Learn Korean with K-Pop: Yves – New

<< 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 “New” by Yves. Repeated lines and lyrics entirely in English are omitted.

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 눈 – eye
• 모습 – appearance
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 태양 – Sun
• 날개 – wing
• 짓 – movement
• 속 – inside
• 그때 – that time
• 유혹 – temptation
• 안 – inside
• 거울 – mirror
• 얼굴 – face
• 새벽녘 – dawn
• 공기 – air
• 심장 – heart (organ)
• 순간 – moment
• 손 – hand
• 무대 – stage (for a performance)
• 위 – above, top
• 조명 – lighting
• 꿈 – dream
• 빛 – light

Verbs

• 뜨다 – to open eyes
• 바라보다 – to look at
• 다가가다 – to approach
• 눈부시다 – to be dazzling
• 되다 – to become
• 채우다 – to fill
• 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
• 물들다 – to be glowing, to be colored
• 다가서다 – to approach
• 타다 – to burn
• 알다 – to know, to understand
• 보다 – to see, to look at
• 주다 – to give (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to do something for someone”)
• 피어나다 – to bloom, to appear, to rise
• 비추다 – to shine on, to illuminate
• 묻다 – to ask
• 뛰다 – to run, to jump, to palpitate
• 날아오르다 – to fly up
• 뻗다 – to reach, to stretch
• 닿다 – to touch
• 멀어지다 – to drift apart, to recede
• 믿다 – to trust, to believe
• 하다 – to say
• 안다 – to hug, to embrace, to take on

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 초라하다 – to be humble, to be insignificant
• 달콤하다 – to be sweet
• 다르다 – to be different
• 차갑다 – to be cold (to the touch), to be cold-hearted
• 새롭다 – to be new
• 밝다 – to be bright, to be brilliant, to be clear

Adverbs

• 가득 – fully, completely
• 점점 –  gradually
• 더 – more
• 겨우 – barely
• 또 – again, also
• 비로소 – only after, for the first time
• 당당히 – proudly, greatly
• 조용히 – quietly, silently

Pronouns

• 니 – your (contraction of 너의) (informal)
• 너 – you (informal)
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의) (informal)
• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 누구 – who, someone
• 뭐 – what (interrogative pronoun, contraction of 무어)

Other words

• -이다 – to be (copula)
• 것 – thing

Grammar

Particles

• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -은/는 – topic marker
  • -은 after consonants
  • -는 after vowels
• -처럼 – like, as, as if
• -이/가 – subject marker
  • -이 after consonants
  • -가 after vowels
• -(으)로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
  • -으로 after consonants
  • -로 after vowels or ㄹ
• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -에게 – to (dative particle)
• -만 – only

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
• -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
• -ㄹ/을 수 없다 – can’t
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -고 싶다 – want to…
• -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 – 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
• -(으)려고 – in order to
  • -으려고 after consonants
  • -려고 after vowels or ㄹ
• -아/어/해 버리다 – indicates a completed action, adding a feeling of regret or relief, or implicating a negative result
  • -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
• -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
• -게 되다 – to end up doing something
• -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
• -ㄴ지/은지/는지 – whether, I wonder if… (used with adjectives)
  • -ㄴ지 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은지 if the stem ends in a consonant
  • -는지 if the adjective ends in -있다 or -없다
• -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• -ㄹ/을 것 같다 – it feels like, I think (future tense) (expressing an assumption, guess, or supposition about something that will happen)
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -ㄹ/을 때 – when
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -ㄹ래/을래 – I want to, I’m going to
  • -ㄹ래 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을래 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -(으)라고 – imperative quotative ending, used to quote orders or commands
  • -라고 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -으라고 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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

Lyrics breakdown

눈을 떠 바라본 니 모습은 = Your appearance, that I looked at when I opened my eyes

• 눈을 – eye
  • 눈 – eye
  • -을 – object marker
• 떠 – open
  • 뜨다 – to open eyes
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style
• 바라본 – that I looked at
  • 바라보다 – to look at
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 니 – your (contraction of 너의)
• 모습은 – appearance
  • 모습 – appearance
  • -은 – topic marker

