K-Pop Korean Study Guide: Vocabulary from Lee Sun-hee’s “Fate” Analyzed

Table of Contents

🎶 Lee Sun-hee - “Fate”: Music Video

🎯 Key Takeaways

🎶 Lee Sun-hee - “Fate”: Lyrics Summary

🎶 Lee Sun-hee - “Fate”: Additional Information

🎶 Lee Sun-hee - “Fate”: Music Video

Stage Performance

[Source] YouTube, musique d’abord

Lyrics

[Source] YouTube, KSECTOR

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. "약속해요 / 약속하다"

"약속해요 / 약속하다" means "I promise / to promise." It expresses one's firm intention or commitment to do something.

- "약속해요": "약속하다 (to promise)" in polite present tense

📌 Example Usage

"내일 꼭 올게, 약속해요."

"I’ll definitely come tomorrow, I promise."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"맹세하다" – "to vow"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 평생 사랑하겠다고 맹세했다."

"He vowed to love her for the rest of his life."

2. "순간이 지나고 / 순간이 지나다"

"순간이 지나고 / 순간이 지나다" means "the moment passes" or "after the moment passes." It reflects the fleeting nature of time.

- "순간이": "순간 (moment)" + subject particle "-이"

- "지나고": "지나다 (to pass)" + connector "-고 (and, after)"

📌 Example Usage

"그 순간이 지나고 나서야 진심을 알았다."

"Only after that moment passed did I realize the truth."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"시간이 흐르다" – "time flows"

📌 Example Usage

"시간이 흐른 뒤에 모든 게 명확해졌다."

"After some time passed, everything became clear."

3. "다시 보게 되는 / 다시 보게 되다"

"다시 보게 되는 / 다시 보게 되다" means "to see again" or "happen to see again." It implies a future reunion or repeated encounter.

- "다시": again

- "보게 되는": "보다 (to see)" + connective ending "-게 되다" (indicates change or result) + attributive "-는"

📌 Example Usage

"언젠가 다시 보게 되는 날이 올까?"

"Will there be a day when we see each other again?"

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"재회하다" – "to reunite"

📌 Example Usage

"십 년 만에 친구와 재회했다."

"I reunited with a friend after ten years."

4. "그날"

"그날" means "that day" and typically refers to a significant or memorable day.

📌 Example Usage

"그날의 기억이 아직도 생생하다."

"The memory of that day is still vivid."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"기억에 남는 날" – "a memorable day"

📌 Example Usage

"그날은 내 인생에서 가장 기억에 남는 날이었다."

"That was the most memorable day of my life."

5. "모든 걸 버리고 / 모든 것을 버리다"

"모든 걸 버리고 / 모든 것을 버리다" means "to give up everything" or "to abandon all."

- "모든": all

- "것을": thing (object form)

 • “것을” → “걸” (contraction, colloquial)

- "버리다": to throw away, abandon

- "버리고": "버리다" + connector "-고 (and, after)"

📌 Example Usage

"모든 걸 버리고 새 출발을 했다."

"I gave up everything and started anew."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"포기하다" – "to give up"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 꿈을 포기하지 않았다."

"He never gave up on his dream."

6. "그대 곁에 서서 / 그대 곁에 서다"

"그대 곁에 서서 / 그대 곁에 서다" means "to stand by your side."

- "그대": poetic/formal way to say "you"

- "곁에": by (someone's) side

- "서서": "서다 (to stand)" + connector "-서 (and then)"

📌 Example Usage

"언제나 그대 곁에 서서 함께할게요."

"I will always stand by your side."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"옆에 있다" – "to be beside (someone)"

📌 Example Usage

"힘들 때 항상 옆에 있어줬다."

"He was always there for me during hard times."

7. "남은 길을 가리란 걸 / 남을 길을 가리란 것을 / 남은 길을 가다"

"남은 길을 가리란 걸 / 남을 길을 가리란 것을 / 남은 길을 가다" means "to walk the remaining path" or "to continue the journey that’s left."

- "남은": "남다 (to remain)" + attributive "-은"

- "길을": “길 (road, path)” + object particle “-을”

- "가리란": “가다” + sentence ending “-리라” (future, will/intention) + attributive “-는”

• "가리란": contraction of "가리라는 (that I will go)"

• “가다” → “가리라” → “가리라는” → “가리란”

- “것을”: “것 (thing)” + object maker “-을”

• “걸”: contraction of “것을", colloquial

- “남은 길을 가다” → “남은 길을 가리라는 “ → “남은 길을 가리란” (contraction) → “남은 길을 가리란 것을” → “남은 길을 가리란 걸” (contraction)

📌 Example Usage

"그대 없이 남은 길을 가리란 걸 알고 있었다."

