Narcissistic love anthem — "I'm curious about you, and you are too." Haughty, hypnotic, with the earworm "Narcissistic, my god I love it" — 2022 Song of the Year.
| Korean | Romanization | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 네가 | nega | you (subject form of 너) | 네가 = 너 (you) + subject particle 가. The opening line means "I'm really curious about you". |
| 참 | cham | really, truly (adverb) | Intensifier placed before adjectives/verbs: 참 궁금해 = "really curious". |
| 궁금해 | gunggeumhae | to be curious (casual form of 궁금하다) | Casual -아/어 form of 궁금하다 (to be curious). "네가 궁금해" = I'm curious about you. |
| 그건 | geugeon | that (contraction of 그것은) | Contraction of 그것 (that) + 은 (topic particle) — common in speech. |
| 너 | neo | you (casual) | Casual "you" for friends/peers. 너도 = you too, 너와 = with you. |
| 마찬가지 | machangaji | the same, likewise | "너도 마찬가지" = you feel the same. |
| 이거 | igeo | this (colloquial for 이것) | 이거면 = 이거 + 이면 (if): "if it's this". |
| 충분해 | chungbunhae | to be enough (casual form of 충분하다) | "이거면 충분해" = this is enough. |
| 쫓고 | jjotgo | chasing (쫓다 + -고 connector) | 쫓다 (to chase) + -고 connective: 쫓고 쫓는 = chasing and being chased. |
| 쫓는 | jjotneun | chasing (쫓다 + -는 modifier) | Verb + -는 modifies the following noun (놀이, the game). |
| 이런 | ireon | such, like this | Demonstrative: 이런 놀이 = a game like this. |
| 놀이 | noli | game, play | Noun form of 놀다 (to play). |
| 참을 | chameul | to endure (참다 + -을) | 참을 수 없는 = cannot endure (참다 to bear + -을 수 없다 cannot). |
| 수 | su | way (in -ㄹ 수 있다/없다 ability pattern) | In the pattern -ㄹ 수 없다 = cannot do. Here: cannot endure. |
| 없는 | eopsneun | to not exist (없다 + -는 modifier) | Modifier form of 없다: 수 없는 = "that cannot be done". |
| 이끌림 | ikkeulrim | attraction (from 이끌다 to pull + -ㅁ) | Nominalized 이끌다 (to pull). 이끌림과 호기심 = attraction and curiosity. |
| 호기심 | hogisim | curiosity | Sino-Korean word (好奇+心). |
| 묘한 | myohan | mysterious (묘하다 + -ㄴ) | Modifier of 묘하다: 묘한 너와 나 = mysterious you and me. |
| 나 | na | I, me | First-person pronoun. 난 = contraction of 나는. |
| 두고 | dugo | to leave it (두다 + -고) | 두고 보면 = "wait and see" (lit. leave it and watch). |
| 보면 | bomyeon | if (you) see (보다 + -면) | 보다 (to see) + conditional -면: 두고 보면 = wait and see, then... |
| 알겠지 | algessji | you'll know, right? (알다 + -겠- + -지) | 알다 (to know) + conjectural -겠- + confirmatory -지: "surely you'll know". |
| 눈동자 | nundongja | pupil, eyes | 눈 (eye) + 동자 (pupil). |
| 아래 | arae | below, under | 아래로 = 아래 + direction particle 로 (downward). |
| 감추고 | gamchugo | to hide (감추다 + -고) | 감추다 (to hide) + -고: 감추고 있는 거 = what (you're) hiding. |
| 있는 | issneun | to exist (있다 + -는) | Progressive modifier of 있다: 감추고 있는 = (something) being hidden. |
| 거 | geo | thing (colloquial for 것) | Colloquial for 것 (thing): "그 거" = that thing. |
| 난 | nan | I (contraction of 나는) | Casual contraction of 나는 (I + topic particle). |
| 그 | geu | that (determiner) | Demonstrative: 그 맘 = that heart. |
| 맘 | mam | heart (colloquial for 마음) | Colloquial shortening of 마음 (heart): 내 맘 = my heart. |
| 좀 | jom | a bit, a little | Adverb: 좀 봐야겠어 = I need to take a look. |
| 봐야겠어 | bwayagesseo | must see (보다 + -아/어야겠다) | 보다 (to see) + volitional -아/어야겠다: "I've made up my mind to see it". |
| 서로 | seoro | each other | 서로를 = 서로 (each other) + object particle 를. |
| 비춘 | bichun | reflected (비추다 + -ㄴ past modifier) | Past modifier of 비추다 (to shine/reflect): the night that reflects each other. |
| 밤 | bam | night | Basic noun. |
| 아름다운 | areumdaun | beautiful (아름답다 + -ㄴ) | Modifier of 아름답다 (to be beautiful): beautiful dark eyes. |