다가갈 수 없을 듯 눈부셔 = So dazzling that it feels like I can’t approach you

• 다가갈 수 없을 듯 – it feels like I can’t approach
  • 다가가다 – to approach
  • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t
  • -을 듯하다 – it looks like, it feels like (future tense) (-하다 is omitted)
• 눈부셔 – dazzling
  • 눈부시다 – to be dazzling
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

너처럼 되고 싶던 내 맘이 = My heart that wanted to become like you

• 너처럼 – like you
  • 너 – you
  • -처럼 – like, as, as if
• 되고 싶던 – that wanted to become
  • 되다 – to become
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -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)
• 맘이 – heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -이 – subject marker

너로 가득 채워져 물들어 = Becomes completely filled and colored with you

• 너로 – with you
  • 너 – you
  • -로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
• 가득 – fully, completely
• 채워져 – becomes filled and
  • 채우다 – to fill
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -어 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one
• 물들어 – is colored
  • 물들다 – to be glowing, to be colored
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style

점점 더 태양에 다가서려 = In order to get gradually closer to the Sun

• 점점 –  gradually
• 더 – more
• 태양에 – to the Sun
  • 태양 – Sun
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 다가서려 – in order to approach (contraction of 다가서려고)
  • 다가서다 – to approach
  • -려고 – in order to

타버린 날개 짓 속에 = Inside the movement of the burnt wings

• 타버린 – burnt
  • 타다 – to burn
  • -아 버리다 – indicates a completed action, adding a feeling of regret or relief, or implicating a negative result
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 날개 – wing
• 짓 – movement
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)

초라한 내 모습 그때 겨우 = That time, barely, with my humble appearance

• 초라한 – humble
  • 초라하다 – to be humble, to be insignificant
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 모습 – appearance
• 그때 – that time
• 겨우 – barely

알게 된 내 new days = My new days that I’ve come to know

• 알게 된 – that I’ve come to know
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -게 되다 – to end up doing something
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)

나를 봐줘 이제 = Please look at me now

• 나를 – me
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 봐줘 – please look
  • 보다 – to see, to look at
  • -아 주다 – to do something for someone
• 이제 – now

달콤한 유혹처럼 피어난 = That rises like sweet temptation (the sentence continues with the next lyrics)

• 달콤한 – sweet
  • 달콤하다 – to be sweet
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 유혹처럼 – like temptation
  • 유혹 – temptation
  • -처럼 – like, as, as if
• 피어난 – that rises
  • 피어나다 – to bloom, to appear, to rise
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past

내 안에 또 다른 내 모습 = Another different appearance inside of me (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning: “Another different appearance inside of me that rises like sweet temptation”)

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 안에 – inside
  • 안 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 또 – again, also
• 다른 – different
  • 다르다 – to be different
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 모습 – appearance

거울 안에 비춰진 내 얼굴이 = My face that was reflected in the mirror

• 거울 – mirror
• 안에 – inside
  • 안 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 비춰진 – that was reflected
  • 비추다 – to shine on, to illuminate
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 얼굴이 – face
  • 얼굴 – face
  • -이 – subject marker

누구인지 나에게 묻게 돼 = I end up asking myself who it is

• 누구인지 – I wonder who
  • 누구 – who, someone
  • -이다 – to be (copula)
  • -ㄴ지 – whether, I wonder if… (used with adjectives)
• 나에게 – to me
  • 나 – I, me
  • -에게 – to (dative particle)
• 묻게 돼 – I end up asking
  • 묻다 – to ask
  • -게 되다 – to end up doing something
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (되어 is contracted to 돼)

차가운 새벽녘 공기 속에 = In the cold dawn air

• 차가운 – cold
  • 차갑다 – to be cold (to the touch), to be cold-hearted
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅂ-irregular form)
• 새벽녘 – dawn
• 공기 – air
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)

