IU’s “Meaning of You” Explained: Korean Vocabulary for Language Learners

Table of Contents

🎶 IU - “Meaning of you (Feat. Kim Chang-Wan)”: Music Video

🎯 Key Takeaways

🎶 IU - “Meaning of you (Feat. Kim Chang-Wan)”: Lyrics Summary

🎶 IU - “Meaning of you (Feat. Kim Chang-Wan)”: Additional Information

🎶 Introduction to IU & Kim Chang-Wan

🎶 IU - “Meaning of you (Feat. Kim Chang-Wan)”: Music Video

[Source] YouTube, 1theK (원더케이)

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. "너의 / 너는 (넌) / 너를 (널)"

- Possessive, topic, and object forms of "you" in Korean.

- "너의": possessive form of "너 (you)" meaning "your"

- "너는 (넌)": topic form "너 + 는", with "넌" being a contraction, meaning "you (as topic)"

- "너를 (널)": object form "너 + 를", with "널" being a contraction, meaning "you (as object)"

📌 Example Usage

"너의 웃음이 나를 행복하게 해."

"Your smile makes me happy."

"넌 정말 특별한 사람이야."

"You are truly a special person."

"널 처음 본 순간을 잊지 못해."

"I can't forget the moment I first saw you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"자네 / 당신" – formal or semi-formal variants of "you"

📌 Example Usage

"당신의 의견을 듣고 싶어요."

"I want to hear your opinion."

2. "그"

- "그" means "that" or "he" depending on context. It can function as a demonstrative or a pronoun.

📌 Example Usage

"그 책은 내가 찾던 거야."

"That book is the one I was looking for."

"그는 내 친구야."

"He is my friend."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"저" – more distant demonstrative "that (over there)"

📌 Example Usage

"저 사람 알아요?"

"Do you know that person?"

3. "한 마디 말도"

- Means "not even a single word."

- "한 마디": "one word"

- "말도": "말 (word)" + additive/emphatic particle "-도" meaning "even"

📌 Example Usage

"한 마디 말도 없이 떠나버렸다."

"He left without saying a single word."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"입도 뻥긋하지 않다" – "not utter a word"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 화가 나서 입도 뻥긋하지 않았다."

"He was so angry he didn't say a single word."

4. "웃음도"

- Means "even the smile" or "the smile too."

- "웃음": smile, laughter

- "-도": additive particle meaning "also" or "even"

📌 Example Usage

"웃음도 그립다."

"I even miss your smile."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"미소" – smile (more formal or poetic)

📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 미소는 정말 따뜻했다."

"Her smile was truly warm."

5. "나 / 나에겐"

- First-person singular "I/me" with object or topic markers.

- "나": base form "I, me"

- "나에겐": "나 + 에게 + 는" meaning "to me (with topic emphasis)"

✂️ “나에게는” → “나에겐” (contraction)

📌 Example Usage

"나 혼자 남겨졌다."

"I was left alone."

"나에겐 너무 소중한 추억이야."

"To me, it’s a very precious memory."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"저 / 저에겐" – polite or humble form

📌 Example Usage

"저에겐 이 기회가 간절합니다."

"To me, this opportunity means everything."

6. "커다란"

- "커다란" means "huge" or "great" and is the attributive form of "커다랗다 (to be big)."

📌 Example Usage

"커다란 기쁨이 밀려왔다."

"A great joy came over me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"큰 / 거대한" – big / gigantic

📌 Example Usage

"거대한 빌딩이 눈앞에 있었다."

"A gigantic building stood before me."

7. "의미"

- "의미" means "meaning" or "significance."

📌 Example Usage

"이 말의 의미가 뭘까?"

"What’s the meaning of this word?"

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"뜻 / 함의" – meaning / implication

📌 Example Usage

"그의 말에는 깊은 뜻이 있다."

"His words carry a deep meaning."

8. "작은"

- "작은" means "small" and is the attributive form of "작다 (to be small)."

📌 Example Usage

"작은 소리에도 깜짝 놀랐다."

"Even a small sound startled me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"조그마한 / 자그마한" – tiny, small

📌 Example Usage

"자그마한 집이 아늑해 보였다."

"The tiny house looked cozy."

