Imperative -a/eo bwa: "try it!"
맞혀봐 Sweet 또는 Freak
-아/어봐 attaches to a verb stem meaning "try doing it". 맞혀봐 (from 맞히다, to guess) = "try to guess". Pop hooks use it to invite the listener in.
Pattern: 맞하여 + 봐 → 맞혀봐
Example: 한번 맞혀봐! （猜一次看看！）
aespa “Spicy” Korean Lyrics
aespa's 2023 title track — bright pop, lots of English and simple Korean lines, great for beginners.
Full lyrics (Korean, romanization, English translation)
Uh Uh Too SpicyUh Uh Too SpicyUh Uh Too Spicy
You want my A to the ZYou want my A to the ZYou want my A to the Z
But you won’t 어림없지But you won’t eorimeopsjiBut you won't get it, not a chance
맞혀봐 Sweet 또는 Freakmathyeobwa Sweet ttoneun FreakTake your pick, Sweet or Freak?
What’s hiding underneath (I see)What’s hiding underneath (I see)What’s hiding underneath (I see)
망설이듯 간 보는 너 기회는 없어 Ohmangseolideut gan boneun neo gihoeneun eopseo OhSittin' on the fence, Oh, ain't got a chance
Nah You won’t get itNah You won’t get itNah You won’t get it
No No, You won’t get itNo No, You won’t get itNo No, You won’t get it
I sayI sayI say
깜빡 한순간 끌어당겨 You’ll be mine (Mine)kkamppak hansungan kkeuleodanggyeo You’ll be mine (Mine)Pulled in in a blink of an eye, You'll be mine (Mine)
살짝 다가와 Can cross my borderline (Line Line Line)saljjak dagawa Can cross my borderline (Line Line Line)Get closer Can cross my borderline (Line Line Line)
널 따분하게 했던 Every dayneol ttabunhage haessdeon Every dayEvery day got you bored
흥미로운 덫을 던져줄게heungmiroun deoteul deonjyeojulgeGonna throw down some fun traps
뛰어들어 봐ttwieodeuleo bwaJump on in
Just right nowJust right nowJust right now
'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart
Ring the fire alarmRing the fire alarmRing the fire alarm
심장을 파고들어 넌simjangeul pagodeuleo neonYou tiptoe into my heart
I'm too SpicyI'm too SpicyI'm too Spicy
번지는 자극 속에 넌beonjineun jageuk soke neonWhile the fire spreads
바로 그 순간baro geu sunganIn that very moment
또 다른 나를 발견해tto dareun nareul balgyeonhaeFinding another part of me
I’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too too
I’m too SpicyI’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy
Don’t Stop 겁내지 마Don’t Stop geopnaeji maDon't Stop, don't be scared
Bang Bang 외쳐봐Bang Bang oechyeobwaBang Bang, shout it out
I’m too Spicy Yeah I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy Yeah I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy Yeah I’m too Spicy
You know that IYou know that IYou know that I
Don’t Stop 용기 내 봐Don’t Stop yonggi nae bwaDon't Stop, be brave now
Next step, MyselfNext step, MyselfNext step, Myself
I’m too SpicyI’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy
Too Spicy too tooToo Spicy too tooToo Spicy too too
I’m too SpicyI’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy
Tell me what you seeTell me what you seeTell me what you see
When you look at meWhen you look at meWhen you look at me
'Cause I am a 10 out of 10 honestly'Cause I am a 10 out of 10 honestly'Cause I am a 10 out of 10 honestly
기세가 다른 Movegisega dareun MoveA different energy, this Move
널 압도하는 Grooveneol apdohaneun GrooveOverpowering Groove
But you keep wasting your time DudeBut you keep wasting your time DudeBut you keep wasting your time Dude
Don't chase me 경고해 난Don't chase me gyeonggohae nanDon't chase me, I'm warning you
Erase me 멀리 달아나Erase me meolri dalanaErase me, run far away
Hey 이젠 알겠니Hey ijen algessniHey, you get it now?
