Learn Korean with K-Pop: JinSoul, Choerry – Puzzle

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

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 해 – Sun
• 비밀 – secret
• 속 – inside
• 어둠 – darkness
• 문 – door
• 빛 – light
• 암호 – password, code
• 조각 – piece
• 분 – minute
• 초 – second (time)
• 시간 – time
• 매력 – charm
• 사이 – interval, gap
• 틈새 – crack, crevice
• 시작 – start, beginning
• 지금 – now
• 미로 – labyrinth, maze
• 전부 – everything, all
• 흔적 – trace
• 질문 – question
• 힌트 – hint
• 마음 – heart, feeling
• 하루 – day
• 이틀 – two days
• 공간 – space
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 물음표 – question mark
• 실타래 – ball of yarn
• 꿈 – dream

Verbs

• 떠나가다 – to leave
• 잠기다 – to sink, to be submerged, to be absorbed
• 깊어지다 – to deepen
• 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
• 풀다 – to solve, to untie, to loosen
• 열리다 – to open
• 오다 – to come (also used as an auxiliary verb indicating a continuous action from the past into the present)
• 퍼지다 – to spread, to diffuse
• 흩어지다 – to be scattered
• 흩다 – to scatter
• 보이다 – to be seen, to look like
• 놓치다 – to miss, to lose (a chance, a moment, unintentionally), to let something go (intentionally)
• 스치다 – to graze, to brush
• 엇갈리다 – to be misaligned, to cross without meeting
• 맞추다 – to adjust, to adapt, to match
• 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)
• 보다 – to see, to look at (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to try doing”)
• 풀리다 – to be solved, to be untied
• 알다 – to know, to understand
• 끝나다 – to come to an end
• 찾다 – to search, to find
• 관하다 – to be in relation to
• 다가가다 – to approach
• 감추다 – to conceal
• 커지다 – to grow, to increase, to get bigger
• 주다 – to give
• 숨기다 – to hide something
• 두다 – to put, to leave behind, to keep (also used as an auxiliary verb)
• 흘러가다 – to flow, to pass by
• 번지다 – to spread
• 드러나다 – to appear
• 들여다보다 – to look into
• 벗어나다 – to go out, to deviate
• 헤어나다 – to escape
• 말다 – to not do, to stop doing (auxiliary verb used to form negative imperatives)
• 나가다 – to go out (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to keep doing”)
• 엉키다 – to tangle, to knot
• 만지다 – to touch
• 잡히다 – to be caught

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 깊다 – to be deep
• 같다 – to be the same
• 희미하다 – to be faint
• 아깝다 – to be precious
• 크다 – to be big
• 선명하다 – to be clear, to be vivid
• 궁금하다 – to be curious

Adverbs

• 조금씩 – bit by bit
• 함께 – together
• 매번 – all the time
• 다 – all, everything
• 더 – more
• 조용히 – quietly, silently
• 영원히 – forever
• 마치 – just like, the same

Pronouns

• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 너 – you (informal)
• 아무도 – anything, nothing, no one
• 네 – your (contraction of 너의) (informal)
• 어디 – where

Numerals

• 일 – one
• 하나 – one
• 열 – ten

Grammar

Particles

• -이/가 – subject marker
  • -이 after consonants
  • -가 after vowels
• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -의 – possessive marker
• -과/와 – and, with
  • -과 after consonants
  • -와 after vowels
• -만 – only
• -처럼 – like, as, as if
• -도 – too, also, even
• -에 – because of, with, by
• -(으)로 – into, toward
  • -으로 after consonants
  • -로 after vowels or ㄹ
• -은/는 – topic marker
  • -은 after consonants
  • -는 after vowels
• -부터 – starting from, since
• -까지 – until
• -에 – about, to, for
• -들 – plural marker
• -서 – from (contraction of -에서)

