Bongsoong-a – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: PLAVE
• Album: PLBBUU

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a journey of cultural discovery, and PLAVE’s “Bongsoong-a” is a perfect starting point. The song’s title and lyrics are rooted in a charming Korean tradition, offering a unique window into cultural beliefs about love. Its gentle melody and clear, emotive vocals make the poetic lyrics easy to follow, allowing you to learn beautiful expressions of affection and hope.

[English]

A story I once heard

the old story

the dream I longed for

I’ll share a secret

Alone, alone, alone

past the days of heartache

I’ll show my courage

It took a strong resolve

To someone it's just

maybe something trivial

Something like you

let it soak in

on white hands

the colour of bongsoong-a

a tingling feeling

I won’t hide it

first snow falls

on the day it comes, it will stay the same

When that day comes

embrace me completely

I want to give you

the story I kept hidden

Will you capture this moment?

like the star of a summer night

Alone, alone, alone

beyond the clumsy days

Maybe because it was the first time

It took a strong resolve

To someone it's just

maybe something trivial

Something like you

let it soak in

on white hands

the colour of bongsoong-a

a tingling feeling

I won’t hide it

first snow falls

on the day it comes, it will stay the same

when that day arrives

hold me tightly

ten fingers

stained with bongsoong-a,

today when it snows

with you

ten fingers

stained with bongsoong-a,

today when it snows

[Korean]

언젠가 들어봤던

그 옛날의 이야기

간절히 나 꿈꿔 왔던

비밀 하나를 건넬게

홀로 홀로 홀로

속상했던 날들 너머

용기를 내보일게

큰 결심이 필요했어

누군가에겐 그저

사소할지 몰라

Something like you

물들어가

하얀 손에

봉숭아 색깔

간지러운 맘

숨기지 않을래

첫눈이 내려

오는 날엔 여전할 거야

그날이 오면

가득 나를 안아 줘

너에게 해주고픈

감춰 뒀던 이야기

이 순간을 담아줄래

여름밤의 그 별처럼

홀로 홀로 홀로

서툴렀던 날들 너머

처음이라 그랬을까

큰 결심이 필요했어

누군가에겐 그저

사소할지 몰라

Something like you

물들어가

하얀 손에

봉숭아 색깔

간지러운 맘

숨기지 않을래

첫눈이 내려

오는 날엔 여전할 거야

그날이 오면

가득 나를 안아 줘

열 손가락

봉숭아로 물든,

눈 내리는 오늘

너와

열 손가락

봉숭아로 물든,

눈 내리는 오늘

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
story /ˈstɔː.ri/ A2	noun - a description of events, true or imaginary
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts or images during sleep or an ambition
secret /ˈsiː.krɪt/ B1	noun - something kept hidden or unknown to others
courage /ˈkʌr.ɪdʒ/ B2	noun - the ability to face fear, pain, or difficulties
decision /dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ B1	noun - a choice or judgment after consideration
color /ˈkʌl.ər/ A1	noun - the visual property of things resulting from light reflection
heart /hɑːt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood or symbolizes emotion
snow /snəʊ/ A1	noun - frozen water vapor falling from the sky as white flakes
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the body part at the end of the arm used for holding things
smile /smaɪl/ A2	verb - to make a happy or pleased expression by curving the lips
embrace /ɪmˈbreɪs/ B2	verb - to hold someone closely; to accept an idea eagerly
moment /ˈməʊ.mənt/ A2	noun - a very short period of time

Key Grammar Structures

• 언젠가 들어봤던

  ➔ Past tense with -던

  ➔ The suffix '-던' is used to describe a past state or action, here '들어봤던' means 'had heard'.

• 비밀 하나를 건넬게

  ➔ Future tense with -ㄹ게

  ➔ The suffix '-ㄹ게' is used to express a future action in a polite way, here '건넬게' means 'I will give'.

• 용기를 내보일게

  ➔ Future tense with -ㄹ게

  ➔ Similar to the previous example, '-ㄹ게' is used here to express 'I will show courage'.

• 물들어가

  ➔ Present progressive with -어가

  ➔ The suffix '-어가' indicates a continuous action, here '물들어가' means 'is being dyed'.

• 첫눈이 내려 오는 날엔

  ➔ Time clause with -는 날엔

  ➔ The phrase '-는 날엔' is used to indicate a specific time, here '첫눈이 내려 오는 날엔' means 'on the day the first snow falls'.

• 가득 나를 안아 줘

  ➔ Request with -아/어 줘

  ➔ The suffix '-아/어 줘' is used to make a request, here '안아 줘' means 'hug me'.

• 열 손가락 봉숭아로 물든,

  ➔ Adjective modification with -로

  ➔ The particle '-로' is used to modify the adjective, here '봉숭아로 물든' means 'dyed with balsam'.