Table of Contents
🎶 Lee
Mu-jin - “Traffic Light”: Music Video
🎯 Key
Takeaways
🎶 Lee
Mu-jin -
“Traffic Light”: Lyrics Summary
🎶 Lee
Mu-jin - “Traffic Light”: Additional Information
🎶 Introduction to Lee Mu-jin
노래와는 다른 이야기지만, 한국의 횡단보도 앞에서 신호등을 경험해 보셨나요? 한국의 신호등은 길바닥에도 신호등이 있습니다. 스마트폰을 보면 걷는 보행자의 안전을 위해 만들었다고 하는데, 꽤나 편리합니다. 한국에 방문하시면 꼭 경험해 보세요.
Though it’s a bit off-topic from music,
have you ever experienced crossing at a Korean pedestrian crosswalk? In Korea,
traffic signals aren't just overhead but embedded in the ground too. These
ground-level lights were designed to protect pedestrians who walk while looking
at their smartphones, and they’re surprisingly convenient. If you ever visit
Korea, be sure to give it a try!
🎶 Lee Mu-jin - “Traffic Light”: Music Video
🎯 Key
Takeaways
1. "이제야"
"이제야" means
"only now" or "finally now," emphasizing that something has
just happened after a delay or long wait.
📌 Example Usage
"이제야 모든 게 이해가 된다."
"Only now do I understand
everything."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"지금에서야" –
"just now / at this point"
📌 Example Usage
"지금에서야 그 말을 이해했어."
"I understood those words only now."
2. "목적지를"
"목적지를" means
"the destination (as an object)," referring to the goal or place
someone intends to reach.
- "목적지":
"목적 (purpose)" + suffix "-지 (place)"
- "목적지를":
accusative form with object particle "-를"
📌 Example Usage
"목적지를 향해 떠났어요."
"We set off toward our destination."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"도착지" –
"arrival point"
📌 Example Usage
"도착지가 어디인지 알려줘."
"Let me know the arrival point."
3. "정했지만 / 정하다"
"정했지만" means
"although (I/you) decided."
"정하다" means
"to decide" or "to determine."
- "정했지만":
"정하다 (to decide)" in past tense with
contrastive ending "-지만 (although)"
• “정하다” → “정했다” → “정했지만”
- "정하다": verb
root meaning "to decide"
📌 Example Usage
"목적지를 정했지만 여전히 불안해."
"I’ve decided on the destination, but I’m
still anxious."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"결정했지만" –
"although (I/you) decided"
📌 Example Usage
"결정했지만 후회돼."
"Although I decided, I regret it."
4. "가려 한 / 가려 하다"
"가려 한" is the
attributive form of "가려 하다," meaning
"was trying/intending to go."
- "가려 하다":
"가다 (to go)" + "-려 하다" (to try or intend)
- "가려 한":
attributive past form used before a noun
📌 Example Usage
"가려 한 길을 누군가 막았어."
"Someone blocked the path I was trying to
go."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"가려고 했던" –
"was going to go"
📌 Example Usage
"가려고 했던 곳에 못 갔어."
"I couldn’t go to the place I intended
to."
5. "날 / 나를"
"날" is the
contracted form of "나를," meaning
"me" as an object.
- "나": first
person singular pronoun
- "나를":
accusative form with object particle "-를"
- "날":
shortened conversational form
📌 Example Usage
"그가 날 보지 못했어."
"He didn’t see me."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"저를" – polite
form of "me"
📌 Example Usage
"저를 기억하시나요?"
"Do you remember me?"
6. "막아서네 / 막아서다"
"막아서네" is the
declarative form of "막아서다," meaning "to
block or stand in the way."
- "막아서다":
compound "막다 (to block)" + "서다 (to stand)"
- "막아서네":
present-tense descriptive ending with nuance of realization or emphasis
📌 Example Usage
"그가 내 앞을 막아서네."
"He’s blocking my way."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"가로막다" –
"to block the way"
📌 Example Usage
"갑자기 누군가 길을 가로막았다."
"Suddenly, someone blocked the road."
7. "난 / 나는"
"난" is the
contracted form of "나는," meaning
"I" as the subject.
- "나": first
person singular pronoun
- "나는": with
topic particle "-는"
- "난":
contracted form used in speech
📌 Example Usage
"난 널 좋아해."
"I like you."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"저는" – polite
form of "I"
📌 Example Usage
"저는 학생입니다."
"I am a student."
8. "갈 길이 먼데 / 갈 길이 멀다"
"갈 길이 먼데"
means "the road ahead is long, but/since..." implying there's still a
long way to go.
- "갈": "가다 (to go)" + attributive "-ㄹ"
- "길이":
"길 (path, road)" + topic marker “-이”
- "멀다":
"to be far"
- "먼데":
connective "-ㄴ데" indicating contrast or
context
📌 Example Usage
"아직 갈 길이 먼데 벌써 지쳤어."
"The road ahead is still long, but I’m
already tired."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"앞으로도 멀었어" –
"it’s still far ahead"
📌 Example Usage
"우리에겐 아직도 갈 길이 멀었어."
"We still have a long way to go."
9. "새빨간"
"새빨간" means
"bright red" or "deep red," and it is often used to
describe intense colors or expressions.