"I knew I would have to walk the remaining path without you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"앞길을 가다" – "to walk the road ahead"

📌 Example Usage

"앞길을 혼자 가야 한다는 게 두렵다."

"I'm afraid I have to walk the road ahead alone."

8. "인연이라고 하죠 / 인연이라고 하다"

"인연이라고 하죠 / 인연이라고 하다" means "they say it’s fate/connection."

- "인연": fate, destined relationship

- "이라고 하다": to say (that it is)

- "하죠": polite conversational ending

📌 Example Usage

"우연한 만남도 결국 인연이라고 하죠."

"Even a chance meeting is called fate in the end."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"운명이다" – "to be destiny"

📌 Example Usage

"그와의 만남은 운명이라 믿는다."

"I believe my meeting with him was destiny."

9. "거부할 수가 없죠 / 거부할 수가 없다 / 거부하다"

"거부할 수가 없죠 / 거부할 수가 없다" means "can’t refuse" or "unable to resist."

- "거부하다": to reject

- "거부할 수가 없다": cannot reject

- “거부할 수가 없죠”: “거부할 수가 없다” → “거부할 수 없다” (omission of topic marker) → “거부할 수 없죠” (polite conversational ending)

📌 Example Usage

"그 제안은 거부할 수가 없었다."

"I couldn’t refuse the offer."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"거절하지 못하다" – "unable to say no"

📌 Example Usage

"그 부탁을 거절하지 못하고 수락했다."

"I couldn’t refuse the request and accepted it."

10. "생애"

"생애" means "one’s life" or "lifetime." It refers to a person’s entire life experience.

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 생애 처음으로 해외여행을 갔다."

"She traveled abroad for the first time in her life."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"일생" – "one's whole life"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 일생 동안 학문에만 몰두했다."

"He dedicated his whole life to studying."

11. "이처럼"

"이처럼" means "like this" or "in this way." It emphasizes the degree or manner of something being referred to.

- "이": this

-"-처럼": like, as

📌 Example Usage

"이처럼 아름다운 풍경은 처음이야."

"I’ve never seen a landscape as beautiful as this."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"이와 같이" – "like this"

📌 Example Usage

"이와 같이 쉽게 설명해줘서 고마워."

"Thanks for explaining it this simply."

12. "아름다운 날"

"아름다운 날" means "a beautiful day." It refers to a special, emotionally meaningful, or visually lovely day.

- "아름다운": "아름답다 (to be beautiful)" + attributive "-은"

- "날": day

📌 Example Usage

"그날은 정말 아름다운 날이었다."

"That day was truly a beautiful one."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"기억에 남는 날" – "a memorable day"

📌 Example Usage

"그와 함께한 하루는 기억에 남는 날이었다."

"The day I spent with him was unforgettable."

13. "다시 올 수 있을까요 / 다시 올 수 있다 / 다시 오다"

"다시 올 수 있을까요 / 다시 올 수 있다" means "Can it come again?" or "It may return." It expresses hope or uncertainty about recurrence.

- "다시": again

- "오다": to come

- "올 수 있다": can come

- "있을까요": polite question form of "있다" (to exist, possibility)

- “다시 오다” → “다시 올 수 있다” → “다시 올 수 있을까” → “다시 올 수 있을까요”

📌 Example Usage

"이런 기회가 다시 올 수 있을까요?"

"Will a chance like this ever come again?"

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"다시 만나게 될까?" – "Will we meet again?"

📌 Example Usage

"우리가 다시 만나게 될까 자주 생각해."

"I often wonder if we’ll meet again."

14. "고달픈 삶의 길에"

"고달픈 삶의 길에" means "on the weary road of life." It conveys hardship and emotional or physical burden in life.

- "고달픈": "고달프다 (to be weary, tough)" + attributive "-은"

- "삶의": "삶 (life)" + possessive "-의"

- "길에": "길 (road)" + locative "-에"

📌 Example Usage

"고달픈 삶의 길에 당신이 있어 다행이었다."

"I was grateful to have you on this difficult road of life."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"험한 인생길" – "rough path of life"

📌 Example Usage

"험한 인생길에서도 희망은 있었다."