9. "눈빛도"

- "눈빛도" means "even the look in your eyes" or "your gaze too."

- "눈빛": expression in one's eyes

- "-도": additive/emphatic particle

📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 눈빛도 따뜻했다."

"Even her gaze was warm."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"시선 / 눈길" – gaze / glance

📌 Example Usage

"따뜻한 시선이 느껴졌다."

"I felt a warm gaze."

10. "쓸쓸한"

- "쓸쓸한" means "lonely" or "lonesome." It expresses a feeling of solitude or emotional emptiness.

📌 Example Usage

"쓸쓸한 저녁 하늘을 바라보며 혼자였다."

"I was alone, staring at the lonely evening sky."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"외로운" – "lonely"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 외로운 표정을 지었다."

"He had a lonely expression on his face."

11. "뒷모습도"

- "뒷모습도" means "even the figure seen from behind" or "also the appearance from behind." It can evoke a lingering or emotional image.

- "뒷모습": "뒤 (back)" + "모습 (appearance)"

- "-도": additive particle meaning "also" or "even"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 뒷모습도 아름다웠다."

"Even her figure from behind was beautiful."

 

12. "힘겨운"

- "힘겨운" means "difficult" or "hard to endure." It conveys physical or emotional hardship.

- "힘겨운": "힘겹다 (to be hard, to be difficult)" + attributive ending "-은"

📌 Example Usage

"힘겨운 시간을 견뎌냈다."

"I endured a difficult time."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"고된" – "exhausting"

📌 Example Usage

"고된 하루가 끝났다."

"The exhausting day has come to an end."

13. "약속"

- "약속" means "promise" or "commitment." It indicates a spoken or implied agreement between people.

📌 Example Usage

"우리는 다시 만나자고 약속했다."

"We promised to meet again."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"다짐" – "pledge, resolution"

📌 Example Usage

"굳은 다짐으로 목표를 세웠다."

"I made a firm pledge and set a goal."

14. "모든 것은"

- "모든 것은" means "everything (as for everything)." It emphasizes the totality of something.

- "모든": all

- "것은": "것 (thing)" + topic particle "-은"

📌 Example Usage

"모든 것은 시간이 해결해 줄 거야."

"Everything will be resolved with time."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"전부 다" – "all of it"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 전부 다 잃었다."

"He lost everything."

15. "내게로 와 / 오다"

- "내게로 와" means "come to me." It's a poetic or emotional invitation.

- "내게로": "나 (me)" + dative particle "-에게" + direction marker "-로"

 ✂️ “나에게로” → “내게로” (contraction)

- "와": informal imperative or statement form of "오다 (to come)"

📌 Example Usage

"그대여, 내게로 와요."

"Darling, come to me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"다가오다" – "to approach, to come closer"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 조용히 다가왔다."

"He quietly approached."

16. "풀리지 않는 / 풀리지 않다 / 풀리다"

- "풀리지 않는" means "not solved" or "unsolved." It often describes something mysterious or unresolved.

- "풀리다": to be untied, resolved, or unraveled

- "풀리지 않다": negative form "not be resolved"

- "풀리지 않는": "풀리지 않다" + attributive "-는"

📌 Example Usage

"그 일은 아직도 풀리지 않는 수수께끼다."

"That matter is still a mystery."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"해결되지 않은" – "unresolved"

📌 Example Usage

"해결되지 않은 문제가 남아 있다."

"There remains an unresolved issue."

17. "수수께끼가 되네"

- "수수께끼가 되네" means "becomes a mystery" or "it turns into a riddle." It conveys that something is becoming unclear or puzzling.

- "수수께끼": riddle, mystery

- "-가": subject particle

- "되네": "되다 (to become)" + informal ending "-네" (exclamatory or realization)

📌 Example Usage

"그의 말이 수수께끼가 되네."

"His words are turning into a mystery."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"알 수 없는 일이 되다" – "to become something unknowable"

📌 Example Usage

"이 상황은 점점 알 수 없는 일이 되어 간다."

"This situation is gradually becoming something unknowable."

18. "슬픔은"

- "슬픔은" means "sorrow" as the subject of the sentence.

- "슬픔": "슬픔 (sorrow, sadness)"

- "-은": topic/subject particle attached to a noun ending in a consonant

📌 Example Usage

"슬픔은 시간이 지나면 희미해진다."

