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2NE1 “UGLY” Korean Lyrics

2NE1 · 2011 · Album: 2NE1 2nd Mini Album · Intermediate

A raw scream at beauty anxiety: 'I'm ugly — and you can't change me.' Radical self-acceptance.

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FAQ

What are the lyrics of “UGLY” about?

A raw scream at beauty anxiety: 'I'm ugly — and you can't change me.' Radical self-acceptance.

How do I learn Korean with “UGLY”?

Sing along with the karaoke-synced lyrics, then study 15 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 “Intermediate” — every line comes with pronunciation, romanization and translation, great for learners with some basics.

Which group sings “UGLY”?

YG's four-piece (2009) — fierce hip-hop style and girl-power lyrics; founding mothers of the modern girl-group aesthetic.

Full lyrics (Korean, romanization, English translation)

밝게 웃어 보지 내 마음에 들지 않나balkge uteo boji nae maeume deulji anhnaI smile bright — do you like it?
난 예쁘지 않나 아름답지 않나nan yeppeuji anhna areumdapji anhnaAm I pretty? Am I beautiful?
들어보지만 아무도 듣지 않아deuleobojiman amudo deutji anhaI speak but nobody listens
난 왜 이렇게 못난 걸까nan wae ireotge motnan geolkkaWhy am I so hopeless?
어떻게 하면 나도 너처럼 환하게 웃어볼 수 있을까eotteotge hamyeon nado neocheoreom hwanhage uteobol su isseulkkaHow can I smile bright like you?
또 화가 나 왜 늘 완벽하지 못해tto hwaga na wae neul wanbyeokhaji mothaeAngry again — why am I never perfect?
I think I'm ugly and nobody wants to love meI think I'm ugly and nobody wants to love meI think I'm ugly and nobody wants to love me
Just like her I wanna be prettyJust like her I wanna be prettyJust like her, I wanna be pretty
날 쉽게 이해한다고 하지마nal swipge ihaehandago hajimaDon't say you understand me easily
못생기고 비어진 내 마음motsaenggigo bieojin nae maeumMy ugly, empty heart
원망조차 몰라wonmangjocha molraI don't even know resentment
말시키지 마 난 너와 어울리지 못해malsikiji ma nan neowa eoulriji mothaeDon't order me around — I can't fit with you
그 잘난 눈빛 속 차가운 가시길 날 숨막히게 해geu jalnan nunbit sok chagaun gasigil nal summakhige haeThat smug stare's cold thorny path suffocates me
다가오지만 너의 관심조차 싫었나 봐dagaojiman neoui gwansimjocha silheossna bwaYou come closer but I guess even your care disgusted me
어디로 떠나고 싶어 소리치고 싶어eodiro tteonago sipeo sorichigo sipeoI want to leave somewhere, I want to scream
이 세상은 거짓말i sesangeun geojitmalThis world is a lie

Vocabulary (15)

KoreanRomanizationEnglishNote
밝게balkgebrightlyadverb of 밝다
웃다utdato laughlaugh loudly
예쁘다yeppeudato be prettypretty clothes
아름답다areumdapdato be beautifulbeautiful memories
완벽하다wanbyeokhadato be perfecta perfect day
깨지다kkaejidato breakmirror breaks
이해하다ihaehadato understandunderstand each other
비다bidato be emptyseat is empty
원망wonmangresentmentcruel world
어울리다eoulridato suit / fitsuits you well
잘난jalnansmugact smug
차갑다chagapdato be cold (touch)cold stare
숨막히다summakhidato be suffocatingsuffocating day
가시길gasigilthorny paththorns + road
관심gwansiminterest / caretake interest

Grammar notes (4)

-ㄴ 걸까 = I wonder (self-questioning)

난 왜 이렇게 못난 걸까

-ㄴ 걸까 = wondering to oneself: 'why am I like this?'

Pattern: [stem] + ㄴ/은 걸까

Example: 뭘 잘못한 걸까 (what did I do wrong?)

-지 마 = don't

날 쉽게 이해한다고 하지마

-다고 하지 마 = don't claim: 'don't say you get me.'

Pattern: [stem] + ㄴ다고 하지 마

Example: 몰랐다고 하지 마 (don't say you didn't know)

-고 싶다 = want to

어디로 떠나고 싶어 소리치고 싶어

-고 싶다 = want to: leave, scream — double wishes.

Pattern: [stem] + 고 싶다

Example: 보고 싶어 (I miss you) / 쉬고 싶어 (I want to rest)

거짓말 = lie

이 세상은 거짓말

거짓 + 말 = lie. 거짓말 하지 마 = don't lie.

Pattern: [noun] + 거짓말

Example: 이 노래는 거짓말이야 (this song lies)

7-day study plan

Day 1 — Vocab Set A + hum along to the chorus

Day 2 — Grammar 1, 2 (-ㄴ 걸까 = I wonder (self-questioning), -지 마 = don't)

Day 3 — Vocab Set B + Grammar 3 (-고 싶다 = want to)

Day 4 — Grammar 4 (거짓말 = lie) + Vocab Set C

Day 5 — Grammar 5, 6 + sing the whole song

Day 6 — Vocab review + quiz

Day 7 — Final check: full sing-through + use the grammar

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