Learn Korean with K-Pop: Loona yyxy – One Way

<< Learn Korean with K-Pop: a step‑by‑step grammar analysis of Loona songs

Here’s a full breakdown of the grammar and vocabulary of the lyrics of “One Way” by Loona yyxy. Repeated lines and lyrics entirely in English are omitted.

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 이름 – name
• 이곳 – here, this place
• 길 – road, way
• 쪽 – side, direction
• 미로 – labyrinth, maze
• 속 – inside
• 번 – occasion, time (as in first time, second time, etc.)
• 끝 – end
• 사랑 – love
• 혼자 – alone, solitude
• 기억 – faculty of memory, a recollection
• 모두 – all
• 손 – hand
• 마음 – heart, feeling
• 결국 – in the end, ultimately

Verbs

• 모르다 – to not know
• 잃어버리다 – to lose (completely, with a feeling of regret)
• 오다 – to come
• 가다 – to go (also used as an auxiliary verb indicating a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker)
• 갇히다 – to be locked up, to be trapped
• 걷다 – to walk
• 보다 – to see, to look at
• 묻다 – to ask
• 있다 – to stay, to remain at a location
• 약속하다 – to promise
• 담다 – to put into
• 주다 – to give (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to do something for someone”)
• 내밀다 – to push out, to hand out
• 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
• 돌아가다 – to return, to go back
• 찾다 – to search, to find
• 막히다 – to be blocked

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 낯설다 – to be strange, unfamiliar
• 멍하다 – to be spaced out
• 예쁘다 – to be pretty
• 희미하다 – to be faint

Adverbs

• 꼭 – tightly, firmly
• 아직 – still, not yet
• 그대로 – just like that, as it is
• 계속 – continuously
• 가득 – fully, completely
• 함께 – together
• 점점 – gradually

Pronouns

• 누구 – who, someone
• 너 – you (informal)
• 어디 – where
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의) (informal)
• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 여기 – here
• 우리 – we, us, our

Determiners

• 어느 – a certain, some
• 그 – that
• 이 – this

Numerals

• 한 – one (determiner form)

Other words

• 듯이 – as if
• -이다 – to be (copula)

Grammar

Particles

• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -도 – too, also, even
• -(으)로 – into, toward
  • -으로 after consonants
  • -로 after vowels or ㄹ
• -쯤 – about, around when
• -은/는 – topic marker
  • -은 after consonants
  • -는 after vowels
• -까지 – until
• -에게 – to (dative particle)
• -의 – possessive marker

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

• -ㄹ/을 – describing nouns with verbs/adjectives in the future
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -ㄴ/은/는 – describing nouns with adjectives
  • -ㄴ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은 if the stem ends in a consonant
  • -는 if the adjective ends in -있다 or -없다
• -ㄴ/은 것 같다 – it feels like, I think (past tense) (expressing an assumption, guess, or supposition about something that happened)
  • -ㄴ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -지 않다 – negative form
• -아야/어야/해야 되다/하다 – have to, must, should (되다 and 하다 can be used interchangeably with no change in meaning)
  • -아야 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어야 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해야 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -ㄹ까/을까 – should I…, could it be?
  • -ㄹ까 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을까 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -히 – turn an adjective ending in -하다 into an adverb
• -고 있다 – to be doing (progressive form)
• -ㄹ/을 수 있다 – can
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -다면 – if, with an emphasis on the fact that the adjective is a supposition/assumption
• -게 되다 – to end up doing something
• -ㄴ/는다면 – if, with an emphasis on the fact that the verb is a supposition/assumption
  • -ㄴ다면 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -는다면 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -는지 – whether, I wonder if… (used with verbs, present tense)
• -고 싶다 – want to…
• -아도/어도/해도 – even if…
  • -아도 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어도 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해도 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -자고 – in order to
• -았/었/했- – past tense marker
  • -았- if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -었- if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -했- if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -잖아 – you know, it’s obvious (emphasize that a statement is correct)
• -ㄴ데/은데/는데 – but, since, so (used with adjectives)
  • -ㄴ데 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은데 if the stem ends in a consonant
  • -는데 if the adjective ends in -있다 or -없다
• -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
• -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
• -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
• -아/어/해 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -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
• -는데 – but, since, so (used with verbs)
• -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• -ㄹ/을 수 없다 – can’t
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -라는 – named, called, that is… (used after -이다/아니다, which are sometimes omitted, with the ending being attached directly to the noun)
• -아/어/해 있다 – to be in a state
  • -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