- "새빨간":
"새- (intensifier)" + "빨갛다 (to be red)" in adjective form
📌 Example Usage
"그는 새빨간 얼굴로 화를 냈다."
"He got angry with a bright red
face."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"붉은" –
"red"
📌 Example Usage
"붉은 장미를 건넸다."
"He handed over a red rose."
10. "얼굴로"
"얼굴로" means
"with one’s face" or "through the face."
- "얼굴":
"face"
- "얼굴로": with
instrumental particle "-로" meaning
"by/with"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 웃는 얼굴로 나를 반겼다."
"He greeted me with a smiling face."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"표정으로" –
"with facial expression"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 표정으로 모든 걸 말하고 있었다."
"He said everything through his
expression."
11. "화를 냈던 / 화를 내다"
"화를 냈던" means
"was angry" or "got angry," used in the attributive past
form.
"화를 내다" means
"to get angry" or "to express anger."
- "화": anger
- "화를":
accusative form with object particle "-를"
- "내다": to
express or let out
- "화를 냈던":
past attributive form meaning "who had gotten angry"
• “화를
내다” → “화를 냈다” → “화를 냈던”
📌 Example Usage
"그는 새빨간 얼굴로 화를 냈던 친구야."
"He’s the friend who got angry with a
bright red face."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"성질을 부리다" –
"to throw a fit"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 사소한 일에도 성질을 부린다."
"He throws a fit over trivial
things."
12. "친구가"
"친구가" means
"a friend (subject)" or "the friend."
- "친구":
friend
- "-가":
subject particle
📌 Example Usage
"그 친구가 생각나네."
"That friend comes to mind."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"지인" –
"acquaintance"
📌 Example Usage
"지인 중에 그런 사람이 있어요."
"There’s someone like that among my
acquaintances."
13. "생각나네 / 생각나다"
"생각나네" means
"comes to mind" or "I recall it now."
"생각나다" means
"to come to mind" or "to remember."
- "생각나네":
present descriptive ending with nuance of realization
📌 Example Usage
"문득 네가 생각나네."
"You suddenly came to my mind."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"떠오르다" –
"to pop up in mind"
📌 Example Usage
"그 장면이 아직도 떠올라."
"That scene still pops up in my
mind."
14. "이미"
"이미" means
"already," which indicates that something has happened before or
earlier.
📌 Example Usage
"이미 끝난 일이야."
"It’s something that already ended."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"벌써" –
"already (more colloquial)"
📌 Example Usage
"벌써 다 먹었어?"
"You already ate it all?"
15. "발걸음을 떼었지만 / 발걸음을 떼다"
"발걸음을 떼었지만"
means "although (I/you) took a step."
"발걸음을 떼다"
means "to take a step" or "to start walking."
- "발걸음을": “발걸음 (step)” + object particle “-을”
- "떼다": to
separate, to lift
- "떼었지만":
past tense + contrastive ending "-지만"
• “떼다” → “떼었다” → “떼었지만”
📌 Example Usage
"이미 발걸음을 떼었지만 마음은 여전히 그곳에 있어."
"Even though I already took a step, my
heart is still there."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"첫발을 내딛다" –
"to take the first step"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 드디어 첫발을 내딛었다."
"He finally took the first step."
16. "재촉하네 / 재촉하다"
"재촉하네" means
"is rushing (me/you)" or "pressing (someone)."
"재촉하다" means
"to urge" or "to press someone to do something."
- "재촉하네":
present tense realization or observation
📌 Example Usage
"그는 나를 자꾸 재촉하네."
"He keeps pressing me."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"서두르게 하다" –
"to make (someone) hurry"
📌 Example Usage
"그녀가 날 서두르게 만들었어."
"She made me hurry."
17. "걷기도 힘든데 / 걷기 힘들다"
"걷기도 힘든데"
means "even walking is hard, but/since..."
"걷기 힘들다"
means "it’s hard to walk."
- "걷기":
nominalized form of "걷다 (to walk)"
- “-도”: auxiliary
particle, again, also
- "힘들다": to
be hard, difficult
- "걷기도 힘든데":
emphasizes walking as one of many complex tasks with contrast connector "-는데"
📌 Example Usage
"걷기도 힘든데 자꾸 재촉하네."
"It’s hard to walk, but you keep rushing
me."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"발이 안 떨어지다" –
"can’t take a step"
📌 Example Usage
"그 순간 발이 안 떨어졌어."
"I couldn’t move my feet at that
moment."
18. "새파랗게"
"새파랗게" means
"bright blue" or "pale with fear," depending on context.
In emotional contexts, it suggests extreme fear
or shock.
- "새파랗다": to
be vivid blue or very pale
- "새파랗게":
adverbial form
📌 Example Usage
"그는 새파랗게 질린 얼굴로 서 있었다."
"He stood there with a face pale with
fear."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"질리다" –
"to turn pale (with fear)"
📌 Example Usage
"겁에 질린 얼굴로 도망쳤다."
"He ran away with a terrified face."
19. "겁에 질려 / 겁에 질리다"
"겁에 질려" means
"terrified" or "paralyzed by fear."
"겁에 질리다"
means "to be seized with fear."
- "겁에": “겁 (fear)” + case particle “-에” (cause,
reason)
- "질리다":
passive form of "지다," here meaning "to
be overwhelmed"
📌 Example Usage
"새파랗게 겁에 질려 도망쳤다."