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

• -ㄹ/을 때 – when
  • -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 – 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
• -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
• -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 오다 – indicates a continuous action from the past into the present
  • -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
• -(으)면 – if, when
  • -면 if the stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ
  • -으면 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
• -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
• -고 싶다 – want to…
• -아서/어서/해서 – by doing/being, while doing/being
  • -아서 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어서 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해서 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -아/어/해 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one
  • -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
• -ㄹ/을 수 없다 – can’t
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -아/어/해 보다 – to try 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
• -ㄹ까/을까 – should I…, could it be?
  • -ㄹ까 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을까 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -지 않다 – negative form
• -ㄹ수록/을수록 – the more
  • -ㄹ수록 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을수록 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -고 – and (connective ending)
• -ㄹ/을 듯하다 – it looks like, it feels like (future tense)
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -ㄹ래/을래 – will you?, would you like to?
  • -ㄹ래 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을래 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -아/어/해 두다 – to put, to leave behind, to keep
  • -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
• -듯 – like, as if (contraction of -듯이)
• -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
• -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

Lyrics breakdown

해가 나를 떠나갈 때 = When the Sun leaves me

• 해가 – the Sun
  • 해 – Sun
  • -가 – subject marker
• 나를 – me
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 떠나갈 때 – when it leaves
  • 떠나가다 – to leave
  • -ㄹ 때 – when

너란 비밀 속에 잠겨 = I’m absorbed inside the secret that is you

• 너란 – that is you (contraction of 너라는)
  • 너 – you
  • -라는 – named, called, that is… (used after -이다/아니다, which are sometimes omitted, with the ending being attached directly to the noun)
• 비밀 – secret
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 잠겨 – I’m absorbed
  • 잠기다 – to sink, to be submerged, to be absorbed
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

조금씩 깊어진 어둠에 = In the darkness that has deepened bit by bit

• 조금씩 – bit by bit
• 깊어진 – that has deepened
  • 깊어지다 – to deepen
    • 깊다 – to be deep
    • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 어둠에 – in the darkness
  • 어둠 – darkness
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)

아무도 풀지 못했던 = That no one could open (the sentence continues with the next lyrics)

• 아무도 – anything, nothing, no one
• 풀지 못했던 – that couldn’t be opened
  • 풀다 – to solve, to untie, to loosen
  • -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

비밀의 문이 열려오면 = When the secret door starts to open (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning: “when the secret door that no one could open starts to open”)

• 비밀의 – of the secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 문이 – the door
  • 문 – door
  • -이 – subject marker
• 열려오면 – when it starts to open
  • 열리다 – to open
  • -어 오다 – indicates a continuous action from the past into the present
  • -면 – if, when

너와 함께 퍼지던 빛 = The light that used to spread with you

• 너와 – with you
  • 너 – you
  • -와 – and, with
• 함께 – together
• 퍼지던 – that used to spread
  • 퍼지다 – to spread, to diffuse
  • -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
• 빛 – light

Yup 24/7 암호 같은 널 풀고만 싶어져 = I end up only wanting to solve you, who are like a password

• 암호 – password, code
• 같은 – same
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 널 – you (contraction of 너를)
  • 너 – you
  • -를 – object marker
• 풀고만 싶어져 – I end up only wanting to solve
  • 풀다 – to solve, to untie, to loosen
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -만 – only
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

조각처럼 흩어져서 희미해 보여 = While being scattered like a puzzle piece, you look faint

• 조각처럼 – like a puzzle piece (puzzle is implied)
  • 조각 – piece
  • -처럼 – like, as, as if
• 흩어져서 – while being scattered
  • 흩어지다 – to be scattered
    • 흩다 – to scatter
    • -어지다 – to become
  • -어서 – by doing/being, while doing/being
• 희미해 – faint
  • 희미하다 – to be faint
  • -해 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one
• 보여 – looks like
  • 보이다 – to be seen, to look like
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

일 분 일 초 (시간도) 아까워 (아까워) = Even one minute, one second (even time) is precious (precious)

• 일 – one
• 분 – minute
• 초 – second (time)
• 시간도 – even time
  • 시간 – time
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 아까워 – is precious
  • 아깝다 – to be precious
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (ㅂ-irregular form)

놓칠 수 없는 네 매력에 = Because of your unmissable charm

• 놓칠 수 없는 – that can’t be missed
  • 놓치다 – to miss, to lose (a chance, a moment, unintentionally), to let something go (intentionally)
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 네 – your (contraction of 너의)
• 매력에 – because of the charm
  • 매력 – charm
  • -에 – because of, with, by

떠나간 시간 사이로 매번 넌 스쳐 = In the passing time, you brush past all the time (literally: in the interval of time that left, you brush past all the time)

• 떠나간 – that left
  • 떠나가다 – to leave
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 시간 – time
• 사이로 – in the interval
  • 사이 – interval, gap
  • -로 – into, toward
• 매번 – all the time
• 넌 – you (contraction of 너는)
  • 너 – you
  • -는 – topic marker
• 스쳐 – brush past
  • 스치다 – to graze, to brush
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

엇갈린 틈새를 맞춰가 볼까 = Should we try adjusting the misaligned cracks?