"There was still hope even on the rough path of life."

15. "선물인 걸 / 선물인 것을"

"선물인 걸 / 선물인 것을" means "it’s a gift" or "that it is a gift." Used to express appreciation or realization.

- "선물인 것을": “선물 (gift)” + “-이다 (to be)” + attributive “-ㄴ” + nominalization “것 (thing)” + object marker “-을”

 • "-인 걸": contraction of "-인 것을" (that it is)

📌 Example Usage

"당신이 내 인생에 온 건 선물인 걸 알아요."

"I know that your coming into my life is a gift."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"축복이다" – "a blessing"

📌 Example Usage

"당신은 나에게 큰 축복이에요."

"You’re a great blessing to me."

16. "사랑이 녹슬지 않도록 / 사랑이 녹슬지 않다 / 사랑이 녹슬다"

"사랑이 녹슬지 않도록" means "so that love doesn’t rust"—a poetic expression meaning to keep love fresh or untarnished.

- "사랑이": “사랑 (love)” + subject marker “-이”

- "녹슬다": to rust

- "녹슬지 않다": to not rust

- "-도록": so that (purpose connector)

- “사랑이 녹슬다” → negation “사랑이 녹슬지 않다” → “사랑이 녹슬지 않도록” (purpose connector)

📌 Example Usage

"우리 사랑이 녹슬지 않도록 노력하자."

"Let’s try to keep our love from growing dull."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"사랑을 지키다" – "to preserve love"

📌 Example Usage

"우리는 서로의 사랑을 지키기 위해 애썼다."

"We worked hard to protect our love."

17. "늘"

"늘" means "always" or "constantly." It expresses consistency or continuity in time.

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람은 늘 내 곁에 있었다."

"That person was always by my side."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"항상" – "always"

📌 Example Usage

"항상 건강 조심하세요."

"Always take care of your health."

18. "닦아 / 닦다"

"닦아 / 닦다" means "to wipe" or "to polish." In an emotional or poetic context, it can suggest "to care for" or "to maintain."

- "닦아": "닦다 (to wipe)" + connector "-아 (and)"

📌 Example Usage

"거울을 닦아 반짝이게 만들었다."

"I wiped the mirror to make it shine."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"문지르다" – "to rub, polish"

📌 Example Usage

"구두를 문질러 광을 냈다."

"I polished the shoes until they shone."

19. "비출께요 / 비추다"

"비출께요 / 비추다" means "I will shine" or "I will light up." It is often metaphorical, meaning to illuminate someone’s life or path.

- "비추다": to shine, to reflect

- "비출께요": future polite form "I will shine (for you)"

📌 Example Usage

"어둠 속에서도 당신을 비출게요."

"I’ll shine for you even in the darkness."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"밝히다" – "to brighten, to illuminate"

📌 Example Usage

"초가 방을 환하게 밝혔다."

"The candle lit up the room brightly."

20. "취한 듯"

"취한 듯" means "as if drunk" or "like being intoxicated." It often expresses emotional overwhelm, not just literal drunkenness.

- "취한": "취하다 (to be drunk)" + attributive "-은"

- "듯": like, as if

📌 Example Usage

"그의 말에 취한 듯 멍해졌다."

"I was dazed, as if drunk on his words."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"넋이 나간 듯" – "like being out of one’s mind"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 충격에 넋이 나간 듯했다."

"She looked like she had lost her mind from the shock."

21. "만남은 짧았지만 / 만남은 짧았다 / 만남은 짧다"

"만남은 짧았지만" means "the meeting was short, but…" expressing that although the encounter was brief, it held significance.

- "만남은": “만남 (meeting)” + subject particle “-은”

- "짧았지만": "짧다 (to be short)" + past tense "-았" + contrast connector "-지만"

 • “짧다” → “짧았다” (past tense) → “짧았지만”

📌 Example Usage

"우리의 만남은 짧았지만 깊은 인상을 남겼다."

"Our meeting was brief but left a deep impression."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"순간이었지만 잊지 못할" – "It was brief, but unforgettable"

📌 Example Usage

"그 순간이었지만 잊지 못할 경험이었다."

"It was just a moment, but an unforgettable experience."

22. "빗장 열어 / 빗장 열다"

"빗장 열어 / 빗장 열다" means "to open the latch" and can metaphorically suggest opening one’s heart or mind.

