Learn Korean with K-Pop: HeeJin, HyunJin, HaSeul – The Carol

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Here’s a full breakdown of the grammar and vocabulary of the lyrics of “The Carol” by HeeJin, HyunJin, HaSeul. Repeated lines and lyrics entirely in English are omitted. The lyrics of this song are the same as “The Carol 2.0” by ViVi, Choerry, Yves, and “The Carol 3.0” by ARTMS.

Vocabulary

Nouns

• 소원 – wish
• 노래 – song
• 귓가 – outer edge of the ear
• 종소리 – sound of a bell
• 눈 – snow
• 거리 – road, street
• 크리스마스 – Christmas
• 멜로디 – melody
• 12월 (십이월) – December
• 날 – day
• 전 – before (time)
• 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
• 하룻밤 – one night
• 사이 – interval, gap
• 세상 – world
• 불빛 – light, beam
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 용기 – courage
• 시간 – time
• 밤 – night
• 밤새 – all night (contraction of 밤사이)
• 이달 – this month
• 소녀 – girl
• 기적 – miracle
• 기억 – faculty of memory, a recollection

Verbs

• 꿈꾸다 – to dream of
• 오다 – to come (also used as an auxiliary verb indicating a continuous action from the past into the present)
• 있다 – to stay, to remain at a location
• 주다 – to give (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to do something for someone”)
• 기다리다 – to wait
• 들리다 – to be heard
• 설레이다 – to flutter, to palpitate (alternative form of 설레다)
• 잃어버리다 – to lose (completely, with a feeling of regret)
• 되다 – to become
• 변하다 – to change
• 이뤄지다 – to be done, to be achieved, to be realized (alternative form of 이루어지다)
• 반짝거리다 – to sparkle
• 내리다 – to come down
• 내다 – to bring out, to put out
• 말하다 – to speak, to talk
• 쌓이다 – to pile up, to accumulate
• 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)
• 빌다 – to wish, to pray for, to beg
• 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
• 떠오르다 – to arise, to remember
• 켜지다 – to turn on
• 설레다 – to flutter, to palpitate
• 두근대다 – to have a pounding heart
• 바라다 – to wish, to look toward something
• 돌아오다 – to return, to come back
• 함께하다 – to be together, to do together

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

• 작다 – to be small
• 하얗다 – to be white
• 새하얗다 – to be pure white
• 깊다 – to be deep
• 같다 – to be the same
• 어리다 – to be young
• 소중하다 – to be precious

Adverbs

• 함께 – together
• 어느새 – already, suddenly, before realizing it
• 오래 – for a long time
• 가득 – fully, completely
• 다시 – again
• 자꾸 – repeatedly

Pronouns

• 너 – you (informal)
• 뭔가 – something (contraction of 무언가)
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의) (informal)
• 우리 – we, us, our
• 나 – I, me (informal)
• 뭐 – what (interrogative pronoun, contraction of 무어)

Determiners

• 그 – that

Numerals

• 둘 – two
• 하나 – one

Other words

• 반짝 – with a sparkle
• 두근두근 – sound of a beating heart

Grammar

Particles

• -만 – only
• -처럼 – like, as, as if
• -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• -도 – too, also, even
• -마다 – every, each
• -의 – possessive marker
• -이/가 – subject marker
  • -이 after consonants
  • -가 after vowels
• -에 – because of, with, by
• -을/를 – object marker
  • -을 after consonants
  • -를 after vowels
• -과/와 – and, with
  • -과 after consonants
  • -와 after vowels
• -에게 – to (dative particle)
• -들 – plural marker

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

• -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
• -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
• -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
• -ㄴ/는다면 – if, with an emphasis on the fact that the verb is a supposition/assumption
  • -ㄴ다면 if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -는다면 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -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
• -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• -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
• -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
• -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
• -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb
• -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
• -거리다 – forms verbs indicating a repeated or continuous action, often related to sound, movement, and emotion
• -(으)면 – if, when
  • -면 if the stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ
  • -으면 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
• -인걸 – expresses realization, regret, confession, or a soft emphasis (contraction of -인 것을)
• -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
• -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
• -(으)며 – and, while
  • -며 if the stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ
  • -으며 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -든지 – no matter what/which/where, whether… or… (can also be attached to the question words 뭐/누구/어디/언제, with the meaning of “any”)
• -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
• -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)
• -ㄹ/을 적 – the time when…
  • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
• -ㄴ/은 듯하다 – it looks like, it feels like (past tense)
  • -ㄴ if the stem ends in a vowel
  • -은 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

Lyrics breakdown

꿈꿔왔던 작은 소원 = The small wish that I’ve been dreaming of

• 꿈꿔왔던 – that I’ve been dreaming of
  • 꿈꾸다 – to dream of
  • -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
• 작은 – small
  • 작다 – to be small
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 소원 – wish

너만 함께 있어준다면 = If only you stay together with me

• 너만 – only you
  • 너 – you
  • -만 – only
• 함께 – together with me (with me is implied)
• 있어준다면 – if you stay
  • 있다 – to stay, to remain at a location
  • -어 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -ㄴ다면 – if, with an emphasis on the fact that the verb is a supposition/assumption