"He ran away, terrified."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"무서움에 떨다" –
"to tremble in fear"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 무서움에 떨고 있었다."
"He was trembling in fear."
20. "도망간 / 도망가다"
"도망간" is the
attributive past form of "도망가다," meaning
"ran away" or "escaped."
- "도망가다": run
away
- "도망간": past
attributive, used before a noun
📌 Example Usage
"겁에 질려 도망간 친구가 생각나네."
"I’m reminded of the friend who ran away
in fear."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"줄행랑치다" –
"to bolt, to flee suddenly"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 줄행랑을 쳤다."
"He bolted away."
21. "뇌에 맴도네 / 뇌에 맴돌다"
"뇌에 맴도네"
means "lingers in the brain" or "keeps circling in the
mind."
"뇌에 맴돌다"
means "to echo in the brain" or "to keep spinning in one’s
mind."
- "뇌에": “뇌 (brain)” + case particle “-에” (location)
- "맴돌다": to
circle, to linger
- "맴도네":
present informal realization form of "맴돌다"
📌 Example Usage
"그 말이 아직도 뇌에 맴도네."
"Those words still linger in my
brain."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"머릿속에서 떠나지 않다"
– "to not leave one’s head"
📌 Example Usage
"그 장면이 머릿속에서 떠나지 않아."
"That scene won’t leave my head."
22. "건반처럼 생긴 / 건반처럼 생기다"
"건반처럼 생긴"
means "shaped like a keyboard" or "looking like a
keyboard."
"건반처럼 생기다"
means "to resemble a keyboard."
- "건반": piano
keys, keyboard
- "-처럼":
like, as
- "생기다": to
be formed, to look like
- "건반처럼 생긴":
past attributive form of "생기다"
📌 Example Usage
"건반처럼 생긴 도로가 눈에 띄었다."
"The road that looked like piano keys
stood out."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"줄무늬가 있는" –
"striped"
📌 Example Usage
"줄무늬가 있는 바닥을 따라 걸었다."
"I walked along the striped floor."
23. "도로 위"
"도로 위" means
"on the road."
- "도로": road
- "위": on top
- "도로 위":
compound meaning "on the road"
📌 Example Usage
"도로 위에 차가 가득하다."
"The road is full of cars."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"길 위에" –
"on the street"
📌 Example Usage
"길 위에 누가 서 있었어."
"Someone was standing on the street."
24. "수많은"
"수많은" means
"numerous" or "countless."
- "수많다": to
be many
- "수많은":
attributive form
📌 Example Usage
"수많은 사람들이 그를 응원했다."
"Countless people cheered him on."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"헤아릴 수 없는" –
"uncountable"
📌 Example Usage
"헤아릴 수 없는 별들이 밤하늘을 수놓았다."
"Countless stars decorated the night
sky."
25. "동그라미들"
"동그라미들" means
"circles" or "round shapes" in the plural form.
- "동그라미":
circle
- "들": plural
marker
📌 Example Usage
"바닥엔 동그라미들이 잔뜩 그려져 있었다."
"The floor was filled with circles."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"원들" –
"circles" (using Sino-Korean "원")
📌 Example Usage
"작은 원들이 규칙적으로 배치돼 있었다."
"Small circles were arranged in a
pattern."
26. "모두가"
"모두가" means
"everyone" or "all (as the subject)."
- "모두": all,
everyone
- "-가":
subject particle
📌 Example Usage
"모두가 그 소식을 들었어요."
"Everyone heard the news."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"전부 다" –
"everything" or "all of it"
📌 Example Usage
"전부 다 끝났어."
"It’s all over."
27. "멈췄다 / 멈추다"
"멈췄다" means
"stopped" in the past tense.
"멈추다" means
"to stop."
- "멈추다": verb
meaning to stop
- "멈췄다": past
tense form
📌 Example Usage
"신호등이 빨간불로 멈췄다."
"The traffic light stopped at red."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"정지했다" –
"came to a halt" (more formal)
📌 Example Usage
"기계가 갑자기 정지했다."
"The machine suddenly came to a
halt."
28. "굴렀다 / 구르다"
"굴렀다" means
"rolled" in the past.
"구르다" means
"to roll."
- "구르다": to
roll
- "굴렀다": past
form
📌 Example Usage
"공이 언덕 아래로 굴렀다."
"The ball rolled down the hill."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"데굴데굴 굴렀다" –
"rolled tumbling"
📌 Example Usage
"데굴데굴 굴러서 멀리 갔다."
"It rolled far away, tumbling."
29. "말은 잘 들어 / 말을 잘 듣다"
"말은 잘 들어"
means "listens well" or "obeys."
"말을 잘 듣다"
means "to be obedient" or "to heed advice."
- "말은": “말 (word, speech) + subject marker “-은”
- "말을": “말 (word, speech) + object marker “-을”
- "잘 듣다": to
listen well
- "말은 잘 들어":
topic-emphasized present form
📌 Example Usage
"그 아이는 말은 잘 들어서 키우기 편해."
"That child listens well, so raising them
is easy."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"순하다" –
"gentle, obedient"
📌 Example Usage
"그 강아지는 성격이 순해."
"That puppy has a gentle
temperament."
30. "그건 / 그것은"
"그건" is a
contraction of "그것은," meaning "that
(thing)" as the topic.