- "빗장": latch, bolt

- "열어": "열다 (to open)" + connector "-어"

📌 Example Usage

"마음의 빗장을 열어 솔직하게 말했다."

"I opened the latch of my heart and spoke honestly."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"마음을 열다" – "to open one’s heart"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 쉽게 마음을 열지 않는다."

"She doesn’t open her heart easily."

23. "자리했죠 / 자리하다"

"자리했죠 / 자리하다" means "to settle in" or "to take a place," often emotionally or physically.

- "자리하다": to be located, to be present

- "-했죠": past tense polite ending

📌 Example Usage

"그 순간, 그 사람은 내 마음속에 자리했죠."

"At that moment, that person took a place in my heart."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"머무르다" – "to remain, to stay"

📌 Example Usage

"그 기억은 내 마음속에 오래 머물렀다."

"That memory stayed in my heart for a long time."

24. "맺지 못한데도 / 맺지 못하다 / 맺다"

"맺지 못한데도" means "even though (we) couldn’t form (a bond/relationship)."

- "맺다": to form (a relationship or bond)

- "맺지 못하다": to not be able to form

- "맺지 못한데도": even though we couldn’t form

📌 Example Usage

"맺지 못한데도 후회는 없어요."

"Even though we couldn’t be together, I have no regrets."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"결실을 맺지 못하다" – "to bear no fruit (of effort or love)"

📌 Example Usage

"그들의 사랑은 결국 결실을 맺지 못했다."

"Their love eventually bore no fruit."

25. "후회하진 않죠 / 후회하지는 않는다 / 후회하다"

"후회하진 않죠" means "I don’t regret it."

- "후회하다": to regret

- "후회하지는 않다": emphasis with negation

 • “후회하다” → negation “후회하지 않다” → emphasis “후회하지는 않다”

- "않죠": polite conversational form

📌 Example Usage

"힘든 선택이었지만 후회하진 않아요."

"It was a difficult choice, but I don’t regret it."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"미련은 없다" – "I have no lingering feelings/regrets"

📌 Example Usage

"최선을 다했기에 미련은 없다."

"I have no regrets because I did my best."

26. "영원한 건 없으니까 / 영원한 것은 없다"

"영원한 건 없으니까" means "because nothing lasts forever."

- "영원한": "영원하다 (to be eternal)" + attributive "-한"

- "건": contraction of "것은" (thing)

- "없으니까": "없다 (not exist)" + cause connector "-니까 (because)"

📌 Example Usage

"영원한 건 없으니까 지금을 소중히 해야 해."

"Because nothing lasts forever, we should cherish the present."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"모든 것은 변한다" – "everything changes"

📌 Example Usage

"이 세상에 변하지 않는 것은 없다."

"There’s nothing unchanging in this world."

27. "운명이라고 하죠 / 운명이라고 하다"

"운명이라고 하죠" means "they say it’s fate."

- "운명": fate

- "-이라고 하다": to say that it is

- "-하죠": polite ending

📌 Example Usage

"우연도 결국엔 운명이라고 하죠."

"Even coincidence is called fate in the end."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"필연이다" – "inevitable"

📌 Example Usage

"그들의 만남은 필연이었다."

"Their meeting was inevitable."

28. "하고픈 말 많지만 / 하고싶은 말이 많다"

"하고픈 말 많지만" means "I have a lot to say, but…"

- "하고픈": contraction of "하고 싶은 (want to say)"

- "말": words, things to say, omission of subject particle

- "많지만": "많다 (to be many)" + contrast connector "-지만"

📌 Example Usage

"하고픈 말 많지만 차마 꺼내지 못했다."

"I had a lot to say, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"말하고 싶은 게 많다" – "there’s so much I want to say"

📌 Example Usage

"그날 이후로 말하고 싶은 게 너무 많아졌다."

"Since that day, there’s been so much I’ve wanted to say."

29. "당신은 아실테죠 / 당신은 안다"

"당신은 아실테죠" means "you probably know."

- "당신은": “당신 (you)” + subject particle “-은”

- "안다": to know

- "아실 테죠": future/honorific/assumption form

📌 Example Usage

"내 마음을 당신은 아실테죠."

"You probably already know how I feel."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"짐작하겠죠" – "you might guess"

📌 Example Usage

"그의 진심을 짐작하겠죠."

"You might have guessed his true feelings."

30. "먼길 돌아 / 먼길 돌다"

"먼길 돌아" means "to take a long way around." It implies a life detour or hardship before arriving at a destination.