비로소야 뛰는 심장 = Only now, my heart that palpitates

• 비로소야 – only after
  • 비로소 – only after, for the first time
  • -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)
• 뛰는 – that palpitates
  • 뛰다 – to run, to jump, to palpitate
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 심장 – heart (organ)

당당히 날 바라보던 순간 = The moment I looked at myself proudly

• 당당히 – proudly, greatly
• 날 – me (contraction of 나를)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 바라보던 – that I looked at
  • 바라보다 – to look at
  • -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
• 순간 – moment

알게 된 내 new face = My new face that I’ve come to know

• 알게 된 – that I’ve come to know
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -게 되다 – to end up doing something
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)

날아올라 이제 = I fly up now

• 날아올라 – fly up
  • 날아오르다 – to fly up
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style (르-irregular form)
• 이제 – now

손을 뻗어 닿을 것만 같았던 = I stretch my hand, feeling like I could just touch it

• 손을 – hand
  • 손 – hand
  • -을 – object marker
• 뻗어 – stretch and
  • 뻗다 – to reach, to stretch
  • -어 – connect verbs, with the first action impacting the second one
• 닿을 것만 같았던 – that felt like I could just touch it
  • 닿다 – to touch
  • -을 것 같다 – it feels like, I think (future tense) (expressing an assumption, guess, or supposition about something that will happen)
  • -만 – only
  • -았던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists

무대 위에 조명들이 멀어지고 = The lights on the stage drift apart and

• 무대 – stage (for a performance)
• 위에 – on top of
  • 위 – above, top
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 조명들이 – the lights
  • 조명 – lighting
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -이 – subject marker
• 멀어지고 – drift apart and
  • 멀어지다 – to drift apart, to recede
  • -고 – and (connective ending)

내 맘 속에 불빛이 = The light inside my heart

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 속에 – inside
  • 속 – inside
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 불빛이 – light
  • 불빛 – light, beam
  • -이 – subject marker

조용히 내 꿈을 비춰줄 때 = When it shines quietly on my dream

• 조용히 – quietly, silently
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 꿈을 – dream
  • 꿈 – dream
  • -을 – object marker
• 비춰줄 때 – when it shines
  • 비추다 – to shine on, to illuminate
  • -어 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -ㄹ 때 – when

새로운 내가 날 알게 된 거야 = The new me has come to know me

• 새로운 – new
  • 새롭다 – to be new
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅂ-irregular form)
• 내가 – I (contraction of 나가)
  • 나 – I, me (when used with -가 becomes 내)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 날 – me (contraction of 나를)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 알게 된 거야 – I’ve come to know
  • 알다 – to know, to understand
  • -게 되다 – to end up doing something
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • 것 – thing (contracted to 거)
  • -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)

새로워진 new days = New days that have become new

• 새로워진 – that have become new
  • 새롭다 – to be new
  • -어지다 – to become (ㅂ-irregular form)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives

나를 믿을래 = I’ll trust myself

• 나를 – me
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 믿을래 – I’ll trust
  • 믿다 – to trust, to believe
  • -을래 – I want to, I’m going to

누가 뭐래도 = No matter what anyone says

• 누가 – someone
  • 누구 – who, someone (when used with -가, the 구 is dropped)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 뭐래도 – no matter what it says (contraction of 뭐라고 해도)
  • 뭐 – what (interrogative pronoun, contraction of 무어)
  • -라고 – imperative quotative ending, used to quote orders or commands
  • 하다 – to say
  • -해도 – even if…

밝은 빛으로 = With bright lights

• 밝은 – bright
  • 밝다 – to be bright, to be brilliant, to be clear
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 빛으로 – with light
  • 빛 – light
  • -으로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)

나를 안을래 = I’ll embrace myself

• 나를 – me
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 안을래 – I’ll embrace
  • 안다 – to hug, to embrace, to take on
  • -을래 – I want to, I’m going to