- "그것": that
(thing)
- "-은": topic
particle
- "그건":
contracted topic-marked form
📌 Example Usage
"그건 나도 몰라."
"I don’t know about that either."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"그 일이야" –
"about that matter"
📌 Example Usage
"그 일이야 나중에 얘기하자."
"Let’s talk about that later."
31. "나도"
"나도" means
"me too" or "I also."
- "나":
first-person singular pronoun
- "-도":
particle meaning "also, too"
📌 Example Usage
"나도 그 생각을 했어."
"I thought the same thing, too."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"저도" – polite
form of "me too"
📌 Example Usage
"저도 같이 갈게요."
"I’ll go with you, too."
32. "문제가 아냐 / 문제가 아니다"
"문제가 아냐" is a
casual spoken form of "문제가 아니다," meaning
"it’s not a problem."
- "문제가": “문제 (problem) + topic marker “-가”
- "아니다": to
not be
- "아냐":
informal contraction of "아니다"
📌 Example Usage
"그건 전혀 문제가 아냐."
"That’s not a problem at all."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"상관없어" –
"it doesn’t matter"
📌 Example Usage
"그게 뭔들, 상관없어."
"Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter."
33. "붉은색"
"붉은색" means
"the color red."
- "붉다": to be
red
- "색": color
- "붉은색":
compound noun meaning "red color"
📌 Example Usage
"하늘은 붉은색으로 물들어 있었다."
"The sky was dyed red."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"빨강" –
"red" (shorter, common in daily use)
📌 Example Usage
"빨강 옷을 입은 사람이야."
"It’s the person wearing red
clothes."
34. "푸른색"
"푸른색" means
"the color blue or greenish-blue."
- "푸르다": to
be blue or greenish
- "색": color
- "푸른색":
blue/greenish color
📌 Example Usage
"바다는 깊은 푸른색을 띠고 있었다."
"The sea had a deep blue color."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"파랑" –
"blue"
📌 Example Usage
"파랑이 마음을 차분하게 만들어."
"Blue makes me feel calm."
35. "그 사이 3초"
"그 사이 3초" means "the 3 seconds in between."
- "그": that
- "사이": gap,
in between
- "3초": 3
seconds
📌 Example Usage
"그 사이 3초가 너무
길게 느껴졌다."
"Those 3 seconds in between felt so
long."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"잠깐의 순간" –
"brief moment"
📌 Example Usage
"잠깐의 순간에 모든 게 바뀌었다."
"Everything changed in a brief
moment."
36. "그 짧은 시간"
"그 짧은 시간"
means "that brief moment" or "that short time."
- "그": that
- "짧다": to be
short
- "짧은":
attributive form
- "시간": time
📌 Example Usage
"그 짧은 시간 동안 많은 일이 일어났어."
"A lot happened in that short time."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"잠시 동안" –
"for a moment"
📌 Example Usage
"잠시 동안 나가 있을게."
"I’ll be out for a moment."
37. "노란색 빛을 내는 / 노란색 빛을 내다"
"노란색 빛을 내는"
means "emitting yellow light."
"노란색 빛을 내다"
means "to shine yellow light."
- "노란색":
yellow
- "빛을": “빛 (light)” + object particle “-을”
- "내다": to
emit, to give off
- "노란색 빛을 내는":
attributive form
📌 Example Usage
"노란색 빛을 내는 신호등이 보였다."
"I saw a traffic light emitting a yellow
light."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"노랗게 빛나다" –
"to glow yellow"
📌 Example Usage
"가로등이 노랗게 빛났다."
"The streetlamp glowed yellow."
38. "저기 저"
"저기 저" means
"that over there," used for emphasis.
- "저기": over
there
- "저": that
- "저기 저":
emphatic double reference to a distant thing
📌 Example Usage
"저기 저 건물 봐봐."
"Look at that building over there."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"멀리 있는 저" –
"that one far away"
📌 Example Usage
"멀리 있는 저 산이 예쁘다."
"That mountain far away is
beautiful."
39. "신호등이"
"신호등이" means
"traffic light (as subject)."
- "신호등":
traffic signal
- "-이":
subject particle
📌 Example Usage
"신호등이 빨간불로 바뀌었어."
"The traffic light turned red."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"교통 신호" –
"traffic signal"
📌 Example Usage
"교통 신호를 지켜야 해."
"You have to follow the traffic
signals."
40. "내 / 나의"
"내" is the
contracted form of "나의," meaning
"my."
- "나": I
- "-의":
possessive particle
- "내": casual
form of "my"
• “나의” → “내” (contraction)
📌 Example Usage
"내 생각은 좀 달라."
"My thoughts are a bit different."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"저의" –
"my" (formal/polite)
“제” - casual form of
"저의"
📌 Example Usage
"저의 의견을 말씀드릴게요."
"I’ll share my opinion."
41. "머릿속을"
"머릿속을" means
"inside (my/one’s) head" as an object.
- "머릿속":
inside the head, mind
- "-을":
object particle
📌 Example Usage
"그 장면이 아직도 머릿속을 떠나지 않아."
"That scene still doesn’t leave my
head."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"생각을" –
"thoughts"
📌 Example Usage
"온갖 생각을 떨쳐낼 수 없었다."
"I couldn’t shake off all the
thoughts."
