onlookers; bystanders
Refers to people who are present at an event but not directly involved; often used in contexts like accidents, fights, or public incidents.
Many onlookers gathered at the scene of the accident.
The bystanders just watched and no one tried to help.
見物人 is used for spectators at a planned event or sightseeing, whereas 傍の者達 refers to incidental onlookers at an unplanned occurrence.
Standard kanji spelling for 'onlookers' or 'bystanders'.
Kana spelling for 傍, making the reading clearer for learners.
Compound of 傍 (はた, 'side, vicinity') + の (possessive particle) + 者 (もの, 'person') + 達 (たち, plural suffix). Literally 'people of the side'.