Learn Korean with K-Pop: Kim Lip – Twilight

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Here’s a full breakdown of the grammar and vocabulary of the lyrics of “Twilight” by Kim Lip. Repeated lines and lyrics entirely in English are omitted.

Vocabulary

Nouns

  • 오늘 – today
  • 새벽 – dawn, early morning before sunrise
  • 눈 – eye
  • 이불 – blanket
  • 천장 – ceiling
  • 양 – sheep
  • 아침 – morning
  • 밤 – night
  • 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
  • 손길 – hand, touch
  • 목소리 – voice
  • 창가 – by the window
  • 달빛 – moonlight
  • 커피 – coffee
  • 카페인 – caffeine
  • 탓 – cause, reason, fault
  • 책 – book
  • 베개 – pillow
  • 전화 – telephone, phone call
  • 저녁 – evening, dinner
  • 인사 – greeting
  • 이상 – a larger amount
  • 이제 – now
  • 별 – star

Verbs

  • 떠지다 – to open eyes, to wake up
  • 덮어쓰다 – to cover
  • 보다 – to see, to look at (also used as an auxiliary verb meaning “to try doing”)
  • 바라보다 – to look at
  • 세다 – to count
  • 오다 – to come
  • 길어지다 – to become longer
  • 지다 – to become (auxiliary verb)
  • 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)
  • 깊어지다 – to deepen
  • 잠들다 – to go to sleep
  • 드리우다 – to cast, to hand down, to be extended downwards
  • 하다 – to do
  • 펼치다 – to open, to stretch
  • 들어오다 – to enter, to come in
  • 안다 – to hug, to embrace, to take on
  • 일어나다 – to get up, to wake up
  • 하다 – to say
  • 자다 – to sleep
  • 반짝이다 – to sparkle

Adjectives (descriptive verbs)

  • 길다 – to be long
  • 깊다 – to be deep
  • 따스하다 – to be warm, to be kind
  • 부드럽다 – to be soft, to be tender
  • 같다 – to be the same
  • 진하다 – to be thick, vivid
  • 멍하다 – to be spaced out
  • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have

Adverbs

  • 또 – again, also
  • 더 – more
  • 없이 – without
  • 때문에 – because of
  • 이런 – like this, such
  • 잘 – well
  • 안 – not
  • 유난히 – especially, unusually

Pronouns

  • 너 – you (informal)

Determiners

  • 그 – that
  • 저 – that (over there)

Numerals

  • 세 – three (determiner form)
  • 하나 – one

Other words

  • 시 – hour, time, o’clock
  • 것 – thing
  • 아니다 – to not be (negative copula)
  • -이다 – to be (copula)

Grammar

Particles

  • -도 – too, also, even
  • -이/가 – subject marker
    • -이 after consonants
    • -가 after vowels
  • -을/를 – object marker
    • -을 after consonants
    • -를 after vowels
  • -만 – only
  • -들 – plural marker
  • -은/는 – topic marker
    • -은 after consonants
    • -는 after vowels
  • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
  • -마저 – even, including

Verbs/adjective forms and endings

  • -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
  • -잖아 – you know, it’s obvious (emphasize that a statement is correct)
  • -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
  • -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
  • -기는 하다 – I do… but, it is… but
  • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
  • -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
  • -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
  • -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
  • -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 수 없다 – can’t
    • -ㄹ if the stem ends in a vowel
    • -을 if the stem ends in a consonant
  • -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
  • -나 보다 – to seem that, to look like, to suppose that
  • -지 – you know, of course, right? (intimate style)
  • -히 – turn an adjective ending in -하다 into an adverb
  • -ㄴ다/는다 – present tense, plain style
    • -ㄴ다 if the stem ends in a vowel
    • -는다 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
  • -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
  • -겠- – future speculative marker (implying intention, will, conjecture, personal belief, or information perceived at the present moment)
  • -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)
  • -ㄴ가/은가/는가 – indicates a question or a guess, used with adjectives and -이다
    • -ㄴ가 if the stem ends in a vowel
    • -은가 if the stem ends in a consonant
    • -는가 if the adjective ends in -있다 or -없다
  • -요 – polite style marker

Lyrics breakdown

오늘도 새벽 3시 또 눈이 떠졌잖아 = Today too, I opened my eyes again at 3 a.m.

