A Strange Day – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: JIHYO (TWICE)
• Album: Summer Strike OST Part 1

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and JIHYO's “A Strange Day” offers a beautiful entry point into the nuances of Korean emotional expression. The song's introspective lyrics and Jihyo's heartfelt delivery provide a special opportunity to learn vocabulary related to feelings of anxiety, longing, and hope. Its slower tempo makes it easier for learners to follow along and appreciate the poetic nature of the words, making the language learning process both meaningful and touching.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
이상하다 /i.saŋ.ha.da/ A2	adjective - to be strange, to be unusual, to be abnormal
날 /nal/ A1	noun - day
궁금하다 /kuŋ.ɡɯm.ha.da/ A2	adjective - to be curious, to wonder
당연하다 /taŋ.jʌn.ha.da/ B1	adjective - to be natural, to be obvious, to be a matter of course
눈물 /nun.mul/ A2	noun - tear (from crying)
웃다 /ut.ta/ A1	verb - to laugh, to smile
습관 /sɯp.kwan/ B1	noun - habit, custom
그립다 /kɯ.rip.ta/ B1	adjective - to miss, to long for, to yearn for
숨다 /sum.ta/ A2	verb - to hide, to conceal oneself
싫다 /sil.ta/ A1	adjective - to dislike, to hate, to not want
고양이 /ko.jaŋ.i/ A1	noun - cat
사납다 /sa.nap.ta/ B2	adjective - to be fierce, to be wild, to be vicious, to be harsh
아프다 /a.pɯ.da/ A1	adjective - to be painful, to hurt, to be sick
안다 /an.ta/ A2	verb - to hug, to embrace, to hold
울다 /ul.da/ A1	verb - to cry, to weep
밉다 /mip.ta/ B1	adjective - to be hateful, to be dislikeable (often in the sense of 'to hate oneself' or 'to dislike what one is doing')
마음 /ma.ɯm/ A2	noun - heart, mind, feeling, spirit
강아지 /kaŋ.a.ji/ A1	noun - puppy
힘들다 /him.dɯl.da/ A2	adjective - to be hard, to be difficult, to be tiring, to be tough
지우다 /ji.u.da/ B1	verb - to erase, to delete, to wipe out

Key Grammar Structures

• 오늘은 어떤 사람에게도 한마디도 하지 않는 그런 이상한 날이야

  ➔ -에게도 ... -지 않다 (Emphasis with negation)

  ➔ This structure combines the particle "-에게" (to/for) with "-도" (even/also), followed by a negative verb ending "-지 않다" (not to do), emphasizing that *not even* to a specific person or thing something is done. In this line: "어떤 사람**에게도** 한마디**도 하지 않는**".

• 그게 당연한 걸까요

  ➔ -(으)ㄴ/는/ㄹ 걸까요 (Rhetorical question/wondering)

  ➔ This ending is used to express wondering, guessing, or a rhetorical question about a situation or fact, often with a nuance of curiosity or slight uncertainty. It combines `-(으)ㄹ까` (wonder/should I) with `것이다` (is a thing). In this line: "당연한 **걸까요**".

• 눈물이 나올 것 같으면 웃어버리는 습관은 언제부터 생긴 걸까요

  ➔ -어버리다 (Completion with nuance)

  ➔ This auxiliary verb implies an action is completed thoroughly or decisively. It can convey nuances such as relief (e.g., "got it over with"), regret (e.g., "ended up doing"), or a sense of doing something completely without hesitation. In this line: "웃**어버리는**".

• 이제는 가질 수 없는 것들을 꿈꾸던 그때가 그리워요

  ➔ -던 (Retrospective modifier)

  ➔ This ending is attached to verbs or adjectives to describe an action or state that continued or happened habitually in the past. It often conveys a sense of reminiscence, "used to be," or "had been doing." In this line: "꿈꾸**던**".

• 그때의 나를 잘 알잖아요

  ➔ -잖아요 (Expressing shared knowledge/obviousness)

  ➔ This ending is used to remind the listener of something they already know, or to express a statement that the speaker believes is obvious or agreeable to the listener. It implies "you know, right?" or "as you know." In this line: "알**잖아요**".

• 혼자 있고 싶다며 갑자기 나 홀로 숨어버릴 때

  ➔ -다며 (Shortened indirect quotation for 'saying that')

  ➔ This is a shortened form of `-다고 하면서` or `-다고 말하며`, used to report someone's words or thoughts, often implying that the reported speech is the reason or basis for the following action. In this line: "싶**다며**".

• 당신과 있는 게 싫어서가 아니에요

  ➔ -어서/아서가 아니다 (Negating the reason)

  ➔ This structure is used to state that the preceding reason, expressed with `-어서/아서`, is *not* the actual reason or cause for something. It often implies that there is another, unstated reason. In this line: "싫**어서가 아니에요**".

• 가끔씩 내 손은 고양이 같아요

  ➔ N 같아요 (Comparison/Similarity)

  ➔ This expression is used to state that something "is like" a noun, or "seems like" or "appears to be" a certain way, indicating similarity or comparison. In this line: "고양이 **같아요**".

• 손을 잡다가도 사납고 아플지 몰라요 미안해요

  ➔ -다가도 (Unexpected change while doing something)

  ➔ This ending indicates that while an action (`-다가`) was in progress, another unexpected or contrasting action/state (`-도`) occurred or might occur. It suggests a sudden shift or possibility. In this line: "잡**다가도**".

• 나도 날 모르게

  ➔ -게 (Adverbializer for manner/degree)

  ➔ When attached to a verb or adjective, `-게` transforms it into an adverbial phrase, indicating the manner, way, or degree in which an action occurs. Here, it means "in a way that I don't even know." In this line: "모르**게**".