GFRIEND “Rough” Korean Lyrics
GFRIEND · 2016 · Album: Snowflake · Beginner
The finale of GFRIEND's school trilogy: first love as parallel lines, hoping to 'run through time' to meet as adults. Clean, symmetrical sentences — a beginner classic.
Open the interactive lesson →
FAQ
What are the lyrics of “Rough” about?
The finale of GFRIEND's school trilogy: first love as parallel lines, hoping to 'run through time' to meet as adults. Clean, symmetrical sentences — a beginner classic.
How do I learn Korean with “Rough”?
Sing along with the karaoke-synced lyrics, then study 20 key vocabulary, 4 grammar points and a 7-day study plan — free, no sign-up.
How hard is this song for Korean learners?
The level is “Beginner” — every line comes with pronunciation, romanization and translation, beginners can sing along.
Which group sings “Rough”?
Source Music's six (2015) — power-clean choreo and nostalgic synth lines; famously crisp pronunciation.
Full lyrics (Korean, romanization, English translation)
다가서지 못하고 헤매이고 있어dagaseoji mothago hemaeigo isseoI can't approach you, I'm just wandering
좋아하지만 다른 곳을 보고 있어jotahajiman dareun goteul bogo isseoI like you, but I'm looking away
가까워 지려고 하면 할수록gakkawo jiryeogo hamyeon halsurokThe more we try to get close
멀어져 가는 우리 둘의 마음처럼meoleojyeo ganeun uri dului maeumcheoreomThe further our two hearts drift apart
만나지 못해 맴돌고 있어mannaji mothae maemdolgo isseoWe circle around, unable to meet
우린 마치 평행선처럼urin machi pyeonghaengseoncheoreomWe're just like parallel lines
말도 안돼 우린 반드시 만날 거야maldo andwae urin bandeusi mannal geoyaNo way — we will surely meet
기다릴게 언제까지나gidarilge eonjekkajinaI'll wait, forever and always
미처 말하지 못했어 다만 너를 좋아했어micheo malhaji mothaesseo daman neoreul jotahaesseoI never got to say it — I just liked you
어린 날의 꿈처럼 마치 기적처럼eorin nalui kkumcheoreom machi gijeokcheoreomLike a childhood dream, like a miracle
시간을 달려서 어른이 될 수만 있다면siganeul dalryeoseo eoreuni doel suman issdamyeonIf only I could run through time and grow up
거친 세상 속에서 손을 잡아줄게geochin sesang sokeseo soneul japajulgeIn this rough world, I'll hold your hand
다가서려 해봐도 엇갈리고 있어dagaseoryeo haebwado eotgalrigo isseoI try to approach but we keep missing
좋아한단 말도 아직 못하고 있어jotahandan maldo ajik mothago isseoI still can't even say I like you
머뭇거리는 널 보고 있으면meomutgeorineun neol bogo isseumyeonWatching you hesitate
우린 아직도 많이 어리긴 한가 봐urin ajikdo manhi eorigin hanga bwaI guess we're still too young
좁혀지지 않아 한 끗 차이jophyeojiji anha han kkeut chaiWe can't close the gap — just one tiny difference
우린 마치 평행선처럼urin machi pyeonghaengseoncheoreomWe're just like parallel lines
언젠가는 못다한 말을 전할 거야eonjenganeun motdahan maleul jeonhal geoyaSomeday I'll tell you all the unsaid words
다가갈게 언제까지나dagagalge eonjekkajinaI'll come to you, always
시간 속에 갇혀 길을 헤매여도sigan soke gathyeo gileul hemaeyeodoEven if we're trapped in time, lost
그렇지만 우린 결국 만날 거야geureotjiman urin gyeolguk mannal geoyaWe will meet in the end
진심인 것만 알아줘 정말jinsimin geotman alajwo jeongmalJust know that I'm sincere
서툴기만 한대도seotulgiman handaedoEven if I'm only clumsy at it
이거 하나만 약속해 변치 않기를 바랄게igeo hanaman yaksokhae byeonchi anhgireul baralgePromise me just this — I hope you won't change
그때도 지금처럼 날 향해 웃어줘geuttaedo jigeumcheoreom nal hyanghae uteojwoSmile at me then, like you do now
시간이 흘러서 어른이 될 수만 있다면sigani heulreoseo eoreuni doel suman issdamyeonIf time flows and we grow up
엇갈림 그 속에서 손을 잡아줄게eotgalrim geu sokeseo soneul japajulgeAmid all the missing each other, I'll hold your hand
Vocabulary (20)