"Sorrow fades as time passes."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"비애는" – "grief"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 눈에는 깊은 비애가 담겨 있었다."

"Her eyes were filled with deep grief."

19. "간이역의"

- "간이역의" means "of the small station."

- "간이역": "간이 (simple, temporary)" + "역 (station)" → "small/local station"

- "-의": possessive particle, equivalent to "of"

📌 Example Usage

"간이역의 풍경은 오래된 영화 같았다."

"The scenery of the small station looked like an old movie."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"작은 기차역의" – "of the little train station"

📌 Example Usage

"작은 기차역의 벤치에 앉아 있었다."

"He was sitting on the bench at the little train station."

20. "코스모스로"

- "코스모스로" means "toward the cosmos flowers" or "with cosmos flowers."

- "코스모스": cosmos (a type of flower)

- "-로": particle indicating direction or means, "toward" or "using"

📌 Example Usage

"길가에는 코스모스로 가득했다."

"The roadside was filled with cosmos flowers."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"국화로" – "with chrysanthemums"

📌 Example Usage

"제단을 국화로 장식했다."

"The altar was decorated with chrysanthemums."

21. "피고 / 피다"

- "피고 / 피다" means "to bloom" or "to blossom."

- "피고": "피다 (to bloom)" + connector "-고 (and, after)"

📌 Example Usage

"꽃이 피고 새들이 노래했다."

"Flowers bloomed and birds sang."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"만개하다" – "to be in full bloom"

📌 Example Usage

"벚꽃이 만개해 거리가 하얗게 물들었다."

"The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, turning the street white."

22. "스쳐 불어온 / 스쳐 불어오다 / 스치다 / 불어오다"

- "스쳐 불어온" means "brushed past and blew in," usually referring to a wind or emotion.

- "스쳐": from "스치다 (to graze, brush past)"

 • “스치다” + connective ending “-어” → “스쳐”

- "불어온": from "불어오다 (to blow in)"

 • “불어오다” + attributive “-ㄴ” (past tense)

📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 향기가 스쳐 불어왔다."

"Her scent brushed past and blew in."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"살랑살랑 불어오다" – "to blow gently"

📌 Example Usage

"살랑살랑 불어오는 봄바람이 기분 좋았다."

"The gentle spring breeze felt pleasant."

23. "향긋한 바람"

- "향긋한 바람" means "fragrant wind" or "a sweet-smelling breeze."

- "향긋한": "향긋하다 (to be fragrant)" + attributive "-은"

- "바람": wind

📌 Example Usage

"향긋한 바람이 얼굴을 스쳤다."

"A fragrant breeze brushed against my face."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"달콤한 향기" – "sweet scent"

📌 Example Usage

"달콤한 향기가 집 안에 퍼졌다."

"A sweet scent spread through the house."

24. "이제"

- "이제" means "now" or "from now on," indicating the present moment or a transition.

📌 Example Usage

"이제 시작해도 늦지 않아."

"It’s not too late to start now."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"지금" – "now"

📌 Example Usage

"지금 바로 떠나야 해."

"We have to leave right now."

25. "뭉게구름"

- "뭉게구름" refers to "cumulus clouds" or fluffy, white clouds often seen in fair weather.

📌 Example Usage

"푸른 하늘에 뭉게구름이 피어올랐다."

"Cumulus clouds rose in the blue sky."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"흰 구름" – "white cloud"

📌 Example Usage

"흰 구름이 천천히 흘러갔다."

"A white cloud drifted slowly."

26. "위에"

- "위에" means "on top of" or "above."

- "위": top, above

- "-에": location particle meaning "at," "on," or "in"

📌 Example Usage

"책상 위에 책이 놓여 있다."

"A book is placed on the desk."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"위쪽에" – "up above"

📌 Example Usage

"선반 위쪽에 상자가 있다."

"There’s a box up on the shelf."

27. "성을 짓고 / 성을 짓다"

- "성을 짓고 / 성을 짓다" means "to build a castle."

- "성": castle

- "-을": object particle

- "짓다": to build

- "짓고": "짓다" + connector "-고 (and, after)"

📌 Example Usage

"우리는 모래로 성을 짓고 놀았다."