Lyrics breakdown

이름 모를 낯선 이곳에 = In this unfamiliar nameless place

• 이름 – name
• 모를 – that is unknown
  • 모르다 – to not know
  • -ㄹ – describing nouns with verbs/adjectives in the future (in this case used to indicate a timeless fact)
• 낯선 – unfamiliar
  • 낯설다 – to be strange, unfamiliar
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives (ㄹ-irregular form)
• 이곳에 – in this place
  • 이곳 – here, this place
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)

길을 잃어버린 것 같아 = I think I lost the way

• 길을 – way
  • 길 – road, way
  • -을 – object marker
• 잃어버린 것 같아 – I think I lost
  • 잃어버리다 – to lose (completely, with a feeling of regret)
  • -ㄴ 것 같다 – it feels like, I think (past tense) (expressing an assumption, guess, or supposition about something that happened)
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

누구도 오지 않아 = No one is coming

• 누구도 – anyone
  • 누구 – who, someone
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 오지 않아 – doesn’t come
  • 오다 – to come
  • -지 않다 – negative form
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

어느 쪽으로 가야 할까? = Which way should I go?

• 어느 – a certain, some
• 쪽으로 – toward a direction
  • 쪽 – side, direction
  • -으로 – into, toward
• 가야 할까? – should I go?
  • 가다 – to go
  • -아야 하다 – have to, must, should
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

미로 속에 갇힌 듯이 = As if I have been trapped in a maze

• 미로 – labyrinth, maze
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 갇힌 듯이 – as if I have been trapped
  • 갇히다 – to be locked up, to be trapped
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • 듯이 – as if

멍하니 걷고 있어 = I’m walking blankly

• 멍하니 – blankly
  • 멍하다 – to be spaced out
  • -히 – turn an adjective ending in -하다 into an adverb (irregular form with -히 becoming -니)
• 걷고 있어 – I’m walking
  • 걷다 – to walk
  • -고 있다 – to be doing (progressive form)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

널 볼 수 있다면 = If I can see you

• 널 – you (contraction of 너를)
  • 너 – you
  • -를 – object marker
• 볼 수 있다면 – if I can see
  • 보다 – to see, to look at
  • -ㄹ 수 있다 – can
  • -다면 – if, with an emphasis on the fact that the adjective is a supposition/assumption

널 보게 된다면 = If I end up seeing you

• 널 – you (contraction of 너를)
  • 너 – you
  • -를 – object marker
• 보게 된다면 – if I end up seeing
  • 보다 – to see, to look at
  • -게 되다 – to end up doing something
  • -ㄴ다면 – if, with an emphasis on the fact that the verb is a supposition/assumption

어디로 가야 하는지 한번쯤은 묻고 싶어 = I want to ask you at least once where should I go

• 어디로 – where to
  • 어디 – where
  • -로 – into, toward
• 가야 하는지 – I wonder if I should go
  • 가다 – to go
  • -아야 하다 – have to, must, should
  • -는지 – whether, I wonder if… (used with verbs, present tense)
• 한번쯤은 – at least once
  • 한 – one (determiner form)
  • 번 – occasion, time (as in first time, second time, etc.)
  • -쯤 – about, around when
  • -은 – topic marker
• 묻고 싶어 – I want to ask you (you is implied)
  • 묻다 – to ask
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

내 길엔 = On my way

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 길엔 – on the way (contraction of 길에는)
  • 길 – road, way
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
  • -는 – topic marker