원래부터 Bad I’m so bad honestlywonraebuteo Bad I’m so bad honestlyI was born Bad I'm so bad honestly
So badSo badSo bad
전부 가질래 지금부턴 Call you mine (Mine)jeonbu gajilrae jigeumbuteon Call you mine (Mine)Want it all, gonna Call you mine now (Mine)
도망칠 거면 Don’t cross my borderline (Line Line Line)domangchil geomyeon Don’t cross my borderline (Line Line Line)If you gonna dip, Don’t cross my borderline (Line Line Line)
늘 뻔하기만 했던 Every dayneul ppeonhagiman haessdeon Every dayEvery day the same old, same old
이제 그만 Rule을 벗어날 때ije geuman Ruleeul beoteonal ttaeTime now to toss that Rule
어렵지 않아eoryeopji anhaAin't hard to do
Just right nowJust right nowJust right now
'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart
Ring the fire alarmRing the fire alarmRing the fire alarm
심장을 파고들어 넌simjangeul pagodeuleo neonYou tiptoe into my heart
I'm too SpicyI'm too SpicyI'm too Spicy
번지는 자극 속에 넌beonjineun jageuk soke neonWhile the fire spreads
바로 그 순간baro geu sunganIn that very moment
또 다른 나를 발견해tto dareun nareul balgyeonhaeDiscovering yet another me
I’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too too
I’m too SpicyI’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy
Ready? UhReady? UhReady? Uh
좀 더 강도를 높여 다음다음다음jom deo gangdoreul nopyeo daeumdaeumdaeumGimme the next level, Next Next Next
One of a kindOne of a kindOne of a kind
우린 한계를 앞서 Wow Wow Wowurin hangyereul apseo Wow Wow WowBeyond our limits, Wow Wow Wow
That’s RightThat’s RightThat’s Right
'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart'Cause I’m too Spicy for your heart
Ring the fire alarmRing the fire alarmRing the fire alarm
새로운 도전 끝에 넌saeroun dojeon kkeute neonCompleted another challenge
I'm too SpicyI'm too SpicyI'm too Spicy
변화할 시간이야 넌byeonhwahal siganiya neonIt's your time to change
지금 이 순간jigeum i sunganRight this moment
또 다른 나를 찾아내tto dareun nareul chatanaeFinding another part of me
I’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too too
I’m too SpicyI’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy
Don’t Stop 겁내지 마Don’t Stop geopnaeji maDon't Stop, don't be scared
Bang Bang 외쳐봐Bang Bang oechyeobwaBang Bang, shout it out
I’m too Spicy Yeah I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy Yeah I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy Yeah I’m too Spicy
You know that IYou know that IYou know that I
Don’t Stop 용기 내 봐Don’t Stop yonggi nae bwaDon't Stop, be brave now
Next step, MyselfNext step, MyselfNext step, Myself
I’m too Spicy I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy I’m too Spicy
I’m too Spicy too too I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy too too I’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy too too I’m too Spicy
'Cause I'Cause I'Cause I
Oh YeahOh YeahOh Yeah
Yeah I’m too Spicy for your heartYeah I’m too Spicy for your heartYeah I’m too Spicy for your heart
(Yeah I’m too Spicy for your heart)(Yeah I’m too Spicy for your heart)(Yeah I’m too Spicy for your heart)
마침내 번져오는 Joy (Enjoy joy joy joy)machimnae beonjyeooneun Joy (Enjoy joy joy joy)Finally comes the feeling of Joy (Enjoy joy joy joy)
Yeah I’m too Spicy for your heartYeah I’m too Spicy for your heartYeah I’m too Spicy for your heart
I’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too tooI’m too Spicy too too
I’m too SpicyI’m too SpicyI’m too Spicy
For youFor youFor you
Vocabulary (81)
| Korean | Romanization | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 간 | gan | go (from 가다) | go (from 가다) |
| 가질래 | gajilrae | want to have (가지다 + ㄹ래) | want to have (가지다 + ㄹ래) |
| 강도를 | gangdoreul | intensity, degree (+object) | intensity, degree (+object) |
| 거면 | geomyeon | if it is… (-면) | if it is… (-면) |
| 겁내지 | geopnaeji | to be afraid (겁내다) | to be afraid (겁내다) |
| 경고해 | gyeonggohae | to warn (경고하다) | to warn (경고하다) |
| 그 | geu | that | that |
| 그만 | geuman | that's enough | that's enough |
| 기세가 | gisega | momentum, spirit (+subj) | momentum, spirit (+subj) |
| 기회는 | gihoeneun | chance, opportunity (+topic) | chance, opportunity (+topic) |