• 엇갈린 – that was misaligned
  • 엇갈리다 – to be misaligned, to cross without meeting
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 틈새를 – the cracks
  • 틈새 – crack, crevice
  • -를 – object marker
• 맞춰가 볼까 – should we try adjusting?
  • 맞추다 – to adjust, to adapt, to match
  • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -아 보다 – to try doing
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

풀리지 않았던 puzzle puzzle = Unsolved puzzle puzzle

• 풀리지 않았던 – that wasn’t solved
  • 풀리다 – to be solved, to be untied
  • -지 않다 – negative form
  • -았던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists

하나부터 열까지 = From one to ten

• 하나부터 – from one
  • 하나 – one
  • -부터 – starting from, since
• 열까지 – to ten
  • 열 – ten
  • -까지 – until

알 수가 없는 trouble trouble = Unknowable trouble trouble

• 알 수가 없는 – unknowable (literally: that can’t be known)
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -가 – subject marker (here used for emphasis)
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives

시작부터 지금까지 = From the start until now

• 시작부터 – from the start
  • 시작 – start, beginning
  • -부터 – starting from, since
• 지금까지 – until now
  • 지금 – now
  • -까지 – until

끝나지 않는 미로 속에 = Inside this endless maze

• 끝나지 않는 – that doesn’t end
  • 끝나다 – to come to an end
  • -지 않다 – negative form
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 미로 – labyrinth, maze
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)

너를 다 찾고 싶어 = I want to find all of you

• 너를 – you
  • 너 – you
  • -를 – object marker
• 다 – all, everything
• 찾고 싶어 – I want to find
  • 찾다 – to search, to find
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

너에 관한 전부를 = All that was related to you

• 너에 – to you
  • 너 – you
  • -에 – about, to, for
• 관한 – that was related to
  • 관하다 – to be in relation to
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 전부를 – all
  • 전부 – everything, all
  • -를 – object marker

내가 더 다가갈수록 넌 = The more I approach you

• 내가 – I
  • 나 – I, me (when used with -가 becomes 내)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 더 – more
• 다가갈수록 – the more I approach
  • 다가가다 – to approach
  • -ㄹ수록 – the more
• 넌 – you (contraction of 너는)
  • 너 – you
  • -는 – topic marker

조용히 흔적을 감추고 = You quietly conceal your traces and

• 조용히 – quietly, silently
• 흔적을 – the trace
  • 흔적 – trace
  • -을 – object marker
• 감추고 – conceal and
  • 감추다 – to conceal
  • -고 – and (connective ending)

영원히 알 수 없을 듯한 = That it looks like I won’t ever know (the sentence continues with the next lyrics)

• 영원히 – forever
• 알 수 없을 듯한 – that it looks like I won’t know
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -을 듯하다 – it looks like, it feels like (future tense)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives

질문들이 커져만 가 = The questions only continue to grow (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning: “The questions that it looks like I won’t ever answer to only continue to grow”)

• 질문들이 – the questions
  • 질문 – question
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -이 – subject marker
• 커져만 가 – only continues to grow
  • 커지다 – to grow, to increase, to get bigger
    • 크다 – to be big
    • -어지다 – to become (ㅡ-irregular form)
  • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -만 – only (attached to the main verb)
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

Yup 365 암호 같은 너 더 힌트를 줄래? = Yup 365, you, who are like a password, will give me more hints?

• 암호 – password, code
• 같은 – same
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 너 – you
• 더 – more
• 힌트를 – a hint
  • 힌트 – hint
  • -를 – object marker
• 줄래? – will you give?
  • 주다 – to give
  • -ㄹ래 – will you?, would you like to?