42. "텅 비워버려 / 텅 비우다"
"텅 비워버려"
means "completely emptied" or "left blank."
"텅 비우다" means
"to empty."
- "텅":
completely, totally (adverb)
- "비우다": to
empty
- "비워버리다":
"비우다" + auxiliary "-버리다" (to do something thoroughly or with finality)
- "텅 비워버려":
imperative or descriptive present form with nuance of total emptiness
📌 Example Usage
"놀람에 머릿속이 텅 비워버려 아무 생각도 안 났다."
"My mind went completely blank from the
shock, and I couldn’t think of anything."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"아무 생각도 없다" –
"to have no thoughts at all"
📌 Example Usage
"순간 아무 생각도 나지 않았다."
"For a moment, I couldn’t think of
anything."
43. "내가 빠른 지도 / 내가 빠르다"
"내가 빠른 지도"
means "whether I’m fast" or "if I am fast."
"내가 빠르다"
means "I am fast."
- "내가":
"I" + subject particle
- "빠르다": to
be fast
- "빠른 지도":
attributive + uncertainty ending "-ㄴ지도"
(whether or not)
📌 Example Usage
"내가 빠른 지도 느린 지도 모르겠어."
"I don’t know whether I’m fast or
slow."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"속도가 빠른 편이다"
– "to be on the fast side"
📌 Example Usage
"나는 다른 사람보다 속도가 빠른 편이다."
"I’m relatively faster than others."
44. "느린 지도 / 느리다"
"느린 지도" means
"whether (someone/something) is slow."
"느리다" means
"to be slow."
- "느리다":
verb/adjective meaning slow
- “느린 지도”: attributive
+ uncertainty ending "-ㄴ지도" (whether or not)
📌 Example Usage
"내가 느린 지도 잘 모르겠어."
"I’m not sure if I’m slow."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"속도가 느리다" –
"to have a slow pace"
📌 Example Usage
"속도가 느려서 따라가기 힘들다."
"The pace is so slow, it’s hard to
follow."
45. "모르겠어 / 모르겠다"
"모르겠어" means
"I don’t know" or "I’m not sure."
"모르겠다" is the
dictionary/base form.
- "모르다": to
not know
- "모르겠다":
present intention/realization form
- "모르겠어":
casual spoken variation
📌 Example Usage
"정말 모르겠어, 어떻게
해야 할지."
"I really don’t know what to do."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"알 수 없다" –
"cannot know"
📌 Example Usage
"앞일은 알 수 없어."
"The future is unknowable."
46. "그저"
"그저" means
"just" or "only," often used to imply simplicity or
limitation.
📌 Example Usage
"그저 바라볼 수밖에 없었다."
"I could do nothing but just watch."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"단지" –
"only, merely"
📌 Example Usage
"단지 네가 걱정돼서 그래."
"It’s only because I’m worried about
you."
47. "눈앞이"
"눈앞이" means
"in front of one’s eyes" as the subject.
- "눈": eye
- "앞": front
- "눈앞":
before one’s eyes, immediate sight
- "-이":
subject particle
📌 Example Usage
"눈앞이 흐려져서 아무것도 안 보여."
"My vision is blurry, and I can’t see
anything."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"시야가" –
"one’s field of vision"
📌 Example Usage
"시야가 순간적으로 흐려졌다."
"My vision suddenly blurred."
48. "샛노랄 뿐이야 / 샛노랄 뿐이다 / 샛노랗다"
"샛노랄 뿐이야"
means "it’s nothing but bright yellow."
"샛노랗다" means
"vivid yellow," and "-뿐이다"
emphasizes exclusivity.
- "샛노랗다":
bright/yellow
- "샛노랄":
attributive form
- "뿐이다":
only, just
- "샛노랄 뿐이야":
casual declarative
📌 Example Usage
"눈앞이 샛노랄 뿐이야, 아무
생각도 없어."
"All I see is yellow — I can’t think of
anything else."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"노란빛만 가득하다" –
"filled with yellow light"
📌 Example Usage
"창밖은 노란빛만 가득했다."
"Outside the window was filled with yellow
light."
49. "솔직히 말하자면 / 솔직히 말하다"
"솔직히 말하자면"
means "to be honest" or "frankly speaking."
"솔직히 말하다"
means "to speak honestly."
- "솔직히":
honestly, frankly
- "말하다": to
speak
- "말하자면":
indirect speech marker ("if I may say...")
📌 Example Usage
"솔직히 말하자면, 난
아직도 이해가 안 돼."
"To be honest, I still don’t
understand."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"정직하게 말하면" –
"if I speak truthfully"
📌 Example Usage
"정직하게 말하면, 넌
틀렸어."
"Truthfully speaking, you’re wrong."
50. "차라리"
"차라리" means
"rather" or "preferably," used when choosing the lesser of
two evils.
📌 Example Usage
"차라리 혼자 있는 게 나아."
"I’d rather be alone."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"오히려" –
"on the contrary, instead"
📌 Example Usage
"오히려 더 잘됐어."
"It actually turned out better."
51. "운전대를"
"운전대를" means
"the steering wheel" as the object.
- "운전대":
steering wheel
- "-를":
object particle
📌 Example Usage
"처음으로 운전대를 잡았을 때 긴장했어."
