Learn Hardcore Korean: jeomsim sigane imeireul bwayo.

The particle 에 is the time-marker particle in Korean. When you attach 에 to a noun that expresses a specific point or period in time, it means “at” or “on.” So 점심 시간에 literally means “at (the) lunchtime.”

Why use 점심 시간에 instead of just 점심에?

Both are valid, but there’s a subtle nuance.

점심에 focuses on the meal itself (“at lunch”).
점심 시간에 emphasizes the time slot or break period (“during lunchtime”).
In daily talk they often overlap, but 점심 시간에 can sound a bit more like “when lunch break happens.”

There’s no subject in the sentence—who is doing the action?

Korean often drops the subject when it’s clear from context. Here, the implied subject is likely “I” (or “we,” depending on the conversation). In full form you could say 저는 점심 시간에 이메일을 봐요 (“I check my email at lunchtime”), but Koreans typically omit 저는 when it’s obvious.

Why isn’t there an object particle 을 after 이메일?

In casual spoken and written Korean, the object particle 을/를 is frequently dropped if the meaning stays clear. The fully marked version would be 이메일을 봐요, but Koreans often say 이메일 봐요 for brevity. Both are acceptable in everyday conversation.

What does 보다 (in 봐요) mean here? Isn’t it “to see”?

Yes, 보다 literally means “to see,” but in Korean it’s also used for “to look over,” “to check,” or “to skim through” something (like emails, messages, feeds). If you want to say “to read” more thoroughly, you’d use 읽다 (e.g. 이메일을 읽어요).

What level of politeness is the -요 ending in 봐요?

The -요 ending on 보다 (making 봐요) is the polite informal style. It’s respectful enough for daily conversations with coworkers, acquaintances, or people you’re not extremely close to. If you need more formality, you’d use 봅니다; if you’re talking with close friends or younger people, you might drop -요 and say 봐.