"We built a castle with sand and played."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"건물을 세우다" – "to erect a building"

📌 Example Usage

"도시 한복판에 큰 건물을 세웠다."

"A large building was erected in the middle of the city."

28. "향해"

- "향해" means "toward" or "in the direction of."

- "향하다": to face, to head toward

- "향해": “향하다” + connective ending “-아/어”

📌 Example Usage

"우리는 꿈을 향해 달려갔다."

"We ran toward our dreams."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"목표로" – "toward a goal"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 목표로 한 방향을 바꾸지 않았다."

"He didn’t change the direction of his goal."

29. "창을"

- "창을" means "window" as an object.

- "창": window

- "-을": object marker attached to a noun ending in a consonant

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 창을 열고 바람을 맞았다."

"She opened the window and let the breeze in."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"창문을" – "the window (as object)"

📌 Example Usage

"창문을 닫아야 할 것 같아."

"I think we should close the window."

30. "내리 / 내리다"

- "내리 / 내리다" means "to fall" or "to come down," often used for rain, snow, or tears.

- "내리": root form of "내리다 (to fall, to descend)"

📌 Example Usage

"비가 조용히 내리기 시작했다."

"The rain began to fall quietly."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"떨어지다" – "to drop, to fall"

📌 Example Usage

"눈이 조용히 떨어지고 있었다."

"The snow was falling quietly."

31. "바람 드는 / 바람 들다"

- "바람 드는 / 바람 들다" literally means "wind enters," but metaphorically it can describe catching a chill or being enchanted or moved.

- "바람": wind

- "들다": to enter

- "드는": "들다" + attributive "-는"

📌 Example Usage

"가을 바람 드는 날에는 감기 조심해야 해."

"You need to watch out for colds on windy autumn days."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"찬바람이 들다" – "cold wind enters"

📌 Example Usage

"찬바람이 드니 문을 닫아야겠어."

"Cold air is coming in, so I should close the door."

 

🎶 IU – “Meaning of You (Feat. Kim Chang-Wan)”: Lyrics Summary

“Meaning of You” is a contemplative love song that finds beauty and weight in life’s simplest gestures. The lyrics reflect on how a single word, a brief smile, or a passing glance from someone special can carry enormous emotional significance. These seemingly small moments become deeply etched into the narrator’s heart, forming a quiet but powerful bond.

The song captures a profound emotional truth: love is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes, it is soft and intangible—like a breeze, like cosmos flowers blooming beside a small countryside train station. These poetic metaphors convey the delicacy of feelings and the way memories become deeply rooted in ordinary scenes.

Despite this affection, there’s also a subtle undercurrent of sorrow. The beloved’s faint gaze and lonely silhouette are described as burdensome promises—things the narrator holds onto, even when they cause pain. Love, in this song, is both comfort and puzzle: everything about the other person comes as a riddle, and the heart continues trying to understand.

As the song progresses, the narrator builds an imaginary home in the clouds, placing a window toward the one they love. This dreamlike imagery conveys both emotional longing and hope—a desire to remain connected, regardless of how distant or unreachable the other person may seem. In the end, love becomes both memory and mystery, and its meaning grows in silence rather than declaration.

 

🎶 IU – “Meaning of You (Feat. Kim Chang-Wan)”: Additional Information

- Korean Title: 너의 의미

- Released: May 16, 2014

- Album: A Flower Bookmark (꽃갈피)

- Genre: Acoustic Pop / Indie Ballad

- Original Version: Sanulrim (산울림, 1984)

– Written and composed by: Kim Chang-Wan

 

🎶 Introduction to IU & Kim Chang-Wan

IU (아이유)

📢 Please check other posts in the K-Lingo category for introductions to other songs and IU.

 

Kim Chang-Wan (김창완)

Kim Chang-Wan is a legendary figure in Korean music, known for founding the pioneering rock band Sanulrim in the late 1970s. As a musician, composer, writer, and actor, he embodies multi-disciplinary artistry. His original version of “Meaning of You” is a hallmark of Korea’s golden era of folk rock. Collaborating with IU on the 2014 remake, he introduced his legacy to a new audience, resulting in one of the most meaningful intergenerational collaborations in K-pop history.

 

 

🌍 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.

 

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