| 까만 | kkaman | black, dark (까맣다 + -ㄴ) | Modifier form of 까맣다 (to be pitch black). |
| 눈빛 | nunbit | gaze, look in one's eyes | 눈 (eye) + 빛 (light). |
| 더 | deo | more | 더 빠져 깊이 = fall deeper and deeper. |
| 빠져 | ppajyeo | to fall into (빠지다 + -아) | Casual form of 빠지다 (to sink into): falling for those eyes. |
| 깊이 | gipi | deeply | Adverb form of 깊다 (deep). |
| 넌 | neon | you (contraction of 너는) | Casual contraction of 너는: 넌 내게로 = you (come) to me. |
| 내게 | naege | to me | 나 (I) + 에게 (to): 내게로 = toward me. |
| 네게 | nege | to you | 너 (you) + 에게 (to): 네게로 = toward you. |
| 숨 | sum | breath | 숨 참고 = holding your breath. |
| 참고 | chamgo | holding (breath) (참다 + -고) | 참다 (to bear/hold) + -고: 숨 참고 love dive = hold your breath and dive. |
| 어서 | eoseo | quickly, hurry | Urging adverb: 어서 와서 = hurry and come. |
| 와서 | waseo | to come (오다 + -아서) | 오다 (to come) + -아서: 어서 와서 love dive = come quickly and love dive. |
| 마음 | maeum | heart, mind | 마음은 = 마음 (heart) + topic particle 은. |
| 이렇게 | ireotge | like this | 마음은 이렇게 = the heart is like this. |
| 알다가도 | aldagado | even when (you) think (you) know (알다 + -다가 + -도) | 알다 (know) + -다가 (mid-action) + -도 (even): you think you know, then you don't. |
| 모르지 | moreuji | don't know (모르다 + -지) | 모르다 (to not know) + soft ending -지. |
| 사랑이라는 | sarangiraneun | called love (사랑 + 이라는) | 사랑 (love) + 이라는 (called): 사랑이라는 건 = the thing called love. |
| 건 | geon | thing that (contraction of 것은) | Contraction of 것 (thing) + 은 (topic). |
| 한순간 | hansungan | a single moment | 한 (one) + 순간 (moment): 한순간에 = in an instant. |
| 필 | pil | to bloom (피다 + -ㄹ future modifier) | Future modifier of 피다 (to bloom): 필 테니 = since it will bloom. |
| 테니 | teni | since (it) will (contraction of 것이니) | -(으)ㄹ 테니 expresses "since it will..., (you should)...". |
| 직접 | jikjeop | directly, in person | Sino-Korean (直接). 직접 들어와 = come in yourself. |
| 들어와 | deuleowa | come in (들어오다 + -아 imperative) | Imperative of 들어오다 (to come in): "come in!" |
| 두 | du | two | 두 눈 = two eyes. |
| 눈 | nun | eye | 눈으로 = 눈 (eye) + instrument particle 으로 (with). |
| 확인해 | hwakinhae | to check (확인하다 + -해 imperative) | Imperative of 확인하다 (to verify): "check it!" |
| 내 | nae | my | Possessive form of 나: 내 맘 = my heart. |
| 가장 | gajang | most | Superlative adverb: 가장 깊은 데 = the deepest place. |
| 깊은 | gipeun | deep (깊다 + -ㄴ) | Modifier form of 깊다 (to be deep). |
| 데 | de | place, spot | In -ㄴ 데로 = to the place where...: 깊은 데로 = to the deep place. |
| 오면 | omyeon | if (you) come (오다 + -면) | 오다 (to come) + -면: 오면 돼 = just come. |
| 돼 | dwae | to be fine/OK (되다 + -아) | In the pattern -(으)면 돼 = all you need to do is... |
| 망설일 | mangseolil | to hesitate (망설이다 + -ㄹ) | Future modifier of 망설이다 (to hesitate): the time to hesitate. |
| 시간 | sigan | time | 시간은 = 시간 (time) + topic particle 은. |
| 초 | cho | second (unit) | In 3초면 = 3초 (3 seconds) + 이면 (if it is): "three seconds is enough". |
| 되는 | doeneun | to become (되다 + -는) | Modifier of 되다: 되는 걸 = that's enough (것을 contracted). |
| 걸 | geol | thing that (contraction of 것을) | Contraction of 것 (thing) + 을 (object particle). |
| 원하면 | wonhamyeon | if (you) want (원하다 + -면) | 원하다 (to want) + -면: 원하면 = if you want. |
| 감히 | gamhi | daringly, dare to | 감히 뛰어들어 = dare to dive in. |
| 뛰어들어 | ttwieodeuleo | to dive in (뛰어들다 + -아 imperative) | Imperative of 뛰어들다 (to dive/jump in): "dive in!" |
네가 참 궁금해 그건 너도 마찬가지
네가 = 너 (you) + 가 (subject particle); 너도 = 너 + 도 ("also"). The lyric hints both sides feel the same: -가/-이 marks the subject, -도 means "too".
