Learn Korean with K-Pop: Kim Lip, JinSoul – Love Letter

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Here’s a full breakdown of the grammar and vocabulary of the lyrics of “Love Letter” by Kim Lip and JinSoul. Repeated lines and lyrics entirely in English are omitted.

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 꽃 – flower
• 눈 – eye
• 감정 – feeling, emotion
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 기억 – faculty of memory, a recollection
• 속 – inside
• 의미 – meaning
• 입가 – side of the mouth
• 사랑 – love
• 혼자 – alone, solitude
• 시간 – time
• 흔적 – trace
• 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
• 모습 – appearance
• 말 – words, speech
• 마지막 – end, last

Verbs

• 받다 – to receive
• 감다 – to close eyes
• 향하다 – to face, to go towards
• 설레다 – to flutter, to palpitate
• 돌아서다 – to turn around
• 잠기다 – to sink, to be submerged, to be absorbed
• 지우다 – to erase
• 나가다 – to go out (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to keep doing”)
• 들리다 – to be heard
• 주다 – to give (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to do something for someone”)
• 사라지다 – to disappear
• 남기다 – to leave behind
• 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
• 맴돌다 – to linger, to circle
• 삼키다 – to swallow
• 피다 – to bloom
• 흐려지다 – to become blurry, to become cloudy
• 차가워지다 – to become cold (to the touch), to become cold-hearted
• 보다 – to see, to look at
• 전하다 – to pass along
• 알다 – to know, to understand

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 같다 – to be the same
• 흐리다 – to be unclear, to be cloudy
• 차갑다 – to be cold (to the touch), to be cold-hearted
• 소용없다 – to be useless

Adverbs

• 다 – all, everything
• 어느새 – already, suddenly, before realizing it
• 이제 – now
• 그만 – no more
• 다시 – again
• 이미 – already
• 더 – more

Pronouns

• 너 – you (informal)
• 우리 – we, us, our
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의) (informal)
• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 서로 – each other
• 네 – your (contraction of 너의) (informal)

Numerals

• 둘 – two

Other words

• 것 – thing

Grammar

Particles

• -에게 – to (dative particle)
• -들 – plural marker
• -이/가 – subject marker
  • -이 after consonants
  • -가 after vowels
• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -처럼 – like, as, as if
• -도 – too, also, even
• -과/와 – and, with
  • -과 after consonants
  • -와 after vowels
• -은/는 – topic marker
  • -은 after consonants
  • -는 after vowels
• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -만 – only
• -조차 – even
• -(으)로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
  • -으로 after consonants
  • -로 after vowels or ㄹ
• -에서 – in, at, on (indicates the location where an action takes place)

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

• -았던/었던/했던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
  • -았던 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -었던 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -했던 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -아/어/해 – present tense, intimate style
  • -아 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -ㅁ/음 – turn a verb or adjective into a noun (more formal than -기)
  • -ㅁ if the stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ
  • -음 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -아/어/해 나가다 – to keep doing
  • -아 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• -아/어/해 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -아 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -고 싶다 – want to…
• -아/어/해지다 – to become
  • -아지다 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어지다 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해지다 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -ㄴ/은 – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • -ㄴ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -지 못하다 – to be unable to, to not be good at
• -ㄴ/은 것처럼 – as if…, it’s like… (used with verbs, past tense)
  • -ㄴ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -야 되다/하다 – have to, must, should (되다 and 하다 can be used interchangeably with no change in meaning)
• -ㄹ/을 수 없다 – can’t
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -던 – indicates a repeated action in the past that doesn’t happen anymore, an ongoing action in the past, or a past state being remembered

Lyrics breakdown

네게 받았던 꽃들이 다 = All the flowers I received from you

• 네게 – from you (literally: to you) (contraction of 너에게)
  • 너 – you
  • -에게 – to (dative particle)
• 받았던 – that I received
  • 받다 – to receive
  • -았던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 꽃들이 – the flowers
  • 꽃 – flower
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -이 – subject marker
• 다 – all, everything

어느새 눈을 감아 우리 둘처럼 = Suddenly, they close their eyes, like the two of us

• 어느새 – already, suddenly, before realizing it
• 눈을 – the eyes
  • 눈 – eye
  • -을 – object marker
• 감아 – close
  • 감다 – to close eyes
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style
• 우리 둘처럼 – like the two of us
  • 우리 – we, us, our
  • 둘 – two
  • -처럼 – like, as, as if

너를 향했던 (감정) 설렘들도 (어느새) = Even the fluttering feelings (feelings) I had towards you (suddenly)

• 너를 – you
  • 너 – you
  • -를 – object marker
• 향했던 – that went towards
  • 향하다 – to face, to go towards
  • -했던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 감정 – feeling, emotion
• 설렘들도 – even the fluttering feelings
  • 설레다 – to flutter, to palpitate
  • -ㅁ – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 어느새 – already, suddenly, before realizing it

돌아섰던 내 맘 같아 = It’s like my heart that turned away

• 돌아섰던 – that turned away
  • 돌아서다 – to turn around
  • -었던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 같아 – is the same
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

너와 난 기억 속에 잠겨 = You and I are absorbed in the memories

• 너와 – you and
  • 너 – you
  • -와 – and, with
• 난 – I (contraction of 나는)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -는 – topic marker
• 기억 – faculty of memory, a recollection
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 잠겨 – absorbe
  • 잠기다 – to sink, to be submerged, to be absorbed
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