"I was nervous the first time I grabbed
the steering wheel."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"핸들을" –
"steering wheel" (loanword)
📌 Example Usage
"핸들을 돌려서 방향을 바꿨어."
"I turned the wheel to change
direction."
52. "못 잡던 / 못 잡다"
"못 잡던" is the
attributive form of "못 잡다," meaning "was
unable to hold/grasp."
- "못":
cannot, not able to
- "잡다": to
hold
- "못 잡던":
past attributive, modifying a noun
📌 Example Usage
"예전엔 운전대를 못 잡던 내가 지금은 잘 해."
"I used to not be able to hold the wheel,
but now I’m good at it."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"놓치다" –
"to miss, to fail to catch"
📌 Example Usage
"그 기회를 놓쳤던 걸 아직도 후회해."
"I still regret missing that
opportunity."
53. "어릴 때가"
"어릴 때가" means
"when (I/you) were young" as the subject.
- "어리다": to
be young
- “-ㄹ”: attributive
form
- "때": time,
moment
- "-가":
subject particle
📌 Example Usage
"어릴 때가 그리워질 때가 있어."
"There are times when I miss being
young."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"어렸을 때" –
"when I was young"
📌 Example Usage
"어렸을 때 자주 놀러 갔던 공원이야."
"It’s the park I visited when I was
little."
54. "더 좋았었던 것 같아 / 좋았었던 것 같다 / 좋다"
"더 좋았었던 것 같아"
means "I think it was better" or "it felt better back
then."
- "좋다": to be
good
- “좋았다”: past tense
- “좋았었다”: past perfect
tense
- "좋았었던": attributive
(intensified)
- "것 같다":
indirect or uncertain expression ("seems like")
📌 Example Usage
"그땐 더 좋았었던 것 같아, 단순해서."
"I think things were better back then —
they were simpler."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"행복했던 시절 같다"
– "seems like a happier time"
📌 Example Usage
"그 시절이 정말 행복했던 시절 같아."
"Those times feel like a truly happy
period."
55. "그땐 / 그때는"
"그땐" is the
contracted form of "그 때는," meaning "at
that time."
- "그": that
- "때": time
- "-는": topic
particle
- "그땐":
shortened conversational form
📌 Example Usage
"그땐 정말 아무 걱정이 없었어."
"Back then, I had no worries."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"그 시절에는" –
"in those days"
📌 Example Usage
"그 시절에는 지금보다 훨씬 자유로웠지."
"Back in those days, we were much freer
than now."
56. "함께"
"함께" means
"together" or "with someone."
📌 Example Usage
"항상 너와 함께 있고 싶어."
"I always want to be with you."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"같이" –
"together" (more casual/common)
📌 Example Usage
"같이 밥 먹을래?"
"Do you want to eat together?"
57. "온 세상을"
"온 세상을" means
"the whole world" as an object.
- "온":
entire, whole
- "세상": world
- "-을":
object particle
📌 Example Usage
"그때는 온 세상을 다 가진 것 같았어."
"Back then, it felt like I had the whole
world."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"전 세계를" –
"the entire world"
📌 Example Usage
"그 소식은 전 세계를 떠들썩하게 했다."
"The news shocked the entire world."
58. "거닐 / 거닐다"
"거닐" is the
attributive form of "거닐다," meaning "to
stroll" or "to stroll."
- "거닐다": to
stroll
- "거닐": plain
attributive form used before a noun
📌 Example Usage
"우리는 함께 온 세상을 거닐 수 있을 것 같았어."
"It felt like we could stroll across the
whole world together."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"산책하다" –
"to take a walk"
📌 Example Usage
"저녁에 강가를 산책했다."
"I took a walk along the river in the
evening."
59. "있었으니 / 있었다
/ 있다"
"있었으니" means
"because there was" or "since (someone/something) existed."
"있었다": past
tense of "있다 (to exist)."
"있다": to
exist, to have
- "있었으니":
past tense + cause/reason ending "-으니"
📌 Example Usage
"그때는 네가 있었으니 외롭지 않았어."
"Since you were there back then, I wasn’t
lonely."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"함께였기에" –
"because (we) were together"
📌 Example Usage
"함께였기에 가능했어."
"It was possible because we were
together."
60. "조명들이"
"조명들이" means
"the lights" as the subject (plural).
- "조명":
lighting, light
- "-들":
plural marker
- "-이":
subject particle
📌 Example Usage
"조명들이 빠르게 바뀌고 있다."
"The lights are changing quickly."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"빛들이" –
"the lights" (emphasis on light itself)
📌 Example Usage
"밤하늘의 빛들이 아름다웠다."
"The lights in the night sky were
beautiful."
61. "빠르게"
"빠르게" means
"quickly" or "fast," the adverbial form of "빠르다."
- "빠르다": to
be fast
- "빠르게":
adverb meaning "quickly, rapidly"
📌 Example Usage
"조명들이 빠르게 깜빡였다."
"The lights blinked rapidly."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"신속하게" –
"promptly, swiftly"
📌 Example Usage
"신속하게 대처해야 해."
"You need to respond quickly."
62. "번갈아 가며 / 번갈아 가다"
"번갈아 가며"
means "alternately" or "taking turns."
"번갈아 가다"
means "to alternate" or "to take turns."
