#2 Learning Korean with K-Pop: FIFTY FIFTY — Cupid

Let’s learn Korean with the K-pop viral song Cupid!

Are you ready to embark on a unique language-learning adventure with the catchy beats of K-pop sensation FIFTY FIFTY’s hit song, “Cupid”? Learning Korean can be an exciting journey, especially when you harness the power of music as your guide. In this post, we’re diving deep into the mesmerizing lyrics of “Cupid” to show you how to make Korean language learning not just educational but incredibly enjoyable.

Check all “Learning Korean with K-pop” lessons organized by artists uploaded here.

As a UI/UX Designer, I have been thinking of developing an app where people can learn languages through songs and videos. In case you are an App Developer/Back-End or Front-End Developer and you are interested in this project, please message me here.

Difficulty: Lower Intermediate

This post contains the following sections:

1. Vocabulary List;
2. Grammar List;
3. Explanation & Lyrics Breakdown;
4. Other Links.

Vocabulary List (45 words):

1. 불 — fire
2. 꺼지다 — to go out, to be extinguished
3. 내 — my
4. 주위 — surroundings
5. 온통 — entirely
6. 눈 — eye
7. 속 — inside
8. 비치다 — to shine
9. 그만 — stop
10. 힐끗대다 — to glance, catch a glimpse
11. 말하다 — to tell, to say
12. 다시 — again
13. 숨기다 — to hide
14. 널 — you (너 + 를 particle)
15. 믿다 — to believe
16. 내가 — I (나 + 가 particle)
17. 정말 — really
18. 보여주다 — to show
19. 숨겨오다 — to hide, to have hid (ex: a secret)
20. 또 — again
21. 꿈 — dream
22. 길 — street, way
23. 꿈길 — route of one’s dream
24. 걷다 — to walk
25. 뜨다 — to open (eyes)
26. 나 — I
27. 솔직히 — honestly
28. 지금 — now
29. 편하다 — comfortable
30. 상상 — imagination
31. 짜릿하다 — exciting
32. 매일 — every day
33. 꿈속 — dream (lit. “inside a dream”)
34. 연습하다 — to practice
35. 포기하다 — to give up
36. 원하다 — to desire
37. 내게 — to me (나 + 에게 particle)
38. 기다림 — wait (noun)
39. 없다 — there is no, does not exist
40. 더는 — no more, anymore
41. 매일 밤 — every night
42. 한번 — once
43. 들다 — to listen
44. 기회 — chance
45. 주다 — to give

Grammar List:

• ~ㄴ/는 form: Describing nouns with verbs/adjectives;
• 는 particle: Topic marking particle;
• 에/에서 particle: used to indicate place/time;
• 고 connecting particle;
• Verb and adjective conjugation;
• ~어/어주다 form: to do something for…;
• ~고 싶다 form: I want to…;
• 을/를 particle: Object marking particle;
• 이/가 particle: Subject marking particle;
• ~ㄹ게 form: I’ll do it for…;
• ~던 form: used to…;
• ~면 form: if
• ~만큼: As much as…;
• ~ㄴ 거야 form: used to emphasize something;
• ~ㄹ까 form: I wonder…;
• ~ㄹ/을까 봐: I am worried that…;
• 죠 ending;
• ~ㄴ 것 form: Converts verb/adjective into a noun;
• 못 verb form: Negative form;
• ~은/ㄴ/는 척하다 form: to pretend to…

Explanation & Lyrics Breakdown

불꺼진 romantic all my life
내 주위는 온통 lovely day
내 눈 속에 비친 arrow sign
(oh why oh why, oh why oh why)

불꺼진 romantic all my life = Not at all romantic all my life

• 불꺼진 = literally means “fire extinguished” or “turned off”
• 불 = fire, light
• 꺼진 = 꺼지다 (to go out, to be extinguished, to be turned off) conjugated in Past Tense (noun-describing form)

내 주위는 온통 lovely day = All around me is a lovely day

• 내 = my
• 주위는 = 주위 (surroundings) + 는 particle
• 온통 = entirely

내 눈 속에 비친 arrow sign = Arrow sign reflected in my eyes

• 내 = my
• 눈 = eyes
• 속에 = 속 (inside) + 에 particle
• 비친 = 비치다 (to shine) conjugated in Past Tense (noun-describing form)

I’m feeling lonely (lonely)
그만 힐끗대고 말해줘요 hold me (hold me)
다시 crying in my room
숨기고 싶어
(say what you say but I want it more)
But still I want it more, more, more

그만 힐끗대고 말해줘요 hold me = Stop glancing and tell me, hold me

• 그만 = stop
• 힐끗대고 = 힐끗대다 (to glance, catch a glimpse) + 고 connecting particle
• 말해줘요 = 말하다 (to tell, to say) + ~어/어주다 form (conjugated in Polite Present Tense form)

다시 crying in my room = Again crying in my room

• 다시 = again

숨기고 싶어 = I wanna hide it

• 숨기고 싶어 = 숨기다 (to hide) + ~고 싶다 form (Casual Present Tense)

I gave a second chance to Cupid
널 믿은 내가 정말 stupid
보여줄게 숨겨왔던 love, is it real?
Cupid is so dumb

널 믿은 내가 정말 stupid = I believed you I’m so stupid

• 널 = 너 (you) + 를 particle
• 믿은 = 믿다 (to trust) conjugated in Past Tense (noun-describing form)
• 내가 = 나 (I, me) + 가 particle
• 정말 = really

보여줄게 숨겨왔던 love, is it real? = Let me show you my secret love, is it real?