끝에 가도 한 길에 있자고 = In order to stay on the same road until the end

• 끝에 – to the end
  • 끝 – end
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 가도 – even if we go
  • 가다 – to go
  • -아도 – even if…
• 한 – one (determiner form)
• 길에 – on the road
  • 길 – road, way
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 있자고 – in order to stay
  • 있다 – to stay, to remain at a location
  • -자고 – in order to

꼭 약속했잖아 = We promised firmly

• 꼭 – tightly, firmly
• 약속했잖아 – we promised
  • 약속하다 – to promise
  • -했- – past tense marker
  • -잖아 – you know, it’s obvious (emphasize that a statement is correct)

난 아직까지 여기 그대론데 = I’m still right here, but

• 난 – I (contraction of 나는)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -는 – topic marker
• 아직까지 – still now
  • 아직 – still, not yet
  • -까지 – until
• 여기 – here
• 그대론데 – just like that, but (contraction of 그대로인데)
  • 그대로 – just like that, as it is
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -ㄴ데 – but, since, so (used with adjectives)

우리 사랑은 나 혼자 one way = Our love is a one way for me alone

• 우리 – we, us, our
• 사랑은 – love
  • 사랑 – love
  • -은 – topic marker
• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 혼자 – alone, solitude

계속 가고 있잖아 = I’m going continuously

• 계속 – continuously
• 가고 있잖아 – I’m going
  • 가다 – to go
  • -고 있다 – to be doing (progressive form)
  • -잖아 – you know, it’s obvious (emphasize that a statement is correct)

예쁜 기억을 가득 담아 = Filled with pretty memories

• 예쁜 – pretty
  • 예쁘다 – to be pretty
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 기억을 – memory
  • 기억 – faculty of memory, a recollection
  • -을 – object marker
• 가득 – fully, completely
• 담아 – I put into
  • 담다 – to put into
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

모두 네게 주고 싶어 = I want to give all of them to you

• 모두 – all
• 네게 – to you (contraction of 너에게)
  • 너 – you
  • -에게 – to (dative particle)
• 주고 싶어 – I want to give
  • 주다 – to give
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

그 손을 내밀어줘 = Please push out that hand

• 그 – that
• 손을 – hand
  • 손 – hand
  • -을 – object marker
• 내밀어줘 – please push out
  • 내밀다 – to push out, to hand out
  • -어 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

함께 걷던 이 길은 = This way that we walked together

• 함께 – together
• 걷던 – that we walked
  • 걷다 – to walk
  • -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
• 이 – this
• 길은 – way
  • 길 – road, way
  • -은 – topic marker

점점 희미해져 가는데 = Since it gradually becomes more faint

• 점점 – gradually
• 희미해져 가는데 – since it becomes more faint
  • 희미하다 – to be faint
  • -해지다 – to become
  • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -는데 – but, since, so (used with verbs)

돌아가는 길을 찾을 수 없어 = I can’t find the way back

• 돌아가는 – that returns
  • 돌아가다 – to return, to go back
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 길을 – way
  • 길 – road, way
  • -을 – object marker
• 찾을 수 없어 – can’t find
  • 찾다 – to search, to find
  • -을 수 없다 – can’t
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

사랑이란 한 길을 걷자고 = In order to walk this one way called love

• 사랑이란 – called love (contraction of 사랑이라는)
  • 사랑 – love
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -라는 – named, called, that is… (used after -이다/아니다, which are sometimes omitted, with the ending being attached directly to the noun)
• 한 – one (determiner form)
• 길을 – way
  • 길 – road, way
  • -을 – object marker
• 걷자고 – in order to walk
  • 걷다 – to walk
  • -자고 – in order to

너의 마음은 결국엔 no way = In the end, your heart is no way

• 너의 – your
  • 너 – you
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 마음은 – heart
  • 마음 – heart, feeling
  • -은 – topic marker
• 결국엔 – in the end (contraction of 결국에는)
  • 결국 – in the end, ultimately
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
  • -는 – topic marker

모두 막혀있잖아 = It’s all blocked

• 모두 – all
• 막혀있잖아 – it’s blocked
  • 막히다 – to be blocked
  • -어 있다 – to be in a state
  • -잖아 – you know, it’s obvious (emphasize that a statement is correct)