Learn Korean with K-Pop: Loona 1/3 – Sonatine

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Here’s a full breakdown of the grammar and vocabulary of the lyrics of “Sonatine” by Loona 1/3. Repeated lines and lyrics entirely in English are omitted.

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 비밀 – secret
• 시간 – time
• 순간 – moment
• 우주 – outer space, universe
• 별 – star
• 의미 – meaning
• 꿈 – dream
• 혼자 – alone, solitude
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 분 – minute
• 초 – second (time)
• 거리 – distance
• 힘 – strength, power
• 사실 – truth, reality, fact
• 암호 – password, code
• 한줄기 – ray, beam
• 어둠 – darkness
• 속 – inside
• 길 – road, way
• 끝 – end
• 빛 – light
• 밤 – night
• 모두 – all
• 마중 – meeting, greeting
• 세상 – world

Verbs

• 알다 – to know, to understand
• 가려지다 – to be blocked from view
• 숨기다 – to hide something
• 오다 – to come (also used as an auxiliary verb indicating a continuous action from the past into the present)
• 맞추다 – to adjust, to adapt, to match
• 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
• 만나다 – to meet
• 되다 – to become
• 반짝이다 – to sparkle
• 깨다 – to wake up
• 떨어지다 – to fall, to drop
• 보다 – to see, to look at
• 시작되다 – to start, to begin
• 모르다 – to not know
• 좁히다 – to narrow, to make smaller
• 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)
• 멈추다 – to stop, to halt
• 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
• 서두르다 – to hurry
• 내다 – to bring out, to put out
• 풀리다 – to be solved, to be untied
• 두근거리다 – to pound, to palpitate
• 떨리다 – to tremble, to shake
• 표현하다 – to express
• 따르다 – to follow
• 새기다 – to engrave
• 잠들다 – to go to sleep
• 건너다 – to cross
• 이뤄지다 – to be done, to be achieved, to be realized (alternative form of 이루어지다)
• 열리다 – to open

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 신비롭다 – to be mysterious
• 비밀스럽다 – to be secretive
• 수많다 – to be numerous
• 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
• 슬프다 – to be sad
• 그렇다 – to be like that
• 어색하다 – to be awkward
• 궁금하다 – to be curious
• 많다 – to be a lot, many, much
• 빠르다 – to be fast, to be quick, to be soon, to be early
• 새롭다 – to be new

Adverbs

• 갑자기 – suddenly
• 이미 – already
• 이제 – now
• 이대로 – just like this, as it is
• 조금 – a bit
• 더 – more
• 어쩌면 – perhaps
• 너무 – very, too
• 아직 – still, not yet
• 멀리 – far away
• 지금 – now
• 혹시나 – by any chance, maybe
• 그러면 – then, so

Pronouns

• 너 – you (informal)
• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 뭐 – what (interrogative pronoun, contraction of 무어)

Determiners

• 저 – that (over there)
• 어떤 – what kind of, some, certain
• 이 – this

Numerals

• 둘 – two
• 하나 – one
• 일 – one

Other words

• -이다 – to be (copula)
• 것 – thing

Grammar

Particles

• -에 – because of, with, by
• -이/가 – subject marker
  • -이 after consonants
  • -가 after vowels
• -의 – possessive marker
• -들 – plural marker
• -도 – too, also, even
• -에서 – from
• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -과/와 – and, with
  • -과 after consonants
  • -와 after vowels
• -은/는 – topic marker
  • -은 after consonants
  • -는 after vowels
• -에게 – to (dative particle)
• -까지 – until

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

• -ㄹ/을 수 없다 – can’t
  • -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 – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • -ㄴ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -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/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
• -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
• -스럽다 – turn a noun into an adjective, with the meaning of “having the property/feeling of…”
• -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
• -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
• -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• -게 하다/만들다 – to make, to let (someone do something) (하다 or 만들다 can be used interchangeably with no change in meaning)
• -(으)면 – if, when
  • -면 if the stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ
  • -으면 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)
• -(으)며 – and, while
  • -며 if the stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ
  • -으며 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -았을까/었을까/했을까 – was it? (wondering or speculating)
  • -았을까 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -었을까 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -했을까 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
• -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb
• -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
• -고 싶다 – want to…
• -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
• -ㄹ/을 것이다 – future tense
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -아요/어요/해요 – present tense, polite style
  • -아요 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -어요 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -해요 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -ㄹ게/을게 – I will… (a promise to do something)
  • -ㄹ게 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을게 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -요 – polite style marker
• -았어/었어/했어 – past tense, intimate style
  • -았어 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -었어 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -했어 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
• -ㄹ/을 수 있다 – can
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -겠어 – future tense, intimate style (implying intention, will, conjecture, personal belief, or information perceived at the present moment)
• -겠- – future speculative marker (implying intention, will, conjecture, personal belief, or information perceived at the present moment)
• -지 – you know, of course, right? (intimate style)
• -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)
• -ㄹ/을 텐데 – expresses expectation, assumption, regret, or contrast
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant

Lyrics breakdown

Korean song title: 알 수 없는 비밀 = Unknowable secret

• 알 수 없는 – unknowable (literally: that can’t be known)
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t (ㄹ-irregular form)
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 비밀 – secret

알 수 없는 비밀에 가려진 시간 = Time hidden by an unknowable secret

• 알 수 없는 – unknowable (literally: that can’t be known)
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t (ㄹ-irregular form)
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 비밀에 – by a secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -에 – because of, with, by
• 가려진 – that was blocked from view
  • 가려지다 – to be blocked from view
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 시간 – time

숨겨왔던 비밀이 맞춰질 순간 = The moment when the hidden secret will be solved

• 숨겨왔던 – that has been hidden
  • 숨기다 – to hide something
  • -어 오다 – indicates a continuous action from the past into the present
  • -았던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 비밀이 – the secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -이 – subject marker
• 맞춰질 – that will be solved
  • 맞추다 – to adjust, to adapt, to match
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄹ – describing nouns with verbs/adjectives in the future
• 순간 – moment

신비로운 너 비밀스런 나 = Mysterious you, secretive me

• 신비로운 – mysterious
  • 신비롭다 – to be mysterious
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅂ-irregular form)
• 너 – you
• 비밀스런 – secretive (contraction of 비밀스러운)
  • 비밀스럽다 – to be secretive
    • 비밀 – secret
    • -스럽다 – turn a noun into an adjective, with the meaning of “having the property/feeling of…”
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅂ-irregular form)
• 나 – I, me

둘이 만나 하나의 우주가 돼 = When the two of us meet, we become a single universe

• 둘이 – the two of us (of us is implied)
  • 둘 – two
  • -이 – subject marker
• 만나 – when we meet
  • 만나다 – to meet
  • -아 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one
• 하나의 – a single (literally: of one)
  • 하나 – one
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 우주가 – the universe
  • 우주 – outer space, universe
  • -가 – subject marker
• 돼 – become
  • 되다 – to become
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (되어 is contracted to 돼)

반짝이는 저 수많은 별들도 의미 없게 해 = You make even those numerous sparkling stars meaningless

• 반짝이는 – sparkling
  • 반짝이다 – to sparkle
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 저 – that (over there)
• 수많은 – numerous
  • 수많다 – to be numerous
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 별들도 – even the stars
  • 별 – star
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 의미 – meaning
• 없게 해 – make not have
  • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
  • -게 하다 – to make, to let (someone do something)
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style

꿈에서 깨면 꿈이라는 게 갑자기 슬퍼져 = When I wake up from my dream, the thing called a dream, I suddenly feel sad

• 꿈에서 – from my dream (my is implied)
  • 꿈 – dream
  • -에서 – from
• 깨면 – when I wake up
  • 깨다 – to wake up
  • -면 – if, when
• 꿈이라는 게 – the thing called a dream
  • 꿈 – dream
  • -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)
  • 게 – thing (contraction of 것이)
    • 것 – thing
    • -이 – subject marker
• 갑자기 – suddenly
• 슬퍼져 – become sad
  • 슬프다 – to be sad
  • -어지다 – to become (ㅡ-irregular form)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

그렇게 나 그렇게 나 혼자 떨어지는 별을 보며 = Like that, like that, while I look at falling stars alone

• 그렇게 – like that (repeated for emphasis)
  • 그렇다 – to be like that
  • -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb
• 나 – I, me (repeated for emphasis)
• 혼자 – alone, solitude
• 떨어지는 – falling
  • 떨어지다 – to fall, to drop
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 별을 – star
  • 별 – star
  • -을 – object marker
• 보며 – while I look
  • 보다 – to see, to look at
  • -며 – and, while

어떤 맘이었을까? = What kind of feeling was it?

• 어떤 – what kind of, some, certain
• 맘이었을까? – was it a feeling?
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -었을까 – was it? (wondering or speculating)

이미 시작된 걸까? = Has it already started?

• 이미 – already
• 시작된 걸까? – has it started? (contraction of 시작된 것일까?)
  • 시작되다 – to start, to begin
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • 것 – thing
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

일분에 일초도 모르게 = Without knowing even for one minute or one second

• 일분에 – in one minute
  • 일 – one
  • 분 – minute
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 일초도 – even one second
  • 일 – one
  • 초 – second (time)
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 모르게 – without knowing
  • 모르다 – to not know
  • -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb

너와 거리를 좁혀 가고 싶은데 = I want to make the distance with you smaller, so

• 너와 – with you
  • 너 – you
  • -와 – and, with
• 거리를 – the distance
  • 거리 – distance
  • -를 – object marker
• 좁혀 가고 싶은데 – I want to make it smaller, so
  • 좁히다 – to narrow, to make smaller
  • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -은데 – but, since, so (used with adjectives)

이제 맞춰질 거야 = We will be able to match now (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning “I want to make the distance with you smaller, so we will be able to match now”)

• 이제 – now
• 맞춰질 거야 – we will be able to match (literally: we will become matched, we is implied)
  • 맞추다 – to adjust, to adapt, to match
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄹ 것이다 – future tense (거 is a contraction of 것)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (-이다 follows unique rules and becomes -(이)야 (-이야 after consonants, -야 after vowels or in colloquial speech)

이대로 멈추면 안돼요 = We can’t stop like this

• 이대로 – just like this, as it is
• 멈추면 안돼요 – we can’t stop (literally: it’s not okay if we stop, we is implied)
  • 멈추다 – to stop, to halt
  • -면 – if, when
  • 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
  • -어요 – present tense, polite style (안되어요 is contracted to 안돼요)

조금 더 서둘러 힘을 낼게요 = I will hurry up a bit more and bring out my strength

• 조금 – a bit
• 더 – more
• 서둘러 – hurry up and
  • 서두르다 – to hurry
  • -어 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one (르-irregular form)
• 힘을 – the strength
  • 힘 – strength, power
  • -을 – object marker
• 낼게요 – I will bring out
  • 내다 – to bring out, to put out
  • -ㄹ게 – I will… (a promise to do something)
  • -요 – polite style marker

비밀의 비밀이 풀릴 거야 = The secret of a secret will be solved

• 비밀의 – of a secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 비밀이 – the secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -이 – subject marker
• 풀릴 거야 – will be solved
  • 풀리다 – to be solved, to be untied
  • -ㄹ 것이다 – future tense (거 is a contraction of 것)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (-이다 follows unique rules and becomes -(이)야 (-이야 after consonants, -야 after vowels or in colloquial speech)

두근거렸어 어색한 떨림 = My heart pounded, an awkward trembling

• 두근거렸어 – my heart pounded (my heart is implied)
  • 두근거리다 – to pound, to palpitate
  • -었어 – past tense, intimate style
• 어색한 – awkward
  • 어색하다 – to be awkward
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 떨림 – trembling
  • 떨리다 – to tremble, to shake
  • -ㅁ – turn a verb or adjective into a noun

표현할 수가 없어 = I can’t explain it

• 표현할 수가 없어 – I can’t explain it (literally: I can’t express it)
  • 표현하다 – to express
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -가 – subject marker (here used to add emphasis)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

사실은 나 어쩌면 너에게 궁금한 게 너무 많아 = The truth is that, maybe, there are many things that I’m curious about when it comes to you

• 사실은 – the truth
  • 사실 – truth, reality, fact
  • -은 – topic marker
• 나 – I, me
• 어쩌면 – perhaps
• 너에게 – to you
  • 너 – you
  • -에게 – to (dative particle)
• 궁금한 – curious
  • 궁금하다 – to be curious
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 게 – thing (contraction of 것이)
  • 것 – thing
  • -이 – subject marker
• 너무 – very, too
• 많아 – is a lot
  • 많다 – to be a lot, many, much
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

너의 암호가 뭘까? = What is your password?

• 너의 – your
  • 너 – you
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 암호가 – the password
  • 암호 – password, code
  • -가 – subject marker
• 뭘까? – what is it?
  • 뭐 – what (interrogative pronoun, contraction of 무어)
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

내가 알면 안될까? = Would it be wrong if I knew?

• 내가 – I (contraction of 나가)
  • 나 – I, me (when used with -가 becomes 내)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 알면 안될까? – would it be wrong if I knew?
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -면 – if, when
  • 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

비밀의 비밀이 풀릴까? = Could the secret of a secret be solved?

• 비밀의 – of a secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 비밀이 – the secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -이 – subject marker
• 풀릴까? – could it be solved?
  • 풀리다 – to be solved, to be untied
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

한줄기 어둠 속 = Inside the beam of darkness

• 한줄기 – ray, beam
• 어둠 – darkness
• 속 – inside

이 길의 끝에 = At the end of this road

• 이 – this
• 길의 – of the road
  • 길 – road, way
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 끝에 – at the end
  • 끝 – end
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)

만날 수 있을까? = Can we meet?

• 만날 수 있을까? – can we meet?
  • 만나다 – to meet
  • -ㄹ 수 있다 – can
  • -을까 – should I…, could it be?

아직까지 난 모르겠어 = I still don’t know now

• 아직까지 – still now
  • 아직 – still, not yet
  • -까지 – until
• 난 – I (contraction of 나는)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -는 – topic marker
• 모르겠어 – don’t know (literally: I wouldn’t know)
  • 모르다 – to not know
  • -겠어 – future tense, intimate style (implying intention, will, conjecture, personal belief, or information perceived at the present moment) (in this case it’s a conjecture rather than a literal future)

멀리 저 빛을 따라 = I follow that light far away

• 멀리 – far away
• 저 – that (over there)
• 빛을 – the light
  • 빛 – light
  • -을 – object marker
• 따라 – follow
  • 따르다 – to follow
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style (ㅡ-irregular form) (따르다 is one of few verbs that follows the ㅡ-irregular rather than the 르-irregular)

알 수 없는 비밀에 새겨진 시간 = Time engraved by an unknowable secret

• 알 수 없는 – unknowable (literally: that can’t be known)
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t (ㄹ-irregular form)
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 비밀에 – by a secret
  • 비밀 – secret
  • -에 – because of, with, by
• 새겨진 – that was engraved
  • 새기다 – to engrave
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 시간 – time

일분에 일초도 빠르게 = Quickly even for one minute or one second

• 일분에 – in one minute
  • 일 – one
  • 분 – minute
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 일초도 – even one second
  • 일 – one
  • 초 – second (time)
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 빠르게 – quickly
  • 빠르다 – to be fast, to be quick, to be soon, to be early
  • -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb

잠들 수 없는 밤을 지금 건너면 = If now we cross the sleepless night

• 잠들 수 없는 – sleepless
  • 잠들다 – to go to sleep
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t (ㄹ-irregular form)
  • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 밤을 – the night
  • 밤 – night
  • -을 – object marker
• 지금 – now
• 건너면 – if we cross (we is implied)
  • 건너다 – to cross
  • -면 – if, when

모두 이뤄지겠지 = It will all come true, right?

• 모두 – all
• 이뤄지겠지 – it will come true, right?
  • 이뤄지다 – to be done, to be achieved, to be realized (alternative form of 이루어지다)
  • -겠- – future speculative marker (implying intention, will, conjecture, personal belief, or information perceived at the present moment)
  • -지 – you know, of course, right? (intimate style)

혹시나 마중은 안되죠 = Maybe you can’t come meet me, right? (literally: maybe the meeting is not okay, right?)

• 혹시나 – by any chance, maybe
• 마중은 – meeting
  • 마중 – meeting, greeting
  • -은 – topic marker
• 안되죠 – it’s not okay, right?
  • 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
  • -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)

그러면 더 서둘러 힘을 낼 텐데 = Then I would hurry up more and bring out my strength

• 그러면 – then, so
• 더 – more
• 서둘러 – hurry up and
  • 서두르다 – to hurry
  • -어 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one (르-irregular form)
• 힘을 – the strength
  • 힘 – strength, power
  • -을 – object marker
• 낼 텐데 – I would bring out
  • 내다 – to bring out, to put out
  • -ㄹ 텐데 – expresses expectation, assumption, regret, or contrast

새로운 세상이 열릴 거야 = A new world will open

• 새로운 – new
  • 새롭다 – to be new
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅂ-irregular form)
• 세상이 – world
  • 세상 – world
  • 이 – subject marker
• 열릴 거야 – will open
  • 열리다 – to open
  • -ㄹ 것이다 – future tense (거 is a contraction of 것)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (-이다 follows unique rules and becomes -(이)야 (-이야 after consonants, -야 after vowels or in colloquial speech)