- "먼길": long road

- "돌다": to go around

- "돌아": connector form

📌 Example Usage

"먼길 돌아 결국 그를 다시 만났다."

"I took a long road and finally met him again."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"우회하다" – "to detour"

📌 Example Usage

"공사 중이라 길을 우회해야 했다."

"Because of construction, we had to take a detour."

31. "만나게 되는 날"

"만나게 되는 날" means "the day we meet again" or "the day we come to meet."

- "만나게 되는": "만나다 (to meet)" + causative/result "-게 되다" + attributive "-는"

- "날": day

📌 Example Usage

"다시 만나게 되는 날이 오길 바란다."

"I hope the day we meet again will come."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"재회의 날" – "day of reunion"

📌 Example Usage

"재회의 날을 손꼽아 기다렸다."

"I counted the days waiting for the reunion."

32. "다시 놓지 말아요 / 다시 놓지 마 / 다시 놓다"

"다시 놓지 말아요" means "don’t let go again."

- "놓다": to let go, release

- "놓지 말아요": polite negative command

📌 Example Usage

"이번엔 다시 놓지 말아요."

"Don’t let go again this time."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"잡은 손을 놓지 말자" – "let’s not let go of each other’s hands"

📌 Example Usage

"우리 서로 잡은 손을 놓지 말자."

"Let’s not let go of the hands we’re holding."

33. "못한 사랑"

"못한 사랑" means "unfulfilled love" or "love that couldn’t be."

- "못한": "못하다 (to be unable to do)" + attributive “-ㄴ”

- "사랑": love

📌 Example Usage

"못한 사랑이 마음속에 남아 있다."

"The love I couldn’t have still lingers in my heart."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"이루지 못한 사랑" – "love that never came true"

📌 Example Usage

"이루지 못한 사랑이 더욱 아프게 느껴진다."

"Love that couldn’t be feels even more painful."

34. "못한 인연"

"못한 인연" means "a fate or relationship that didn’t come to be."

- "인연": fate, destined bond

- "못한": unfulfilled, not realized

📌 Example Usage

"못한 인연이 아쉬움으로 남는다."

"The fate that didn’t happen remains a regret."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"끝나지 못한 이야기" – "an unfinished story"

📌 Example Usage

"우리는 끝나지 못한 이야기 같았다."

"We were like an unfinished story."

 

🎶 Lee Sun-hee – “Fate”: Lyrics Summary

“Fate” narrates the tender, almost otherworldly moment of meeting someone who feels destined, like they’ve emerged from a dream or another realm. The lyrics open with a moment frozen in time, evoking the surreal sensation of encountering someone special under unusual, perhaps even fated, circumstances—an early winter dawn that arrives too soon, accompanied by the gentle fall of welcome snow.

Though the subject of affection brings light with their clear smile, there’s a shadow lingering behind their eyes—a quiet sadness that cannot be ignored. The speaker longs to know every small detail about this person, yet they remain emotionally distant, unwilling or unable to speak openly.

This silent gap gives rise to a subtle but poignant yearning. If words are not shared in the waking world, the speaker imagines slipping into the other’s dreams, quietly entering the subconscious to listen and understand gently. The repeated desire to "visit your dreams" expresses a wish to cross even the boundaries of reality to close the emotional distance.

Overall, the song captures the bittersweet feeling of loving someone whose heart is partially hidden, of being drawn to both the beauty and sorrow they carry. It reflects a quiet persistence to connect, understand, and love beyond words.

 

🎶 Lee Sun-hee – “Fate”: Additional Information

- Song Title (Korean): 인연 (Fate)

- Released: April 14, 2005

- Album: Sachunki (사춘기)

- Genre: Ballad / Orchestral Pop

- Composer: Lee Sun-hee

- Lyricist: Lee Sun-hee

- Featured In: OST for the film The King and the Clown (왕의 남자)

 

Cultural Note:

The song gained immense popularity due to its association with the hit historical film The King and the Clown, deepening the emotional impact of its storyline. Its poetic lyrics and orchestral arrangement elevate it beyond a typical ballad, making it a beloved piece across generations.

 

Legacy:

“Fate” is considered one of Lee Sun-hee’s defining works and remains a frequent choice at concerts, music competitions, and televised tributes. It encapsulates many Korean ballads' introspective, dignified sorrow, while expressing emotional intimacy through restraint rather than drama.

 

 

🌍 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.