Pattern: noun + -가/-이 (subject) / noun + -도 (also)
Example: 네가 참 궁금해 그건 너도 마찬가지 (I'm curious about you — you feel the same)
이거면 충분해 쫓고 쫓는 이런 놀이
이거면 = 이것이면 (this + if). -(으)면 attaches to verb/adjective stems for conditions: "if..., then...". 충분해 is the casual form of "enough".
Pattern: noun + -이면 (if it is...) / verb stem + -(으)면 (if...)
Example: 이거면 충분해 (This is enough)
참을 수 없는 이끌림과 호기심
참다 (to endure) + -을 수 없다 = cannot stand. -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 expresses ability/inability — a high-frequency pattern. 이끌림 (attraction) + 과 (and) + 호기심 (curiosity).
Pattern: verb stem + -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 (cannot...)
Example: 참을 수 없는 이끌림과 호기심 (An irresistible attraction and curiosity)
묘한 너와 나 두고 보면 알겠지
알겠지 = 알다 (know) + -겠- (conjecture) + -지 (confirming tone). -겠지 means "it'll surely be...", a confident guess. 두고 보면 = leave it and watch = "wait and see".
Pattern: verb stem + -겠지 (surely will... right?)
Example: 두고 보면 알겠지 (Wait and see — you'll know)
난 그 맘을 좀 봐야겠어
난 = contraction of 나는. 봐야겠어 = 보다 (see) + -아/어야겠다 (must do) = "I've got to see it" — resolved determination. 맘 is the colloquial short form of 마음 (heart).
Pattern: verb stem + -아/어야겠다 (must/need to...)
Example: 난 그 맘을 좀 봐야겠어 (I've got to see that heart of yours)
서로를 비춘 밤
비추다 (to reflect) + -ㄴ gives the past modifier 비춘, describing the noun that follows (밤, the night). 서로를 = 서로 (each other) + 를 (object particle).
Pattern: verb stem + -ㄴ + noun (past modifier)
Example: 서로를 비춘 밤 (The night that reflects each other)
아름다운 까만 눈빛 더 빠져 깊이
아름답다 (beautiful) → 아름다운, 까맣다 (pitch black) → 까만: drop 다, add -ㄴ to modify a noun directly. 빠져 = 빠지다 (to sink) + -아; 깊이 = deeply.
Pattern: adjective stem + -ㄴ + noun
Example: 아름다운 까만 눈빛 (Beautiful dark eyes)
넌 내게로 난 네게로
내게로 = 내게 (to me) + 로 (direction); 네게로 = to you. The parallel "you to me, me to you" shows both sides rushing toward each other. 넌 = 너는, 난 = 나는 (contractions).
Pattern: noun + -로/-으로 (toward...)
Example: 넌 내게로 난 네게로 (You to me, me to you)
숨 참고 love dive
참고 = 참다 (to hold) + -고 (connective): 숨 참고 = holding your breath. Verb + -고 links two actions or describes the state you do the next thing in.
Pattern: verb stem + -고 (and then / while...)
Example: 숨 참고 love dive (Hold your breath and love dive)
마음은 이렇게 알다가도 모르지
알다가도 = 알다 (know) + -다가 (mid-action switch) + -도 (even). It means "even when you think you know, you suddenly don't" — hearts are fickle. 마음은 = 마음 (heart) + 은.
Pattern: verb stem + -다가도 (even as you... you end up... again)
Example: 마음은 이렇게 알다가도 모르지 (The heart is like this — you think you know, then you don't)
사랑이라는 건 한순간에 필 테니
필 = 피다 (to bloom) + -ㄹ (future modifier); 테니 = contraction of 것이니, "since it will". Full line: love blooms in a single moment, (so come on in). 사랑이라는 = 사랑 + 이라는 ("called").
Pattern: verb stem + -(으)ㄹ 테니 (since it will..., ...)
Example: 사랑이라는 건 한순간에 필 테니 (Love blooms in a single moment)
직접 들어와 두 눈으로 확인해
들어오다 (come in) → 들어와, 확인하다 (check) → 확인해: drop 다, add -아/어 for the casual imperative: "come in! check it!" 두 눈 = two eyes.
Pattern: verb stem + -아/어 (imperative: "do...!")
Example: 직접 들어와 두 눈으로 확인해 (Come in yourself and see with your own eyes)
내 맘 가장 깊은 데로 오면 돼
오면 돼 = 오다 (come) + -(으)면 (if) + 되다 (works) = "you just need to come". It reassures: no need to do more than this. 가장 깊은 데 = the deepest place.
Pattern: verb stem + -(으)면 돼 (all you need to do is...)
Example: 내 맘 가장 깊은 데로 오면 돼 (You just need to come to the deepest place in my heart)