그 노래처럼 = Like that song

• 그 – that
• 노래처럼 – like the song
  • 노래 – song
  • -처럼 – like, as, as if

귓가에 종소리도 = Also the sound of bells in my ears

• 귓가에 – in my ears (my is implied)
  • 귓가 – outer edge of the ear
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 종소리도 – also the sound of bells
  • 종소리 – sound of a bell
  • -도 – too, also, even

기다린 하얀 눈도 = Also the white snow that I waited for

• 기다린 – that I waited for
  • 기다리다 – to wait
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 하얀 – white
  • 하얗다 – to be white
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅎ-irregular form)
• 눈도 – also the snow
  • 눈 – snow
  • -도 – too, also, even

새하얀 거리마다 들리는 크리스마스 멜로디 = Christmas melodies that are heard in every white street

• 새하얀 – pure white
  • 새하얗다 – to be pure white
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅎ-irregular form)
• 거리마다 – every street
  • 거리 – road, street
  • -마다 – every, each
• 들리는 – that is heard
  • 들리다 – to be heard
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 크리스마스 – Christmas
• 멜로디 – melody

설레여 기다리던 12월의 그 날이 = My heart flutters for that day of December that I have waited for

• 설레여 – my heart flutters (my heart is implied)
  • 설레이다 – to flutter, to palpitate (alternative form of 설레다)
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style
• 기다리던 – that I have waited for
  • 기다리다 – to wait
  • -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
• 12월의 – of December
  • 12월 – December
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 그 – that
• 날이 – the day
  • 날 – day
  • -이 – subject marker

어느새 잃어버린 오래 전 추억 됐지만 = It has already become a long-lost memory, but

• 어느새 – already, suddenly, before realizing it
• 잃어버린 – that was lost
  • 잃어버리다 – to lose (completely, with a feeling of regret)
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 오래 전 – a long time ago
  • 오래 – for a long time
  • 전 – before (time)
• 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
• 됐지만 – has become, but
  • 되다 – to become
  • -었- – past tense marker (되었- is contracted to 됐-)
  • -지만 – but

하룻밤 새 하얗게 변한 세상 = The world that has turned white overnight

• 하룻밤 – one night
• 새 – over the course of (contraction of 사이에)
  • 사이 – interval, gap
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 하얗게 – so that is white
  • 하얗다 – to be white
  • -게 – turn a verb or adjective into an adverb
• 변한 – that has changed
  • 변하다 – to change
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 세상 – world

뭔가 이뤄질 듯해 = It feels like something will happen

• 뭔가 – something (contraction of 무언가)
• 이뤄질 듯해 – feels like it will happen
  • 이뤄지다 – to be done, to be achieved, to be realized (alternative form of 이루어지다)
  • -ㄹ 듯하다 – it looks like, it feels like (future tense)
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style

반짝거리는 작은 불빛 내 맘에 내리면 = When the small sparkling lights fall in my heart

• 반짝거리는 – sparkling
  • 반짝거리다 – to sparkle
    • 반짝 – with a sparkle
    • -거리다 – forms verbs indicating a repeated or continuous action, often related to sound, movement, and emotion
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 작은 – small
  • 작다 – to be small
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 불빛 – light, beam
• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘에 – in the heart
  • 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
• 내리면 – when it falls
  • 내리다 – to come down
  • -면 – if, when

용기 내 말할래 = I bring out the courage and I’m going to tell you

• 용기 – courage
• 내 – bring out
  • 내다 – to bring out, to put out
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (내어 is contracted to 내)
• 말할래 – I’m going to tell you (you is implied)
  • 말하다 – to speak, to talk
  • -ㄹ래 – I want to, I’m going to

기다린 시간인걸 = It’s the time that I waited for

• 기다린 – that I waited for
  • 기다리다 – to wait
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
• 시간인걸 – it’s the time
  • 시간 – time
  • -인걸 – expresses realization, regret, confession, or a soft emphasis (contraction of -인 것을)

내 맘 가득 쌓여가 우리 둘만의 = It continues to pile up fully in my heart, only ours

• 내 – my (contraction of 나의)
• 맘 – heart, feeling (contraction of 마음)
• 가득 – fully, completely
• 쌓여가 – continues to pile up
  • 쌓이다 – to pile up, to accumulate
  • -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
• 우리 둘만의 – only ours (literally: only of us two)
  • 우리 – we, us, our
  • 둘 – two
  • -만 – only
  • -의 – possessive marker

깊은 밤 설레임에 = Deep at night, stirred by excitement

• 깊은 – deep
  • 깊다 – to be deep
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 밤 – night
• 설레임에 – with excitement
  • 설레임 – excitement
    • 설레이다 – to flutter, to palpitate (alternative form of 설레다)
    • -ㅁ – turn a verb or adjective into a noun
  • -에 – because of, with, by

나만의 소원을 빌며 = While wishing my very own wish

• 나만의 – my very own (literally: of only me)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -만 – only
  • -의 – possessive marker
• 소원을 – the wish
  • 소원 – wish
  • -을 – object marker
• 빌며 – while wishing
  • 빌다 – to wish, to pray for, to beg
  • -며 – and, while