서로를 지워 나가는 걸 = The fact that we keep erasing each other

• 서로를 – each other
  • 서로 – each other
  • -를 – object marker
• 지워 나가는 걸 – the fact that we keep erasing
  • 지우다 – to erase
  • -어 나가다 – to keep doing
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
  • 걸 – the thing (contraction of 것을)
    • 것 – thing
    • -을 – object marker

Listen, listen 너에게만 = Listen, listen, only to you

• 너에게만 – only to you
  • 너 – you
  • -에게 – to (dative particle)
  • -만 – only

들려주고 싶었던 my heart = My heart, that I wanted to let you hear

• 들려주고 싶었던 – that I wanted to let you hear
  • 들리다 – to be heard
  • -어 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -었던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists

Nothing, nothing 이제 그만 = Nothing, nothing, now it’s no more

• 이제 – now
• 그만 – no more

의미조차 사라져 남겨진 love letter = Even the meaning disappears, all that was left behind is a love letter (literally: even the meaning disappears, a love letter that was left behind)

• 의미조차 – even the meaning
  • 의미 – meaning
  • -조차 – even
• 사라져 – disappears
  • 사라지다 – to disappear
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style
• 남겨진 – that was left behind
  • 남기다 – to leave behind
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past

입가에 맴도는 love me, love me = The “love me, love me” that lingers at the side of my mouth

• 입가에 – at the side of the mouth
  • 입가 – side of the mouth
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 맴도는 – that lingers
  • 맴돌다 – to linger, to circle
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present (ㄹ-irregular form)

삼키는 내 맘을 hold me, hold me = The “hold me, hold me” that swallows my heart

• 삼키는 – that swallows
  • 삼키다 – to swallow
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘을 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -을 – object marker

네가 주었던 사랑들론 = With all the love that you gave me

• 네가 – you
  • 너 – you (when used with -가 becomes 네)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 주었던 – that was given
  • 주다 – to give
  • -었던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 사랑들론 – with all the love (contraction of 사랑들으로는)
  • 사랑 – love
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -으로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
  • -는 – topic marker

내 맘이 다시 피지 못한 것처럼 = It’s like my heart couldn’t bloom again

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘이 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -이 – subject marker
• 다시 – again
• 피지 못한 것처럼 – it’s like it couldn’t bloom
  • 피다 – to bloom
  • -지 못하다 – to be unable to, to not be good at
  • -ㄴ 것처럼 – as if…, it’s like… (used with verbs, past tense)

혼자 남겨진 (혼자) 시간 속에 (어느새) = In the time (alone) where I was left behind alone (suddenly)

• 혼자 – alone, solitude
• 남겨진 – that was left behind
  • 남기다 – to leave behind
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 시간 – time
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 어느새 – already, suddenly, before realizing it

흐려지는 흔적 같아 = It’s like a trace that becomes blurry

• 흐려지는 – that becomes blurry
  • 흐려지다 – to become blurry, to become cloudy
    • 흐리다 – to be unclear, to be cloudy
    • -어지다 – to become
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 흔적 – trace
• 같아 – is the same
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

너와 난 추억 속에 잠겨 = You and I are absorbed in the memories

• 너와 – you and
  • 너 – you
  • -와 – and, with
• 난 – I (contraction of 나는)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -는 – topic marker
• 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 잠겨 – absorbe
  • 잠기다 – to sink, to be submerged, to be absorbed
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

서로를 지워 나가야 해 = We have to keep erasing each other

• 서로를 – each other
  • 서로 – each other
  • -를 – object marker
• 지워 나가야 해 – we have to keep erasing
  • 지우다 – to erase
  • -어 나가다 – to keep doing
  • -야 하다 – have to, must, should
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style

이미 차가워진 = That have already become cold (the sentence continues with the next lyrics)

• 이미 – already
• 차가워진 – that has become cold
  • 차가워지다 – to become cold (to the touch), to become cold-hearted
    • 차갑다 – to be cold (to the touch), to be cold-hearted
    • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past

네 눈 속에선 볼 수 없던 내 모습들 = My appearances that I couldn’t see inside your eyes (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning “my appearances that I couldn’t see inside your eyes that have already become cold”)

• 네 – your (contraction of 너의)
• 눈 – eye
• 속에선 – inside (contraction of 속에서는)
  • 속 – inside
  • -에서 – in, at, on (indicates the location where an action takes place)
  • -는 – topic marker
• 볼 수 없던 – that I couldn’t see
  • 보다 – to see, to look at
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -던 – indicates a repeated action in the past that doesn’t happen anymore, an ongoing action in the past, or a past state being remembered
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 모습들 – appearances
  • 모습 – appearance
  • -들 – plural marker

전하지 못했던 말들도 = Also the words that I couldn’t pass along

• 전하지 못했던 – that I couldn’t pass along
  • 전하다 – to pass along
  • -지 못하다 – to be unable to, to not be good at
  • -했던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 말들도 – also the words
  • 말 – words, speech
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -도 – too, also, even

다 소용없어 = It’s all useless

• 다 – all, everything
• 소용없어 – is useless
  • 소용없다 – to be useless
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

알려주고 싶었던 my heart = My heart, that I wanted to let you know

• 알려주고 싶었던 – that I wanted to let you know
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -어 주다 – to do something for someone (ㄹ-irregular form)
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -었던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists

Nothing, nothing 더는 그만 = Nothing, nothing, it’s no more

• 더는 – more
  • 더 – more
  • -는 – topic marker
• 그만 – no more

의미조차 사라진 마지막 love letter = Even the meaning that disappeared, the last love letter

• 의미조차 – even the meaning
  • 의미 – meaning
  • -조차 – even
• 사라진 – that disappeared
  • 사라지다 – to disappear
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 마지막 – end, last