• 보여줄게 = 보여주다 (to show) + ~ㄹ게 form
• 숨겨왔던 = 숨겨오다 (to hide, to have hid) + ~ㅆ던 form

또 꿈길을 걷는 everyday
눈 뜨면 다시 또 flew away
Waiting around is a waste (waste)
나 솔직히 지금이 편해
상상만큼 짜릿한 걸까?

또 꿈길을 걷는 everyday = Floating in daydreams everyday

• 또 = again
• 꿈길을 = route to someone’s dream (꿈 = dream; 길 = path, way)
• 걷는 = 걷다 (to walk) conjugated in Present Tense (noun-describing form)

눈 뜨면 다시 또 flew away = When I wake up, all flew away

• 눈 뜨면 = 눈(을) 뜨다 (to open eyes) + ~면 form
• 다시 = again
• 또 = again

나 솔직히 지금이 편해 = To be honest it’s easier this way

• 나 = I, me
• 솔직히 = honestly
• 지금이 = 지금 (now) + 이 particle
• 편해 = 편하다 (comfortable, easy) conjugated in Casual Present Tense

상상만큼 짜릿한 걸까? = Will it be thrilling like in imagination?

• 상상만큼 = 상상 (imagination) + 만큼 (as much as…)
• 짜릿한 걸까 = 짜릿하다 (exciting, thrilling) + ~ㄴ 거야 form + ~ㄹ까 form

Now I’m so lonely (lonely)
매일 꿈속에서 연습했죠 kiss me (kiss me)
다시 crying in my room
포기할까봐
(say what you say but I want it more)
But still I want it more, more, more

매일 꿈속에서 연습했죠 kiss me = I practiced in my dream everyday, kiss me

• 매일 = every day
• 꿈속에서 = 꿈속 (inside someone’s dream) + 에서 particle
• 연습했죠 = 연습하다 (to practice) conjugated in Past Tense + 죠 form

다시 crying in my room = Again crying in my room

• 다시 = again

포기할까봐 = I don’t wanna give up

• 포기할까봐 = 포기하다 (to give up) + ~ㄹ까 봐 form

I’m so lonely hold me tightly
짜릿한 걸 원해 who will really love me truly
내게 기다림은 없어 I can’t wait
더는 믿지 않아 now
I’m gonna make it mine
Love is a light I’ll show my love is right
It’s not a joke so give it to me right now
No more chance to you
You know? Hey, d-d-d-dumb boy

짜릿한 걸 원해 who will really love me truly = I want a thrill who will really love me truly

• 짜릿한 걸 = 짜릿하다 (exciting, thrilling) + ~ㄴ 것 form + 를 particle
• 원해 = 원하다 (to want) conjugated in Casual Present Tense

내게 기다림은 없어 I can’t wait = No more waiting I can’t wait

• 내게 = to me (나 + 에게 particle)
• 기다림은 = 기다림 (wait) + 은 particle
• 없어 = 없다 (to not have/exist) conjugated in Casual Present Tense

더는 믿지 않아 now = Not believe you now

• 더는 = not anymore, no more
• 믿지 않아 = 믿다 (to believe) conjugated in Casual Present Tense (Negative form)

꿈속에 매일 밤
someone who will share this feeling
I’m a fool, a fool for love, a fool for love

꿈속에 매일 밤 = Every night in my dream

• 꿈속에 = 꿈속 (inside someone’s dream) + 에 particle
• 매일 밤 = every night (매일 = every day; 밤 = night)

I gave a second chance to Cupid
널 믿은 내가 정말 stupid
다시 한번 못 들은 척 기회를 줄게
Cupid is so dumb

다시 한번 못 들은 척 기회를 줄게 = I’ll give you one last chance

• 다시 = again
• 한번 = one more time
• 못 들은 척 = 못 verb form + 들다 (to listen) + 척 (to pretend)
• 기회를 = 기회 (chance) + 를 particle
• 줄게 = 주다 (to give) + ~ㄹ게 form

Congratulations! You finished this lesson! I hope you enjoyed today’s Korean lesson. In case you have any suggestions, feel free to tell me in the comments!

Good luck on your language-learning journey!

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