| 깜빡 | kkamppak | blink of an eye / suddenly | blink of an eye / suddenly |
| 끌어당겨 | kkeuleodanggyeo | to pull in (끌어당기다) | to pull in (끌어당기다) |
| 끝에 | kkeute | at the end (+에) | at the end (+에) |
| 나를 | nareul | me (나 + object) | me (나 + object) |
| 난 | nan | I (contraction of 나는) | I (contraction of 나는) |
| 내 | nae | my | my |
| 너 | neo | you | you |
| 넌 | neon | you (contraction of 너는) | you (contraction of 너는) |
| 널 | neol | you (contraction of 너를) | you (contraction of 너를) |
| 높여 | nopyeo | to raise (높이다) | to raise (높이다) |
| 늘 | neul | always | always |
| 다가와 | dagawa | to come closer (다가오다) | to come closer (다가오다) |
| 다른 | dareun | different, other | different, other |
| 다음다음다음 | daeumdaeumdaeum | next next next (repetition) | next next next (repetition) |
| 달아나 | dalana | to run away (달아나다) | to run away (달아나다) |
| 더 | deo | more | more |
| 던져줄게 | deonjyeojulge | I'll throw/fling (for you) | I'll throw/fling (for you) |
| 덫을 | deoteul | trap, snare (+object) | trap, snare (+object) |
| 도망칠 | domangchil | to flee (도망치다) | to flee (도망치다) |
| 도전 | dojeon | challenge | challenge |
| 따분하게 | ttabunhage | boringly (따분하다) | boringly (따분하다) |
| 때 | ttae | when, time | when, time |
| 또 | tto | again, also | again, also |
| 또는 | ttoneun | or | or |
| 뛰어들어 | ttwieodeuleo | to dive/jump into (뛰어들다) | to dive/jump into (뛰어들다) |
| 마 | ma | don't (contraction of 말아) | don't (contraction of 말아) |
| 마침내 | machimnae | finally, at last | finally, at last |
| 망설이듯 | mangseolideut | as if hesitating (망설이다+듯) | as if hesitating (망설이다+듯) |
| 맞혀봐 | mathyeobwa | try to guess (맞히다 + 아/어봐) | try to guess (맞히다 + 아/어봐) |
| 멀리 | meolri | far away | far away |
| 바로 | baro | right away, exactly | right away, exactly |
| 발견해 | balgyeonhae | to discover (발견하다) | to discover (발견하다) |
| 번져오는 | beonjyeooneun | spreading over (번지다+오다) | spreading over (번지다+오다) |
| 번지는 | beonjineun | spreading (번지다) | spreading (번지다) |
| 벗어날 | beoteonal | to escape (벗어나다) | to escape (벗어나다) |
| 변화할 | byeonhwahal | to change (변화하다) | to change (변화하다) |
| 보는 | boneun | watching (보다) | watching (보다) |
| 봐 | bwa | look / see (보다) | look / see (보다) |
| 뻔하기만 | ppeonhagiman | only obvious (뻔하다+만) | only obvious (뻔하다+만) |
| 살짝 | saljjak | lightly, softly | lightly, softly |
| 새로운 | saeroun | new | new |
| 속에 | soke | inside (+속+에) | inside (+속+에) |
| 순간 | sungan | moment | moment |
| 시간이야 | siganiya | it's time (시간+이야) | it's time (시간+이야) |
| 심장을 | simjangeul | heart (+object) | heart (+object) |
| 않아 | anha | not (않다) | not (않다) |
| 알겠니 | algessni | you get it? (알다+겠니) | you get it? (알다+겠니) |
| 압도하는 | apdohaneun | overwhelming (압도하다) | overwhelming (압도하다) |
| 앞서 | apseo | ahead, in front | ahead, in front |
| 어렵지 | eoryeopji | not hard (어렵다+지) | not hard (어렵다+지) |
| 어림없지 | eorimeopsji | not a chance (어림없다+지) | not a chance (어림없다+지) |
| 없어 | eopseo | there isn't (없다) | there isn't (없다) |
| 외쳐봐 | oechyeobwa | try to shout (외치다+봐) | try to shout (외치다+봐) |
| 용기 | yonggi | courage | courage |
| 우린 | urin | we (contraction of 우리는) | we (contraction of 우리는) |
| 원래부터 | wonraebuteo | from the start, originally | from the start, originally |
| 을 | eul | (object particle) | (object particle) |
| 이 | i | this | this |
| 이제 | ije | now | now |
| 이젠 | ijen | by now (이제는 縮約) | by now (이제는 縮約) |
| 자극 | jageuk | stimulus, thrill | stimulus, thrill |
| 전부 | jeonbu | everything | everything |
| 좀 | jom | a little | a little |
| 지금 | jigeum | now | now |
| 지금부턴 | jigeumbuteon | from now on (지금부터+는) | from now on (지금부터+는) |
| 찾아내 | chatanae | to find out (찾아내다) | to find out (찾아내다) |
| 파고들어 | pagodeuleo | to dig into (파고들다) | to dig into (파고들다) |
| 한계를 | hangyereul | limit (+object) | limit (+object) |
| 한순간 | hansungan | a single moment | a single moment |
| 했던 | haessdeon | that was done (하다+았/었던) | that was done (하다+았/었던) |
| 흥미로운 | heungmiroun | interesting | interesting |
Grammar notes (12)
Simile -deut: "as if"
망설이듯 간 보는 너 기회는 없어
-deut marks a manner simile "as if…". 망설이듯 = as if hesitating.