- "번갈다": to
alternate
- "가다":
auxiliary verb forming ongoing action
- "번갈아 가며":
adverbial expression
• “번갈다” → “번갈아 가다” → “번갈아 가며”
📌 Example Usage
"조명들이 번갈아 가며 켜졌다 꺼졌다."
"The lights turned on and off
alternately."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"교대로" –
"by turns, in rotation"
📌 Example Usage
"교대로 근무하고 있어요."
"We’re working in shifts."
63. "비추고 있지만 / 비추고 있다 / 비추다"
"비추고 있지만"
means "is shining (but/while/though…),"
"비추고 있다"
means "is currently illuminating."
"비추다" means
"to shine, to reflect, to illuminate."
- "비추다": to
shine
- "비추고 있다":
present progressive
- "비추고 있지만":
contrastive connective form
📌 Example Usage
"조명들이 빠르게 번갈아 가며 비추고 있지만 아무도 없었다."
"Though the lights quickly flashed
alternately, no one was there."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"빛을 쏘다" –
"to project light"
📌 Example Usage
"무대 조명이 강하게 빛을 쐈다."
"The stage lights beamed strongly."
64. "아직"
"아직" means
"still" or "yet," indicating continuity or expectation.
- "아직":
adverb meaning "still, not yet"
📌 Example Usage
"아직도 널 기다리고 있어."
"I’m still waiting for you."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"여전히" –
"still (unchanged)"
📌 Example Usage
"여전히 그 자리에 있었어."
"He was still in the same place."
65. "초짜란 말이야 / 초짜란 말이다"
"초짜란 말이야"
means "I’m saying I’m a rookie" or "I’m still a beginner."
"초짜" means
"rookie" or "newbie."
- "초짜":
beginner
- "-란":
contraction of "라는"
- "말이다":
phrase used for emphasis or explanation
• “말이야”: informal sentence ending
📌 Example Usage
"나 아직 초짜란 말이야, 너무
몰아붙이지 마."
"I’m still a rookie, don’t push me too
hard."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"신입이야" –
"I’m new"
📌 Example Usage
"나 신입이야, 실수
좀 이해해줘."
"I’m new here, please understand the
mistakes."
66. "꼬질꼬질한 / 꼬질꼬질하다"
"꼬질꼬질한" means
"grimy," "dirty-looking," or "scruffy."
"꼬질꼬질하다"
means "to be dirty in a dusty/unkempt way."
- "꼬질꼬질하다":
to be grimy
- "꼬질꼬질한":
attributive form
📌 Example Usage
"꼬질꼬질한 옷차림 때문에 눈치가 보였어."
"I felt self-conscious because of my
scruffy clothes."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"지저분한" –
"messy, unkempt"
📌 Example Usage
"지저분한 방을 정리했어요."
"I cleaned up the messy room."
67. "사람이나"
"사람이나" means
"a person or something (of that sort)," often implying disapproval or
contrast.
- "사람":
person
- "-이나":
particle meaning "or something like, or even" (used to downplay)
📌 Example Usage
"꼬질꼬질한 사람이나 나 같은 애나…"
"A grimy person or someone like me…"
🌀 Similar Expressions
"인간이나" –
"some human or other (often pejorative)"
📌 Example Usage
"그런 인간이나 믿었으니…"
"Can’t believe I trusted someone like
that…"
68. "부자"
"부자" means
"rich person" or "wealthy."
📌 Example Usage
"부자들은 이런 고민을 안 하겠지."
"Rich people probably don’t worry about
stuff like this."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"재벌" –
"chaebol, tycoon"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 국내 10대 재벌
중 한 명이다."
"He’s one of the top 10 tycoons in
Korea."
69. "곁엔 / 곁에는"
"곁엔" is the
contracted form of "곁에는," meaning
"beside (someone/something)," marked as topic.
- "곁": side,
beside
- "-에는":
locative + topic marker
- "곁엔":
shortened conversational form
📌 Example Usage
"지금 내 곁엔 아무도 없어."
"Right now, there’s no one beside
me."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"옆에는" –
"next to"
📌 Example Usage
"옆에는 친구가 앉아 있었다."
"A friend was sitting next to me."
70. "아무도 없는 / 아무도 없다"
"아무도 없는"
means "no one is there" in attributive form.
"아무도 없다"
means "there’s no one."
- "아무도": no
one
- "없다": to
not exist
- "없는":
attributive form
📌 Example Usage
"지금 곁엔 아무도 없는 것 같아."
"It feels like there’s no one by my side
right now."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"혼자 남겨진" –
"left alone"
📌 Example Usage
"혼자 남겨진 느낌이 들었다."
"I felt like I’d been left alone."
71. "삼색 조명과"
"삼색 조명과"
means "with three-colored lighting" or "and the three-colored
lights."
- "삼색": three
colors, red & blue & yellow
- "조명":
lighting
- "-과":
conjunction particle meaning "and/with"
📌 Example Usage
"삼색 조명과 음악이 어우러진 무대였다."
"It was a stage with three-colored lights
and music combined."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"형형색색의 조명과" –
"with colorful lights"
📌 Example Usage
"형형색색의 조명과 퍼포먼스가 인상 깊었다."
"The colorful lights and performance were
impressive."
72. "이색 칠 위에"
- "이색 칠 위에" means "on top
of the paint of a different color."
