Learn Korean with K-Pop: Chuu & Go Won feat. Kim Lip – See Saw

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Here’s a full breakdown of the grammar and vocabulary of the lyrics of “See Saw” by Chuu & Go Won feat. Kim Lip. Repeated lines and lyrics entirely in English are omitted.

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 앞 – front, ahead
• 일 – day
• 오늘 – today
• 커피 – coffee
• 진심 – sincerity
• 대부분 – the majority
• 가짜 – fake
• 웃음 – laughter
• 하루 – day
• 기분 – mood, feeling
• 시소 – seesaw
• 다음 – next, following
• 날 – day
• 꿈 – dream
• 꼴 – shape, appearance, condition
• 얼굴 – face
• 눈 – eye
• 거짓 – falsehood
• 그때 – that time
• 뿐 – only, just

Verbs

• 마시다 – to drink, to breathe in
• 웃다 – to smile, to laugh
• 도배되다 – to be plastered
• 떠나가다 – to leave
• 꾸다 – to dream
• 마주치다 – to meet, to run into
• 안기다 – to be hugged
• 보다 – to see, to look at (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to try doing”)
• 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
• 비추다 – to shine on, to illuminate
• 그리다 – to draw, to paint, to imagine
• 보이다 – to be seen, to look like
• 사라지다 – to disappear
• 반복되다 – to be repeated
• 내버려두다 – to leave alone
• 가다 – to go

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
• 지치다 – to be tired
• 같다 – to be the same
• 싫다 – to be disliked, to not want
• 이렇다 – to be like this
• 약하다 – to be weak

Adverbs

• 지금 – now
• 그다지 – so much, not particularly
• 너무 – very, too
• 많이 – a lot, many, much
• 하지만 – but
• 아마도 – maybe
• 다시 – again
• 이제 – now
• 온전히 – completely, perfectly

Pronouns

• 너 – you (informal)
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의) (informal)
• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 니 – your (contraction of 너의) (informal)
• 어디 – where

Numerals

• 두 – two (determiner form)

Other words

• 아니 – no, oh, wait
• 것 – thing
• 오락가락 – back and forth
• -이다 – to be (copula)

Grammar

Particles

• -은/는 – topic marker
  • -은 after consonants
  • -는 after vowels
• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -따라 – unlike usual, especially, for some reason
• -(으)로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
  • -으로 after consonants
  • -로 after vowels or ㄹ
• -의 – possessive marker
• -같이 – like, in a similar way
• -이/가 – subject marker
  • -이 after consonants
  • -가 after vowels
• -부터 – starting from, since
• -(으)로 – into, toward
  • -으로 after consonants
  • -로 after vowels or ㄹ

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

• -지 – you know, of course, right? (intimate style)
• -게 하다/만들다 – to make, to let (someone do something) (하다 or 만들다 can be used interchangeably with no change in meaning)
• -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
• -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
• -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
• -지만 – but
• -ㄹ까/을까 – should I…, could it be?
  • -ㄹ까 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을까 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -기도 하다 – too, also, even
• -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/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
• -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• -ㄴ지 – whether, I wonder if…
• -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
• -고 싶다 – want to…
• -지 않다 – negative form
• -기 – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
• -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
• -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
• -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/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
• -다가 – and then
• -고 – and (connective ending)
• -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb
• -아/어/해 빠지다 – to be severe (with displeasure or disapproval)
  • -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

아니 넌 지금 내 앞에 없지 = Wait, you’re not in front of me now

• 아니 – no, oh, wait
• 넌 – you (contraction of 너는)
  • 너 – you
  • -는 – topic marker
• 지금 – now
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 앞에 – in front
  • 앞 – front, ahead
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 없지 – is not
  • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
  • -지 – you know, of course, right? (intimate style)

그다지 날 지치게 한 일 같은 건 없었지만 = It wasn’t like a day that made me so tired, but (the sentence continues with the English lyrics: It’s been a long, long day)

• 그다지 – so much, not particularly
• 날 – me (contraction of 나를)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -를 – object marker
• 지치게 한 – that made it tired
  • 지치다 – to be tired
  • -게 하다 – to make, to let (someone do something)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 일 – day
• 같은 건 – same thing (contraction of 같은 것은)
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
  • 것 – thing
  • -은 – topic marker
• 없었지만 – it wasn’t, but
  • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
  • -었- – past tense marker
  • -지만 – but

오늘따라 커필 너무 많이 마신 걸까 = Maybe today I drank too much coffee

• 오늘따라 – especially today
  • 오늘 – today
  • -따라 – unlike usual, especially, for some reason
• 커필 – coffee (contraction of 커피를)
  • 커피 – coffee
  • -를 – object marker
• 너무 – very, too
• 많이 – a lot, many, much
• 마신 걸까 – maybe I drank
  • 마시다 – to drink, to breathe in
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • 것 – thing
  • -ㄹ까 – should I…, could it be?