| Korean | Romanization | English | Note |
|---|
| 다가서다 | dagaseoda | to approach | gather courage and approach |
| 헤매다 | hemaeda | to wander / be lost | lose one's way |
| 평행선 | pyeonghaengseon | parallel lines | we're like parallel lines |
| 가까워지다 | gakkawojida | to get closer | grow closer at heart |
| 멀어지다 | meoleojida | to grow apart / distant | a heart drifting away |
| 맴돌다 | maemdolda | to linger / hover | linger around |
| 반드시 | bandeusi | surely / without fail | I'll be back for sure |
| 미처 못 하다 | micheo mot hada | fail to (do in time) | I didn't get to say it |
| 기적 | gijeok | miracle | like a miracle |
| 거친 | geochin | rough / harsh | a rough world |
| 시간을 달리다 | siganeul dalrida | to run through time | running through time |
| 엇갈리다 | eotgalrida | to miss each other / cross | the timing is off |
| 머뭇거리다 | meomutgeorida | to hesitate | a hesitant person |
| 좁혀지다 | jophyeojida | to be narrowed | the distance narrows |
| 한 끗 차이 | han kkeut chai | a hair's difference | lose by a hair |
| 전하다 | jeonhada | to convey / deliver | convey one's heart |
| 갇히다 | gathida | to be trapped | be trapped in time |
| 결국 | gyeolguk | in the end / eventually | we'll meet eventually |
| 서투르다 | seotureuda | to be clumsy / unskilled | a clumsy confession |
| 변하다 | byeonhada | to change | hope it never changes |
Grammar notes (4)
-(으)ㄹ수록 = the more ~
가까워 지려고 하면 할수록 멀어져 가는
하면 할수록 doubles the pattern for emphasis: the harder we try, the further we drift.
Pattern: [stem] + (으)ㄹ수록
Example: 볼수록 좋아 (the more I see, the better)
미처 = (not) quite / in time
미처 말하지 못했어 다만 너를 좋아했어
미처 + negation = 'didn't quite manage to'; 다만 adds a wistful 'only.'
Pattern: 미처 + [negative]
Example: 미처 몰랐어 (I didn't even realize)
-ㄹ 수만 있다면 = if only (one) could
시간을 달려서 어른이 될 수만 있다면
만 inserted into '-ㄹ 수 있다' narrows the wish: 'if only this one thing were possible.'
Pattern: [stem] + (으)ㄹ 수만 있다면
Example: 돌아갈 수만 있다면 (if only I could go back)
-기를 바라다 = hope that ~
이거 하나만 약속해 변치 않기를 바랄게
-기 nominalizes 'not changing' and makes it the object of hoping.
Pattern: [stem] + 기를 바라다
Example: 무사하기를 바라 (I hope you're safe)
7-day study plan
Day 1 — Vocab Set A + hum along to the chorus
- Memorize 10 basic words
- Listen to the song 3 times
- Hum along to the chorus 시간을 달려서
- Write today's new words once
Day 2 — Grammar 1, 2 (-(으)ㄹ수록 = the more ~, 미처 = (not) quite / in time)
- Review vocab set A
- Learn -(으)ㄹ수록 = the more ~ and 미처 = (not) quite / in time
- Notice these patterns while listening
- Make two sentences with today's grammar
Day 3 — Vocab Set B + Grammar 3 (-ㄹ 수만 있다면 = if only (one) could)
- Memorize Rough keywords
- Learn -ㄹ 수만 있다면 = if only (one) could
- Sing the whole chorus
- Sing the chorus along with the video
Day 4 — Grammar 4 (-기를 바라다 = hope that ~) + Vocab Set C
- Learn -기를 바라다 = hope that ~
- Read the lyrics aloud twice
- Make a sentence with 평행선 (平行線)
- Shadow the verses once
Day 5 — Grammar 5, 6 + sing the whole song
- Learn -(으)ㄹ수록 = the more ~ and 미처 = (not) quite / in time
- Sing the whole song with karaoke
- Flag the words you still miss
- Review grammar 1-3
Day 6 — Vocab review + quiz
- Score 80+ on the vocab quiz
- Write missed words 3 times
- Sing the chorus without looking
- Explain the meaning of 평행선 to a friend
Day 7 — Final check: full sing-through + use the grammar
- Sing the entire song without subtitles
- Make one sentence per grammar point
- Record yourself singing and check pronunciation
- Use today's expressions in a short diary entry
More songs