- "이색": other
color, different color
- "칠": coat,
paint
- "위에": on
top of
📌 Example Usage
"이색 칠 위에 조명이 반사되었다."
"The lights reflected on the different colored
paint."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"투톤 색상 위에" –
"on the two-tone color"
📌 Example Usage
"투톤 색상 위에 장식이 더해졌다."
"Decorations were added on top of the
two-tone color."
73. "서 있어 / 서 있다"
"서 있어" means
"is standing" in informal speech.
"서 있다" means
"to be standing."
- "서다": to
stand
- "있다": to be
(progressive state)
- "서 있어":
present informal version of "서 있다"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 삼색 조명 아래 조용히 서 있어."
"He’s quietly standing under the
three-colored lights."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"멈춰 서 있다" –
"to be standing still"
📌 Example Usage
"그녀는 길 한복판에 멈춰 서 있었다."
"She was standing still in the middle of
the road."
74. "괴롭히지 마"
"괴롭히지 마"
means "don’t bother me" or "stop harassing."
- "괴롭히다": to
harass, bother, give pain
- "-지 마":
negative imperative ending (don’t do ~)
📌 Example Usage
"더 이상 괴롭히지 마, 나
진짜 힘들어."
"Stop bothering me. I’m really
exhausted."
🌀 Similar Expressions
"귀찮게 하지 마" –
"don’t annoy me"
📌 Example Usage
"지금은 좀 귀찮게 하지 마."
"Don’t annoy me right now."
🎶 Lee Mu-jin – “Traffic Light”:
Lyrics Summary
“Traffic Light” explores the uncertainty
and anxiety often accompanying early adulthood. The lyrics follow a young
person who has finally decided on a direction in life—“a destination”—but
quickly hesitates, blocked by unexpected emotions and self-doubt. Old
friendships resurface as memories, especially of a friend who once exploded in
anger and fled, overwhelmed by fear. These recollections hint at unresolved
emotions, regrets, and difficulty moving forward when the past lingers.
As the protagonist observes the traffic
lights—red, blue, and yellow—the yellow light becomes a central metaphor for
confusion. Those three seconds of yellow, caught between stop and go, represent
the indecision and emotional paralysis of youth. The flashing lights disorient
the speaker, emptying their thoughts and making it impossible to determine if
they are moving too fast or too slow. Everything appears bright and noisy, but
directionless.
The song also compares growing up to
driving—a journey where the speaker longs for the simpler days of childhood,
when they weren’t in control but had the comfort of friendship and shared
innocence. Now, even amid wealth or poverty, people stand alone beneath the
unyielding “three-colored lights,” each struggling with their version of
loneliness and hesitation.
Ultimately, “Traffic Light” is not about
arriving at an answer but acknowledging the fear and ambiguity that mark the
beginning of adulthood. It’s a gentle confession of not having it all figured
out—of standing at life’s intersection, blinking in yellow, unsure whether to
stop, go, or wait.
🎶 Lee Mu-jin – “Traffic Light”:
Additional Information
- Korean Title: 신호등
- Released: May 14, 2021
- Album: Traffic Light
- Genre: Indie Pop / Acoustic Pop
- Written & Composed by: Lee Mu-jin
- Label: Showplay Entertainment
Cultural Note:
“Traffic Light” struck a chord with
Korean youth, becoming an anthem of emotional honesty and vulnerability. The
phrase “그저 눈앞이 샛노랄 뿐이야” (“All I see is bright yellow”) has
become symbolic among listeners as a poetic representation of feeling lost
during transition periods in life.
Achievements:
The song topped major Korean music
charts upon release and remained one of the most-streamed tracks in 2021. Its success helped establish Lee Mu-jin as a
prominent voice in Korea’s modern indie scene.
🎶 Introduction to Lee Mu-jin
Lee Mu-jin (이무진) is a South Korean singer-songwriter
known for his distinctive voice, emotive lyricism, and ability to blend
acoustic, folk, and indie pop. He rose to prominence after competing on Sing
Again (싱어게인), a talent show that revived forgotten
or unknown artists. With his calm delivery and introspective storytelling, Lee
quickly captured the hearts of young listeners.
His breakout hit “Traffic Light” showcased
his maturity as a songwriter, delivering a nuanced look at emotional anxiety
and the fear of adulthood. Since then, Lee Mu-jin has continued to release
music that resonates deeply with those navigating their twenties, balancing
lyrical depth with acoustic elegance.
🌍 If
you’d like to read the full lyrics, please visit official music platforms such
as Melon, Genie Music, Apple Music, or Spotify!
❗The copyright belongs to the original
creators, and the management of music royalties and copyrights is handled by
the respective copyright holders and organizations such as the Korea Copyright
Commission.
❗This analysis
is intended for educational and language-learning purposes and does not replace
the official lyrics.
Not just another lyric translation—this is your
gateway to mastering Korean through K-Pop.
This blog post isn’t about simply translating
or dissecting lyrics word for word. Instead, I break down the key vocabulary
and expressions in K-Pop songs, making Korean learning fun and immersive.
By the time you reach the end, you won’t just understand
the words—you’ll feel the song the way native speakers do.
If you're serious about leveling up your
Korean, make it a daily habit: Pair this with my K-Drama
Bites series, and you’ll be picking up Korean naturally—step by step, with
excitement.
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