진심으로 웃기도 해 = I also smile with sincerity

• 진심으로 – with sincerity
  • 진심 – sincerity
  • -으로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
• 웃기도 해 – I also smile
  • 웃다 – to smile, to laugh
  • -기도 하다 – too, also, even
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style

하지만 대부분의 = But for the most part

• 하지만 – but
• 대부분의 – most of
  • 대부분 – the majority
  • -의 – possessive marker

가짜 웃음으로 도배돼버린 하루 = It’s a day that has been plastered with fake laughter

• 가짜 – fake
• 웃음으로 – with laughter
  • 웃음 – laughter
  • -으로 – using…, with… (instrumental particle)
• 도배돼버린 – that has been plastered
  • 도배되다 – to be plastered
  • -어 버리다 – indicates a completed action, adding a feeling of regret or relief, or implicating a negative result (되어 is contracted to 돼)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 하루 – day

내 기분은 시소같이 = My mood is like a seesaw

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 기분은 – mood
  • 기분 – mood, feeling
  • -은 – topic marker
• 시소같이 – like a seesaw
  • 시소 – seesaw
  • -같이 – like, in a similar way

아마도 = Maybe

• 아마도 – maybe

니가 떠나간 다음 날부터 = Since the day after you left

• 니가 – you (contraction of 네가)
  • 너 – you (when used with -가 becomes 네, but is usually pronounced as 니)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 떠나간 – that left
  • 떠나가다 – to leave
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 다음 – next, following
• 날부터 – since the day
  • 날 – day
  • -부터 – starting from, since

내가 지금 꿈을 꾸는 건지 = I wonder if I’m dreaming now

• 내가 – I (contraction of 나가)
  • 나 – I, me (when used with -가 becomes 내)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 지금 – now
• 꿈을 꾸는 건지 – I wonder if I’m dreaming
  • 꿈 – dream
  • -을 – object marker
  • 꾸다 – to dream
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
  • 것 – thing
  • -ㄴ지 – whether, I wonder if…

오락가락 = Back and forth

• 오락가락 – back and forth

지금 널 마주쳐도 = Even if I run into you now

• 지금 – now
• 널 – you (contraction of 너를)
  • 너 – you
  • -를 – object marker
• 마주쳐도 – even if I run into
  • 마주치다 – to meet, to run into
  • -어도 – even if…

다시 안기고 싶진 않아 = I don’t want to be hugged again

• 다시 – again
• 안기고 싶진 않아 – I don’t want to be hugged
  • 안기다 – to be hugged
  • -고 싶다 – want to…
  • -지 않다 – negative form (in casual speech, -진 can be used instead -지 to add more emphasis or contrast)
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

꼴 보기 싫어졌어 니 얼굴 이젠 = Seeing your appearance or your face now has become something I don’t want

• 꼴 – shape, appearance, condition
• 보기 – seeing
  • 보다 – to see, to look at (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to try doing”)
  • -기 – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
• 싫어졌어 – it has become something I don’t want
  • 싫다 – to be disliked, to not want
  • -어지다 – to become
  • -었어 – past tense, intimate style
• 니 – your (contraction of 너의)
• 얼굴 – face
• 이젠 – now (contraction of 이제는)
  • 이제 – now
  • -는 – topic marker

두 눈에 거짓이 없던 = In which there was no falsehood in my two eyes (the sentence continues with the next lyrics)

• 두 – two (determiner form)
• 눈에 – in the eye
  • 눈 – eye
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 거짓이 – falsehood
  • 거짓 – falsehood
  • -이 – subject marker
• 없던 – that there wasn’t
  • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
  • -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

온전히 날 비추던 = That illuminated me completely (the sentence continues with the next lyrics)

• 온전히 – completely, perfectly
• 날 – me (contraction of 나를)
  • 나 – I, me (informal)
  • -를 – object marker
• 비추던 – that illuminated
  • 비추다 – to shine on, to illuminate
  • -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

그때의 널 그려보는 것뿐이야 = I only try to imagine you from those moments (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning: I only try to imagine you from those moments that illuminated me completely and in which there was no falsehood in my two eyes)

• 그때의 – of that time
  • 그때 – that time
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 널 – you (contraction of 너를)
  • 너 – you
  • -를 – object marker
• 그려보는 – that I try to imagine
  • 그리다 – to draw, to paint, to imagine
  • -어 보다 – to try doing
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 것뿐이야 – it’s the only thing
  • 것 – thing
  • 뿐 – only, just
  • -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)

니가 보였다가 사라지는 게 반복되고 = You keep appearing and disappearing and

• 니가 – you (contraction of 네가)
  • 너 – you (when used with -가 becomes 네, but is usually pronounced as 니)
  • -가 – subject marker
• 보였다가 – is seen and then
  • 보이다 – to be seen, to look like
  • -었- – past tense marker
  • -다가 – and then
• 사라지는 게 – the thing disappearing (contraction of 사라지는 것이)
  • 사라지다 – to disappear
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
  • 것 – thing
  • -이 – subject marker
• 반복되고 – is repeated and
  • 반복되다 – to be repeated
  • -고 – and (connective ending)

이렇게 약해빠진 날 = Me, who is severely weak like this

• 이렇게 – like this
  • 이렇다 – to be like this
  • -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb
• 약해빠진 – that is severely weak
  • 약하다 – to be weak
  • -해 빠지다 – to be severe (with displeasure or disapproval)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 날 – me (contraction of 나를)
  • 나 – I, me (informal)
  • -를 – object marker

내버려두고 넌 어디로 가 = You leave me alone, where are you going?

• 내버려두고 – leave me alone and (me is implied)
  • 내버려두다 – to leave alone
  • -고 – and (connective ending)
• 넌 – you (contraction of 너는)
  • 너 – you
  • -는 – topic marker
• 어디로 – where to
  • 어디 – where
  • -로 – into, toward
• 가 – go
  • 가다 – to go
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

어디로 간 거야 넌 = Where did you go?

• 어디로 – where to
  • 어디 – where
  • -로 – into, toward
• 간 거야 – did it go
  • 가다 – to go
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • 것 – thing (거 is a contraction of 것)
  • -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)
• 넌 – you (contraction of 너는)
  • 너 – you
  • -는 – topic marker