잠들면 안 돼 밤새 기다린 = I can’t go to sleep, I waited all night (the full sentence includes the next lyrics)

• 잠들면 안돼 – I can’t go to sleep (literally: it’s not okay if I go to sleep)
  • 잠들다 – to go to sleep
  • -면 – if, when
  • 안되다 – to not be okay, to not be allowed
  • -어 – present tense, intimate style (안되어 is contracted to 안돼)
• 밤새 – all night (contraction of 밤사이)
• 기다린 – that I waited for
  • 기다리다 – to wait
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past

추억 가득 떠올라 = The memories come back fully (the sentence continues from the previous lyrics, together meaning “I can’t go to sleep, I’m full of the memories I waited for all night”)

• 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
• 가득 – fully, completely
• 떠올라 – I remember
  • 떠오르다 – to arise, to remember
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style (르-irregular form)

반짝거리는 작은 불빛 하나 둘 켜지면 = When the small sparkling lights, one, two, turn on

• 반짝거리는 – sparkling
  • 반짝거리다 – to sparkle
    • 반짝 – with a sparkle
    • -거리다 – forms verbs indicating a repeated or continuous action, often related to sound, movement, and emotion
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
• 작은 – small
  • 작다 – to be small
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 불빛 – light, beam
• 하나 – one
• 둘 – two
• 켜지면 – when it turns on
  • 켜지다 – to turn on
  • -면 – if, when

12월 이달의 소녀 같은 설렘 = December, a heart-fluttering feeling like this month’s girl (or like Loona)

• 12월 – December
• 이달의 소녀 – this month’s girl (also the Korean name of Loona)
  • 이달 – this month
  • -의 – possessive marker
  • 소녀 – girl
• 같은 – same
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 설렘 – heart-fluttering feeling
  • 설레다 – to flutter, to palpitate
  • -ㅁ – turn a verb or adjective into a noun

너와 함께면 다시 떠올라 = When I’m together with you I remember again

• 너와 함께면 – when I’m together with you
  • 너 – you
  • -와 – and, with
  • 함께 – together
  • -면 – if, when
• 다시 – again
• 떠올라 – I remember
  • 떠오르다 – to arise, to remember
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style (르-irregular form)

뭐든지 이뤄질 것만 같아 with you = It feels like anything could happen with you

• 뭐든지 – anything
  • 뭐 – what (interrogative pronoun, contraction of 무어)
  • -든지 – no matter what/which/where, whether… or… (can also be attached to the question words 뭐/누구/어디/언제, with the meaning of “any”)
• 이뤄질 것만 같아 – it feels like it could happen
  • 이뤄지다 – to be done, to be achieved, to be realized (alternative form of 이루어지다)
  • -ㄹ 것 같다 – it feels like, I think (future tense) (expressing an assumption, guess, or supposition about something that will happen)
  • -만 – only (in this case it adds a feeling of hope or uncertainty)
  • -아 – present tense, intimate style

자꾸 두근두근 두근대죠 = My heart keeps pounding

• 자꾸 – repeatedly
• 두근두근 – sound of a beating heart
• 두근대죠 – my heart pounds
  • 두근대다 – to have a pounding heart
  • -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)

바래왔던 작은 기적 = The small miracle that I’ve been wishing for

• 바래왔던 – that I’ve been wishing for
  • 바라다 – to wish, to look toward something
  • -아 오다 – indicates a continuous action from the past into the present (바래- is a contraction of 바라+아 used in colloquial speech)
  • -았던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
• 작은 – small
  • 작다 – to be small
  • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives
• 기적 – miracle

너만 내게 있어준다면 = Only if you stay with me

• 너만 – only you
  • 너 – you
  • -만 – only
• 내게 – with me (contraction of 나에게)
  • 나 – I, me
  • -에게 – to (dative particle) (in this case it marks an emotional direction, rather than a physical one, better rendered in English as “with”)
• 있어준다면 – if you stay
  • 있다 – to stay, to remain at a location
  • -어 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -ㄴ다면 – if, with an emphasis on the fact that the verb is a supposition/assumption

어릴 적 추억들도 = The childhood memories too

• 어릴 적 – childhood (literally: the time when I was young)
  • 어리다 – to be young
  • -ㄹ 적 – the time when…
• 추억들도 – the memories too
  • 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -도 – too, also, even

소중한 기억들도 = The precious recollections too

• 소중한 – precious
  • 소중하다 – to be precious
  • -ㄴ – describing nouns with adjectives
• 기억들도 – the recollections too
  • 기억 – faculty of memory, a recollection
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -도 – too, also, even

다시 돌아온듯해 = It feels like they returned again

• 다시 – again
• 돌아온듯해 – feels like it has returned
  • 돌아오다 – to return, to come back
  • -ㄴ 듯하다 – it looks like, it feels like (past tense)
  • -해 – present tense, intimate style

함께해줘요 = Please be with me

• 함께해줘요 – please be with me
  • 함께하다 – to be together, to do together
  • -해 주다 – to do something for someone
  • -어요 – present tense, polite style