Pattern: 동사 + 듯
Example: 바람처럼 날아들 듯 （像風一樣撲來）
Adverbs 깜빡 / 한순간: "in a flash"
깜빡 한순간 끌어당겨
깜빡 is an ideophone (blink / flash); 한순간 (한 one + 순간 moment) intensifies "in an instant".
Pattern: 한순간 + 동사
Example: 깜빡 잠이 들었어 （不知不覺睡著了）
Adverb 살짝: "lightly, softly"
살짝 다가와 Can cross my borderline
살짝 modifies an action as soft/gentle. 다가오다 (to approach) imperative 다가와 = come closer.
Pattern: 살짝 + 동사
Example: 살짝 웃어 봐 （輕輕微笑一下）
Promissive -a/eo julge: "I will (for you)"
흥미로운 덫을 던져줄게
-a/eo juda means "do for someone", plus -l ge is a willful promise "I will". 던져줄게 = I'll toss (for you).
Pattern: 동사 + 아/어 + 줄게
Example: 맛있는 걸 사줄게 （我會買好吃的給你）
-a/eo boda: "try / experience"
뛰어들어 봐
-a/eo boda conveys "try/experience" (뛰어들어 봐 = dive in!).
Pattern: 동사 + 아/어 + 보다
Example: 한번 해 봐 （試一次看看）
Verb 파고들다: "to dig deep into"
심장을 파고들어 넌
파고들다 = 파다 (dig) + 들다 (enter). To dig into one's heart.
Pattern: N을/를 + 파고들다
Example: 문제의 핵심을 파고들었어 （深入問題核心）
Negative imperative -ji ma: "don't…"
Don't Stop 겁내지 마
-ji ma is the "don't do" imperative. 겁내다 (to fear) + -ji ma = don't be afraid.
Pattern: 동사 + 지 마
Example: 걱정하지 마 （別擔心）
부터: "from…(onward)" / "by nature"
원래부터 Bad I'm so bad honestly
원래 (originally) + 부터 (from) → 원래부터 = "from the very start".
Pattern: 명사 + 부터
Example: 처음부터 알았어 （從一開始就知道了）
-man hada: "only…"
늘 뻔하기만 했던 Every day
-gi man hada = "only ever". 뻔하다 (obvious/boring) + 기만 = only predictable/boring.
Pattern: 동사 + 기만 하다
Example: 기다리기만 했어 （只是一直等）
Negation -ji anta: "not…"
어렵지 않아
-ji anta negates a verb/adjective. 어렵다 (hard) + -지 않다 = not hard.
Pattern: 형용사/동사 + 지 않다
Example: 비싸지 않아 （不貴）
-iya: colloquial "it is…"
새로운 도전 끝에 넌 변화할 시간이야
-iya is the declarative of -ida with a firm, colloquial tone (반말). 시간이야 = it's time.
Pattern: 명사 + 이야
Example: 이제 시작이야 （現在是開始了）
7-day study plan
Day 1 — Meet the song & core words
- Listen to Spicy twice; feel the bright pop groove and the spicy/dominant theme
- Scan the vocab list and mark words you know
- Hum the chorus: Too Spicy, Don't Stop
- Learn 5 words: 너, 내, 넌, 널, 나를
Day 2 — Master the meaning-driving adverbs
- Review 살짝 (softly), 깜빡 (flash), 멀리 (far), 바로 (exactly)
- Make one sentence with each of the 4 adverbs
- Locate each adverb in the song and read along
- Challenge: the meaning difference between 살짝 and 깜빡
Day 3 — The imperative -a/eo + bwa invites
- Review 맞혀봐, 외쳐봐, 뛰어들어 봐
- Practice the difference between -a/eo bwa and plain -a/eo
- Listen and chant Don't Stop 겁내지 마 in rhythm
- Make 3 sentences with -a/eo bwa
Day 4 — Negations -ji ma / -ji ana
- Review 겁내지 마 (don't fear), Don't Stop
- Compare -ji ma (telling others) vs -지 않아 (self-denial)
- Find all verbs ending in -지 in the song
- Make sentences: 걱정하지 마, 어렵지 않아
Day 5 — Noun + buteo / -gi man hada
- Review 원래부터, 늘 뻔하기만 했던
- Apply -gi man hada to everyday verbs
- Find -부터 usages outside the chorus
- Make 2 sentences with buteo
Day 6 — Simile -deut & connectives
- Review 망설이듯, 끝에
- Use -deut to describe feelings/states
- Sing along: 심장을 파고들어 넌
- Make sentences: 바람처럼 / 꿈인 듯
Day 7 — Review & sing-along
- Re-listen and sing along to Spicy with lyrics
- Take the quiz (Mode A Korean→Chinese)
- Share sentences using the adverbs, imperatives, and negatives
- Recite your favorite 3 lines from memory