Learn Hardcore Korean: sijangeseo saramdeureul gugyeonghaesseoyo.

시장에서 translates to “at the market.” The particle -에서 marks the location where an action takes place. In contrast, -에 marks either a static location (“to the market” as a destination) or existence (“in the market”). Because you’re performing the action 구경했어요 (people-watching) at the market, you need -에서.

What is 사람들을 made of, and can I omit the 들 plural marker?

사람들 = 사람 (person) + 들 (plural marker). Adding -을 (object particle) gives 사람들을, meaning “people” as the object. You can omit 들—사람을 구경했어요—because Korean often leaves out 들 when plurality is clear from context. However, including 들 emphasizes that you watched multiple people.

Why is -을 attached to 사람들?

The particle -을 (or -를 after a vowel) marks the direct object of a transitive verb. Here 사람들을 is the object of 구경했어요, so you need -을 to show what you were watching.

What’s the nuance difference between 구경했어요 and 봤어요?

구경하다 literally means “to do sightseeing/observation” and implies a leisurely, intentional act of looking around. 보다 simply means “to see” or “to look.” So 사람들을 구경했어요 suggests you were casually watching people for enjoyment or interest, whereas 사람들을 봤어요 just states that you saw people.

How do we get 구경했어요 from 구경하다?

구경하다 is a compound verb: 구경 (“sightseeing/looking around”) + 하다 (“to do”).
To form the past tense polite style, 하다 → 했어요.
Attach it back: 구경
- 했어요 = 구경했어요 (“looked around/watched”).

What level of politeness is -했어요?

The ending -했어요 is informal polite (also called “해요체”). It’s commonly used in conversation with strangers, coworkers, or people you’re on friendly but not intimate terms with. It’s less formal than -했습니다 (합니다체) but more polite than the plain past -했다.

Can I change the word order, for example 사람들을 시장에서 구경했어요?

Yes. Korean word order is relatively flexible because particles show each word’s role.
– 시장에서 사람들을 구경했어요 (LOC–OBJ–VERB) is most natural.
– 사람들을 시장에서 구경했어요 (OBJ–LOC–VERB) is also correct but shifts slight emphasis onto 사람들.

Why is there no word for “the” or “a” before 시장?

Korean does not have articles like “the” or “a.” Nouns stand alone, and specificity comes from context or added modifiers. So 시장에서 can mean “at a market,” “at the market,” or “at this market,” depending on the situation.