  • 오늘도 – today too
    • 오늘 – today
    • -도 – too, also, even
  • 새벽 3시 – 3 a.m.
    • 새벽 – dawn, early morning before sunrise
    • 세 (3) – three (determiner form)
    • 시 – hour, time, o’clock
  • 또 – again, also
  • 눈이 – eye
    • 눈 – eye
    • -이 – subject marker
  • 떠졌잖아 – I opened my eyes
    • 떠지다 – to open eyes, to wake up
    • -었- – past tense marker
    • -잖아 – you know, it’s obvious (emphasize that a statement is correct)

이불을 덮어써 봐도 = Even if I try to cover myself with the blanket

  • 이불을 – the blanket
    • 이불 – blanket
    • -을 – object marker
  • 덮어써 봐도 – even if I try to cover
    • 덮어쓰다 – to cover
    • -어 보다 – to try doing (ㅡ-irregular form)
    • -아도 – even if…

천장만 바라보다 양들을 세어보다 = Staring only at the ceiling, trying to count sheep

  • 천장만 – only the ceiling
    • 천장 – ceiling
    • -만 – only
  • 바라보다 – to look at
  • 양들을 – sheep
    • 양 – sheep
    • -들 – plural marker
    • -을 – object marker
  • 세어보다 – to try to count
    • 세다 – to count
    • -어 보다 – to try doing

아침이 오기는 하는 걸까 = Will morning really come?

  • 아침이 – morning
    • 아침 – morning
    • -이 – subject marker
  • 오기는 하는 걸까 – will it come for real? (literally: it comes, but could it be?)
    • 오다 – to come
    • -기는 하다 – I do… but, it is… but
    • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
    • 것 – thing
    • -을까 – should I…, could it be? (걸까 is a contraction of 것을까)

밤은 더 길어져만 갈 텐데 = The night only continues to become longer

  • 밤은 – the night
    • 밤 – night
    • -은 – topic marker
  • 더 – more
  • 길어져만 갈 텐데 – it only continues to become longer
    • 길어지다 – to become longer
      • 길다 – to be long
      • -어지다 – to become
    • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
    • -만 – only (attached to the main verb, before the auxiliary form)
    • -ㄹ 텐데 – expresses expectation, assumption, regret, or contrast

추억은 깊어져만 갈 텐데 = The memories only continue to become deeper

  • 추억은 – the memories
    • 추억 – memory, something that is remembered
    • -은 – topic marker
  • 깊어져만 갈 텐데 – it only continues to become deeper
    • 깊어지다 – to deepen
      • 깊다 – to be deep
      • -어지다 – to become
    • -어 가다 – indicates a continuous action from the present into the future, a gradual change, or a movement away from the speaker
    • -만 – only (attached to the main verb, before the auxiliary form)
    • -ㄹ 텐데 – expresses expectation, assumption, regret, or contrast

따스했던 그 손길 부드러운 목소리 = That warm touch, the soft voice

  • 따스했던 – warm
    • 따스하다 – to be warm, to be kind
    • -했던 – indicates a completed action in the past or a state that no longer exists
  • 그 – that
  • 손길 – hand, touch
  • 부드러운 – soft
    • 부드럽다 – to be soft, to be tender
    • -은 – describing nouns with adjectives (ㅂ-irregular form)
  • 목소리 – voice

너 없인 잠들 수 없어 = I can’t fall asleep without you

  • 너 – you
  • 없인 – without (contraction of 없이는)
    • 없이 – without
    • -는 – topic marker
  • 잠들 수 없어 – can’t fall asleep
    • 잠들다 – to go to sleep
    • -ㄹ 수 없다 – can’t (ㄹ-irregular form)
    • -어 – present tense, intimate style

창가에 드리워진 달빛마저도 = Even the moonlight cast over the window

  • 창가에 – at the window
    • 창가 – by the window
    • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
  • 드리워진 – that was cast
    • 드리우다 – to cast, to hand down, to be extended downwards
    • -어지다 – to become
    • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • 달빛마저도 – even the moonlight too
    • 달빛 – moonlight
    • -마저 – even, including
    • -도 – too, also, even

너 같아 너 같아 = It’s like you, it’s like you

  • 너 – you
  • 같아 – is the same
    • 같다 – to be the same
    • -아 – present tense, intimate style

커피가 진했나 봐 카페인 탓을 하지 = The coffee seemed thick, it’s the caffeine’s fault

  • 커피가 – coffee
    • 커피 – coffee
    • -가 – subject marker
  • 진했나 봐 – it seemed thick
    • 진하다 – to be thick, vivid
    • -했- – past tense marker
    • -나 보다 – to seem that, to look like, to suppose that
    • -아 – present tense, intimate style
  • 카페인 – caffeine
  • 탓을 – the cause
    • 탓 – cause, reason, fault
    • -을 – object marker
  • 하지 – it does
    • 하다 – to do
    • -지 – you know, of course, right? (intimate style)

너 땜에 이런 건 아냐 = This isn’t because of you

  • 너 – you
  • 땜에 – because of (contraction of 때문에)
  • 이런 – like this, such
  • 건 – the thing (contraction of 것은)
    • 것 – thing
    • -은 – topic marker
  • 아냐 – is not (contraction of 아니야)
    • 아니다 – to not be (negative copula)
    • -어 – present tense, intimate style (아니다 follows unique rules and becomes 아니야)

책을 또 펼쳐 봐도 눈에 잘 안 들어와 = Even if I try to open a book again, nothing catches my eye (literally: even if I try to open a book again, it doesn’t enter my eyes well)

  • 책을 – a book
    • 책 – book
    • -을 – object marker
  • 또 – again, also
  • 펼쳐 봐도 – even if I try to open
    • 펼치다 – to open, to stretch
    • -어 보다 – to try doing
    • -아도 – even if…
  • 눈에 – in the eyes
    • 눈 – eye
    • -에 – in, at, to (location/time marker)
  • 잘 – well
  • 안 – not
  • 들어와 – enters
    • 들어오다 – to enter, to come in
    • -아 – present tense, intimate style

멍하니 베개만 안아 본다 = I only try to hug the pillow blankly

  • 멍하니 – blankly
    • 멍하다 – to be spaced out
    • -히 – turn an adjective ending in -하다 into an adverb (irregular form with -히 becoming -니)
  • 베개만 – only the pillow
    • 베개 – pillow
    • -만 – only
  • 안아 본다 – I try to hug
    • 안다 – to hug, to embrace, to take on
    • -아 보다 – to try doing
    • -ㄴ다 – present tense, plain style

일어나란 아침 전화도 = Even a morning call that said “wake up”

  • 일어나란 – that said “wake up” (contraction of 일어나라고 한)
    • 일어나다 – to get up, to wake up
    • -라고 – imperative quotative ending, used to quote orders or commands
    • 하다 – to say
    • -ㄴ – describing nouns with verbs in the past
  • 아침 – morning
  • 전화도 – even a call
    • 전화 – telephone, phone call
    • -도 – too, also, even

잘 자라는 저녁 인사마저 = Even an evening greeting that says “sleep well”

  • 잘 자라는 – that says “sleep well” (contraction of 잘 자라고 하는)
    • 잘 – well
    • 자다 – to sleep
    • -라고 – imperative quotative ending, used to quote orders or commands
    • 하다 – to say
    • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
  • 저녁 – evening, dinner
  • 인사마저 – even an greeting
    • 인사 – greeting
    • -마저 – even, including

더 이상 없는 거겠죠 = I guess there won’t be anything anymore

  • 더 – more
  • 이상 – a larger amount
  • 없는 – that doesn’t exist
    • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
    • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
  • 거겠죠 – I guess it is (contraction of 것이겠죠)
    • 것 – thing
    • -이다 – to be (copula)
    • -겠- – future speculative marker (implying intention, will, conjecture, personal belief, or information perceived at the present moment)
    • -죠 – you know, of course, right? (contraction of -지요)

이젠 없는 건가요 = I guess there’s nothing now

  • 이젠 – now (contraction of 이제는)
    • 이제 – now
    • -는 – topic marker
  • 없는 – that doesn’t exist
    • 없다 – to not be, to not exist, to not have
    • -는 – describing nouns with adjectives
  • 건가요 – I guess it is the thing (contraction of 것인가요)
    • 것 – thing
    • -이다 – to be (copula)
    • -ㄴ가 – indicates a question or a guess, used with adjectives and -이다
    • -요 – polite style marker

유난히 반짝이는 저 별 하나가 = That one star that sparkles unusually

  • 유난히 – especially, unusually
  • 반짝이는 – that sparkles
    • 반짝이다 – to sparkle
    • -는 – describing nouns with verbs in the present
  • 저 – that (over there)
  • 별 – star
  • 하나가 – one
    • 하나 – one
    • -가 – subject marker

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