핑하다 (shopping-ha-da). Using 장보다 for clothes will sound very strange to a native Korean speaker. Always remember: food = 장보다, clothes = 쇼핑하다.

There is no difference in meaning between 장보다 and 장을 보다. 장보다 is a compound verb made by combining the noun 장 (market) and the verb 보다 (to see/do). 장을 보다 simply separates the noun and the verb by adding the object particle 을. You can use them interchangeably. However, if you want to add an adjective or adverb, it is easier to use the separated form, like 장을 많이 보다 (to buy a lot of groceries).

The most natural and common way to say 'I am going grocery shopping' is '장보러 가요' (jang-bo-reo ga-yo). This uses the grammar pattern -(으)러 가다, which means 'to go in order to do something'. You can also specify the location by adding it at the beginning, such as '마트에 장보러 가요' (I am going to the mart to go grocery shopping). This is a phrase you will use constantly in Korea.

Historically, yes, but not anymore. In modern Korean, 장보다 is perfectly acceptable and widely used for online grocery shopping as well. You can say '온라인으로 장봐요' (I grocery shop online) or '앱으로 장봤어요' (I grocery shopped using an app). The medium of shopping has changed, but the vocabulary word remains the same for the act of acquiring household food supplies.

장보기 (jang-bo-gi) is the noun form of the verb 장보다. It translates to 'grocery shopping' as a concept or an activity. You use it when the act of shopping is the subject or object of your sentence. For example, '장보기는 피곤해요' means 'Grocery shopping is tiring'. It is also commonly used in lists or app menus, like '장보기 목록' (grocery shopping list).

It is generally not natural to use 장보다 for buying a single small item like a snack or a bottle of water. 장보다 implies a more substantial shopping trip to stock up on food or buy ingredients for a meal. If you are just running to the convenience store for one thing, it is better to say '과자 사러 가요' (I am going to buy a snack) or '편의점 가요' (I am going to the convenience store).

The etymology goes back to traditional Korean markets (장). In the past, going to the market was a major event where people would walk around, look at the goods, check the quality, and socialize. The act of 'seeing the market' (장을 보다) naturally became synonymous with the act of buying provisions there. Over time, the phrase stuck, even as modern supermarkets replaced traditional outdoor markets.

장바구니 (jang-ba-gu-ni) translates to 'shopping basket'. It combines '장' (market) and '바구니' (basket). It refers to the physical plastic baskets you carry in a supermarket, as well as reusable eco-bags you bring from home. In the digital age, it is also the Korean word for the 'shopping cart' icon on e-commerce websites where you save items before checking out.

To conjugate 장보다 in the past tense, you look at the final vowel of the verb stem, which is 'ㅗ' in '보'. According to Korean conjugation rules, 'ㅗ' combines with 'ㅏ' to make '봐'. Then you add the past tense marker 'ㅆ' and the polite ending '어요'. So, it becomes 장봤어요 (jang-bwat-seo-yo). In the formal register, it is 장봤습니다 (jang-bwat-seum-ni-da).

장보다 is appropriate for almost all situations, including formal ones, if conjugated correctly (장봅니다). However, in highly formal written contexts, such as news reports or academic papers, you might see phrases like '식료품을 구매하다' (to purchase foodstuffs) or '생필품을 사다' (to buy daily necessities). But in spoken Korean, even in formal situations, 장보다 is the standard and most natural choice.

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