Hush 마음 속에 숨겨둔 비밀을 = Hush, the secret that was kept secret inside your heart

• 마음 – heart, feeling
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 숨겨둔 – that was kept hidden
  • 숨기다 – to hide something
  • -어 두다 – to put, to leave behind, to keep
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 비밀을 – the secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -을 – object marker

하루 이틀 (시간이) 흘러가 (흘러가) = One day, two days, the time flows (flows)

• 하루 – day
• 이틀 – two days
• 시간이 – the time
  • 시간 – time
  • -이 – subject marker
• 흘러가 – flows
  • 흘러가다 – to flow, to pass by
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

번져만 가는 네 매력에 = Because of your charm that only continues to spread

• 번져만 가는 – that only continues to spread
  • 번지다 – to spread
  • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -만 – only (attached to the main verb)
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 네 – your (contraction of 너의)
• 매력에 – because of the charm
  • 매력 – charm
  • -에 – because of, with, by

흩어진 공간 사이로 조금씩 드러나 = Appear bit by bit in the interval of space that becomes scattered

• 흩어진 – that becomes scattered
  • 흩어지다 – to be scattered
    • 흩다 – to scatter
    • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 공간 – space
• 사이로 – in the interval
  • 사이 – interval, gap
  • -로 – into, toward
• 조금씩 – bit by bit
• 드러나 – appear
  • 드러나다 – to appear
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

더 선명해진 맘 들여다볼까? = Should I look into your heart that has become clearer?

• 더 – more
• 선명해진 – that has become clear
  • 선명하다 – to be clear, to be vivid
  • -해지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 들여다볼까? – should I look into
  • 들여다보다 – to look into
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

벗어날 수 없는 = Can’t go out

• 벗어날 수 없는 – can’t go out (literally: that you can’t go out of)
  • 벗어나다 – to go out, to deviate
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives

헤어날 수 없는 = Can’t escape

• 헤어날 수 없는 – can’t escape (literally: that you can’t escape from)
  • 헤어나다 – to escape
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives

알듯 말듯 궁금해져 가 = As if I know, as if I don’t, I continue to get curious

• 알듯 – as if I know
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -듯 – like, as if (contraction of -듯이)
• 말듯 – as if I don’t
  • 말다 – to not do, to stop doing (auxiliary verb used to form negative imperatives)
  • -듯 – like, as if (contraction of -듯이)
• 궁금해져 가 – I continue to get curious
  • 궁금하다 – to be curious
  • -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
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

커져만 가는 물음표 = The question mark that only continues to grow

• 커져만 가는 – that only continues to grow
  • 커지다 – to grow, to increase, to get bigger
    • 크다 – to be big
    • -어지다 – to become (ㅡ-irregular form)
  • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -만 – only (attached to the main verb)
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 물음표 – question mark

어디서부터 풀어나가야 해? = From where do we have to keep solving it?

• 어디서부터 – from where
  • 어디 – where
  • -서 – from (contraction of -에서)
  • -부터 – starting from, since
• 풀어나가야 해? – do we have to keep solving?
  • 풀다 – to solve, to untie, to loosen
  • -어 나가다 – to keep doing
  • -아야 하다 – have to, must, should
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style

마치 엉킨 실타래 같아 = It’s just the same as a tangled ball of yarn

• 마치 – just like, the same
• 엉킨 – that was tangled
  • 엉키다 – to tangle, to knot
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 실타래 – ball of yarn
• 같아 – is the same
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

알아가면 알수록 더 = The more I continue to know you

• 알아가면 – when I continue to know you (you is implied)
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -아 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -면 – if, when
• 알수록 – the more I know
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -ㄹ수록 – the more (ㄹ-irregular form)
• 더 – more

다가가면 갈수록 더 = The more I continue to approach you

• 다가가면 – when I continue to approach you (you is implied)
  • 다가가다 – to approach
  • -아 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -면 – if, when
• 갈수록 – the more I go
  • 가다 – to go
  • -ㄹ수록 – the more
• 더 – more

만질 수 없는 bubble bubble = Untouchable bubble bubble

• 만질 수 없는 – untouchable (literally: that can’t be touched)
  • 만지다 – to touch
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives

잡히지 않는 꿈 같은 = Like an uncatchable dream

• 잡히지 않는 – uncatchable (literally: that can’t be caught)
  • 잡히다 – to be caught
  • -지 않다 – negative form
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 꿈 – dream
• 같은 – same
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives