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

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

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 3월 (삼월) – March
• 날 – day
• 첨 – first time, beginning (contraction of 처음)
• 그때 – that time
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 눈 – eye
• 인사 – greeting
• 한마디 – one word
• 말 – words, speech
• 손 – hand
• 2월 (이월) – February
• 상자 – box
• 반 – half
• 다음 – next, following
• 달 – month
• 지구 – Earth
• 이번 – this time
• 부담 – burden
• 고민 – worry, concern
• 속 – inside
• 하루 – day
• 목소리 – voice
• 기분 – mood, feeling
• 꿈 – dream
• 아무것 – anything, something
• 어제 – yesterday
• 봄 – spring
• 초콜릿 – chocolate
• 물론 – of course
• 남친 – boyfriend (contraction of 남자친구)

Verbs

• 기다리다 – to wait
• 추워지다 – to get cold
• 시작하다 – to begin
• 마주치다 – to meet, to run into
• 더듬다 – to stutter
• 돌아서다 – to turn around
• 떨리다 – to tremble, to shake
• 맘먹다 – to be determined, to make a decision
• 건네다 – to hand over
• 꺼내다 – to take out
• 담다 – to put into
• 되다 – to become
• 느끼다 – to feel
• 알아채다 – to sense, to realize
• 느려지다 – to slow down
• 길어지다 – to become longer
• 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
• 주다 – to give (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to do something for someone”)
• 보내다 – to spend time
• 부르다 – to name, to call out, to sing, to shout
• 헷갈리다 – to get confused
• 이러다 – to do this, to say this
• 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
• 보이다 – to show
• 기대하다 – to expect, to look forward to
• 생기다 – to obtain, to be formed, to occur

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 그렇다 – to be like that
• 어색하다 – to be awkward
• 답답하다 – to be frustrated, to be suffocating
• 소심하다 – to be timid
• 크다 – to be big
• 작다 – to be small
• 조급하다 – to be impatient
• 괜하다 – to be useless (contraction of 공연하다)
• 달콤하다 – to be sweet
• 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
• 똑같다 – to be identical
• 복잡하다 – to be complicated, to be crowded

Adverbs

• 막 – just now, right when
• 잘 – well
• 못 – can’t
• 다 – all, everything
• 너무 – very, too
• 진짜 – really
• 안 – not
• 그래도 – nevertheless
• 더욱 – even more
• 왜 – why
• 이리 – so, in this way
• 혹시 – by any chance, maybe
• 근데 – by the way, however, nonetheless
• 그럼 – then, so (contraction of 그러면)
• 많이 – a lot, many, much
• 그러니 – therefore (contraction of 그러니까)
• 이제 – now

Pronouns

• 우리 – we, us, our
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의) (informal)
• 나 – I, me
• 그대 – you (poetic, formal)

Determiners

• 어느 – a certain, some
• 이 – this

Other words

• -이다 – to be (copula)
• 것 – thing
• 사르르 – slowly, softly
• 헐 – oh my, wow
• 대박 – awesome

Grammar

Particles

• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -이/가 – subject marker
  • -이 after consonants
  • -가 after vowels
• -부터 – starting from, since
• -도 – too, also, even
• -에 – because of, with, by
• -(으)로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
  • -으로 after consonants
  • -로 after vowels or ㄹ
• -의 – possessive marker
• -에서 – in, at, on (indicates the location where an action takes place)
• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -(이)랑 – and, with (informal)
  • -이랑 after consonants
  • -랑 after vowels
• -은/는 – topic marker
  • -은 after consonants
  • -는 after vowels
• -보다 – than (comparative particle)

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

• -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
• -기 – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
• -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
• -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
• -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
• -고 – and (connective ending)
• -(으)면 – if, when
  • -면 if the stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ
  • -으면 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -아/어/해 하다 – turn an adjective into a verb
  • -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
• -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
• -기엔 – for (doing something), to be (something) (indicates the base for a judgement) (contraction of -기에는)
• -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
• -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)
• -았다면/었다면/했다면 – if (past tense), with an emphasis on the fact that the verb/adjective is a supposition/assumption
  • -았다면 if the last vowel in the stem is ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -었다면 if the last vowel in the stem is not ㅗ or ㅏ
  • -했다면 if the verb/adjective ends with -하다
• -아도/어도/해도 되다 – may, to be okay if… (used to give or ask for permission)
  • -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
• -나(요) – interrogative marker
  • -나 in intimate style
  • -나요 in polite style
• -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
• -ㄹ까/을까 – should I…, could it be?
  • -ㄹ까 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을까 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -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
• -기도 하다 – too, also, even
• -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 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
• -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

Lyrics breakdown

Korean song title: 3월을 기다려 = Waiting for March (literally: I wait for March)

• 3월을 – March
  • 3월 – March
  • -을 – object marker
• 기다려 – I wait
  • 기다리다 – to wait
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

막 추워지기 시작하던 어느 날 = One day, just as it started to become cold

• 막 – just now, right when
• 추워지기 – become cold
  • 추워지다 – to get cold
  • -기 – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
• 시작하던 – started
  • 시작하다 – to begin
  • -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
• 어느 날 – one day
  • 어느 – a certain, some
  • 날 – day

우리가 첨 마주쳤던 어느 날 = One day, when we had met each other for the first time

• 우리가 – we
  • 우리 – we, us, our
  • -가 – subject marker
• 첨 – first time, beginning (contraction of 처음)
• 마주쳤던 – had met
  • 마주치다 – to meet, to run into
  • -었던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 어느 날 – one day
  • 어느 – a certain, some
  • 날 – day

그때부터 내 맘이 그랬어 = Since that time, I felt like that (literally: since that time, my heart was like that)

• 그때부터 – since that time
  • 그때 – that time
  • -부터 – starting from, since
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘이 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -이 – subject marker
• 그랬어 – was like that
  • 그렇다 – to be like that
  • -었어 – past tense, intimate style (ㅎ-irregular form)

어색해 눈도 잘 못 마주치고 = I’m awkward, I can’t even look at you and (literally: I’m awkward, even the eyes can’t meet well and)

• 어색해 – I’m awkward
  • 어색하다 – to be awkward
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style
• 눈도 – even the eyes
  • 눈 – eye
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 잘 – well
• 못 – can’t
• 마주치고 – meet and
  • 마주치다 – to meet, to run into
  • -고 – and (connective ending)

인사 한마디에도 말을 더듬고 = I stutter even with a simple greeting and (literally: I stutter the words even with a one-word greeting and)

• 인사 – greeting
• 한마디에도 – even with one word
  • 한마디 – one word
  • -에 – because of, with, by
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 말을 – words
  • 말 – words, speech
  • -을 – object marker
• 더듬고 – I stutter
  • 더듬다 – to stutter
  • -고 – and (connective ending)

돌아서면 답답해 했어 = When I turned around, I was frustrated

• 돌아서면 – when I turned around (the past comes from the following verb)
  • 돌아서다 – to turn around
  • -면 – if, when
• 답답해 했어 – I was frustrated
  • 답답하다 – to be frustrated, to be suffocating
  • -해 하다 – turn an adjective into a verb
  • -했어 – past tense, intimate style

소심하던 내가 떨리는 손으로 = I, who used to be timid, with trembling hands

• 소심하던 – used to be timid
  • 소심하다 – to be timid
  • -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
• 내가 – I (contraction of 나가)
  • 나 – I, me (when used with -가 becomes 내)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 떨리는 – that tremble
  • 떨리다 – to tremble, to shake
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 손으로 – with hands
  • 손 – hand
  • -으로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)

큰 맘먹고 건넸던 2월의 chocolate = I made a big decision and I handed over February’s chocolate

• 큰 – big
  • 크다 – to be big
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 맘먹고 – I made a decision and
  • 맘먹다 – to be determined, to make a decision
  • -고 – and (connective ending)
• 건넸던 – I handed over
  • 건네다 – to hand over
  • -었던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists (when the stem ends in ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅔ, or ㅐ, the -어 is dropped)
• 2월의 – of February
  • 2월 – February
  • -의 – possessive marker

Oh boy 내 맘을 다 꺼내 담기엔 = Oh boy, I took out all my heart and put it in there, as for that (the sentence continues with the next lyrics and only makes sense when completed)

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘을 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -을 – object marker
• 다 – all, everything
• 꺼내 – took out and (the past comes from the tense marker at the end of the sentence)
  • 꺼내다 – to take out
  • -어 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one (when the stem ends in ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅔ, or ㅐ, the -어 is dropped)
• 담기엔 – for putting into
  • 담다 – to put into
  • -기엔 – for (doing something), to be (something) (indicates the base for a judgement) (contraction of -기에는)

너무 작은 상자였죠 = It was a box too small (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning “Oh boy, it was a box too small to contain everything I took out from my heart” (literally: Oh boy, I took out all my heart and it was a box too small for putting it in))

• 너무 – very, too
• 작은 – small
  • 작다 – to be small
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 상자였죠 – was a box
  • 상자 – box
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -었- – past tense marker
  • -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)

진짜 반의 반의 반도 안 돼 = Really, it’s not even a tiny fraction (literally: really, it doesn’t even become half of half of half of it)

• 진짜 – really
• 반의 반의 반도 – even half of half of half
  • 반 – half
  • -의 – possessive marker
  • -도 – too, also, even
• 안 – not
• 돼 – becomes
  • 되다 – to become
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (되어 is contracted to 돼)

그래도 느꼈다면 = Nevertheless, if you felt it

• 그래도 – nevertheless
• 느꼈다면 – if you felt it
  • 느끼다 – to feel
  • -었다면 – if (past tense), with an emphasis on the fact that the verb/adjective is a supposition/assumption

내 맘을 알아챘다면 = If you sensed my heart

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘을 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -을 – object marker
• 알아챘다면 – if you sensed
  • 알아채다 – to sense, to realize
  • -었다면 – if (past tense), with an emphasis on the fact that the verb/adjective is a supposition/assumption (when the stem ends in ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅔ, or ㅐ, the -어 is dropped)

내가 다음 달을 기다려도 되나요? = May I wait for next month?

• 내가 – I (contraction of 나가)
  • 나 – I, me (when used with -가 becomes 내)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 다음 – next, following
• 달을 – month
  • 달 – month
  • -을 – object marker
• 기다려도 되나요? – may I wait?
  • 기다리다 – to wait
  • -어도 되다 – may, to be okay if… (used to give or ask for permission)
  • -나요 – interrogative marker, polite style

지구가 더욱 느려진 걸까? = Could it be that the Earth has slowed down even more? (literally: could the Earth be the thing that slowed down even more?)

• 지구가 – the Earth
  • 지구 – Earth
  • -가 – subject marker
• 더욱 – even more
• 느려진 – that slowed down
  • 느려지다 – to slow down
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 걸까? – could it be the thing? (contraction of 것일까?)
  • 것 – thing
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

이번부터 2월이 길어졌나? = Did this February get longer? (literally: starting from this time, did February get longer?)

• 이번부터 – starting from this time
  • 이번 – this time
  • -부터 – starting from, since
• 2월이 – February
  • 2월 – February
  • -이 – subject marker
• 길어졌나? – did it get longer
  • 길어지다 – to become longer
  • -었- – past tense marker
  • -나 – interrogative marker, intimate style

왜 이리 맘이 조급해지죠? = Why does my heart become so impatient?

• 왜 – why
• 이리 – so, in this way
• 맘이 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -이 – subject marker
• 조급해지죠? – does it become impatient?
  • 조급하다 – to be impatient
  • -해지다 – to become
  • -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)

혹시 내가 너무 부담을 준 걸까? = Maybe did I give you too much burden? (literally: maybe I am the thing that gave too much burden?)

• 혹시 – by any chance, maybe
• 내가 – I (contraction of 나가)
  • 나 – I, me (when used with -가 becomes 내)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 너무 – very, too
• 부담을 – burden
  • 부담 – burden
  • -을 – object marker
• 준 – that gave
  • 주다 – to give (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to do something for someone”)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 걸까? – could it be the thing? (contraction of 것일까?)
  • 것 – thing
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

괜한 고민 속에서 하루를 보내요 = I spend the day inside useless worries

• 괜한 – useless
  • 괜하다 – to be useless (contraction of 공연하다)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 고민 – worry, concern
• 속에서 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에서 – in, at, on (indicates the location where an action takes place)
• 하루를 – the day
  • 하루 – day
  • -를 – object marker
• 보내요 – I spend
  • 보내다 – to spend time
  • -어요 – present tense, polite style (when the stem ends in ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅔ, or ㅐ, the -어 is dropped)

그대가 날 부르는 목소리 = Your voice that calls me (literally: the voice with which you call me)

• 그대가 – you
  • 그대 – you (poetic, formal)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 날 – me (contraction of 나를)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 부르는 – that calls
  • 부르다 – to name, to call out, to sing, to shout
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 목소리 – voice

사르르 달콤한 이 기분에 = In this sweet and soft feeling

• 사르르 – slowly, softly
• 달콤한 – sweet
  • 달콤하다 – to be sweet
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 이 – this
• 기분에 – in the feeling
  • 기분 – mood, feeling
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)

혹시 꿈일까 헷갈리기도 해 = I get confused too, maybe it’s a dream

• 혹시 – by any chance, maybe
• 꿈일까 – is it a dream?
  • 꿈 – dream
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?
• 헷갈리기도 해 – I get confused too
  • 헷갈리다 – to get confused
  • -기도 하다 – too, also, even
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style

근데 이러고 아무것도 없음 안돼 = By the way, it’s not okay if after all this nothing happens (literally: by the way, to do this and then nothing at all it’s not okay)

• 근데 – by the way, however, nonetheless
• 이러고 – do this and
  • 이러다 – to do this, to say this
  • -고 – and (connective ending)
• 아무것도 없음 – nothing at all
  • 아무것 – anything, something
  • -도 – too, also, even
  • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
  • -음 – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
• 안돼 – it’s not okay
  • 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (안되어 is contracted to 안돼)

어제랑 똑같음 안돼 = It can’t be the same as yesterday (literally: being identical as yesterday is not okay)

• 어제랑 – as yesterday (literally: with yesterday)
  • 어제 – yesterday
  • -랑 – and, with (informal)
• 똑같음 – being identical
  • 똑같다 – to be identical
  • -음 – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
• 안돼 – it’s not okay
  • 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (안되어 is contracted to 안돼)

그럼 내 맘이 많이 복잡해져 = Then my heart becomes so complicated

• 그럼 – then, so (contraction of 그러면)
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘이 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -이 – subject marker
• 많이 – a lot, many, much
• 복잡해져 – becomes complicated
  • 복잡하다 – to be complicated, to be crowded
  • -해지다 – to become
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

그러니 이번 봄에는 = So during this spring

• 그러니 – therefore (contraction of 그러니까)
• 이번 – this time
• 봄에는 – in the spring
  • 봄 – spring
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
  • -는 – topic marker

그대의 맘을 보여줘 = Please show me your heart

• 그대의 – your
  • 그대 – you (poetic, formal)
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 맘을 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -을 – object marker
• 보여줘 – please show me (me is implied)
  • 보이다 – to show
  • -어 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

말보다 달콤한 그댈 기대할게 = I will look forward to you, who is sweeter than words

• 말보다 – than words
  • 말 – words, speech
  • -보다 – than (comparative particle)
• 달콤한 – sweet
  • 달콤하다 – to be sweet
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 그댈 – you (contraction of 그대를)
  • 그대 – you (poetic, formal)
  • -를 – object marker
• 기대할게 – I will look forward to
  • 기대하다 – to expect, to look forward to
  • -ㄹ게 – I will… (a promise to do something)

진짜 다음 달을 기다려도 되나요? = May I really wait for next month?

• 진짜 – really
• 다음 – next, following
• 달을 – month
  • 달 – month
  • -을 – object marker
• 기다려도 되나요? – may I wait?
  • 기다리다 – to wait
  • -어도 되다 – may, to be okay if… (used to give or ask for permission)
  • -나요 – interrogative marker, polite style

초콜릿 줬어? = Did you give him the chocolate?

• 초콜릿 – chocolate
• 줬어? – did you give him? (him is implied)
  • 주다 – to give (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to do something for someone”)
  • -었어 – past tense, intimate style

물론이야 = Of course

• 물론이야 – of course
  • 물론 – of course
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (-이다 follows unique rules and becomes -(이)야 (-이야 after consonants, -야 after vowels or in colloquial speech)

헐 그럼 이제 남친 생김? = Wow, so now you got a boyfriend?

• 헐 – oh my, wow
• 그럼 – then, so (contraction of 그러면)
• 이제 – now
• 남친 – boyfriend (contraction of 남자친구)
• 생김 – you got (literally: obtainment, the nominalized form is sometimes used in casual and playful speech and internet slang)
  • 생기다 – to obtain, to be formed, to occur
  • -ㅁ – turn a verb or adjective into a noun

헐! 대박 = Wow! Awesome

• 헐 – oh my, wow
• 대박 – awesome