Lyrics & Translation
“CDEFG (사랑은 여섯줄)” uses the metaphor of learning to play the guitar to express the joys and pains of first love. Through this song, you can learn Korean words related to music and emotions while empathizing with the universal story of loving someone and the bittersweet efforts made for that love. The song highlights how the protagonist pours his heart into practicing the guitar for someone special, only to be met with an indifferent reaction, leaving him with just the calluses on his fingers as a memento of his unreturned feelings.
My clumsy fingers can’t help but rush
Everyone starts out feeling quite a bit of pain
But I practiced all night and now I’ve become strong
I practiced every night for you
The sweetest song in the world
The sweeter it is, the more complicated and painful it gets on my hands
Could you wait a little longer?
Should I have learned to play the piano?
I regret it now, but
If I had, I wouldn’t be able to subtly show off my calluses
Finally, I played for you the song I prepared all night
A song with all my feelings hidden inside
Your expression was boring, different from what I expected
My first love, six lines, ended in vain
I practiced every night for you
The sweetest song in the world
The sweeter it is, the more complicated and painful it got, but
It was all for nothing
Should I have learned to play the piano?
I regret it now, but
If I had, I wouldn’t be able to subtly show off my calluses
Should I have learned to play the piano?
It’s too late to take it back now
But I have to subtly show off my calluses anyway
Love is six lines, from the first to the sixth
My clumsy fingers move sadly
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
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사랑 /saɨrang/ A1 |
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여섯 /yʌseot/ A1 |
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손가락 /sontɨgarak/ A2 |
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시작 /ʃijak/ A2 |
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밤새 /bamse/ A2 |
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노력 /noryeok/ B1 |
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연습 /yʌnsʌp/ A2 |
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달콤한 /dalkomhan/ B1 |
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복잡하고 /bokjaphago/ B1 |
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손 /son/ A1 |
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기다려 /gidaryeo/ A2 |
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피아노 /piáno/ A2 |
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배웠어야 /bae-osseoya/ B2 |
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후회하고 /huhwe-hago/ B1 |
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멋진 /meotjin/ B1 |
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굳은살 /gudeunsal/ B2 |
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보이기 /bo-igi/ B1 |
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마침내 /machimnae/ B1 |
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마음 /maeum/ A2 |
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예상과는 /yesanggwane/ B2 |
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지루한 /jiruhan/ B1 |
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표정 /pyojeong/ B1 |
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허무하게 /heomu-hage/ B2 |
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끝나버린 /kkeutnabyeolin/ B1 |
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첫사랑 /cheotsarang/ B1 |
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소용 /soyong/ B1 |
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돌이킬 /dorikil/ C1 |
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못난 /motnan/ B1 |
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슬피 /seulpi/ B2 |
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움직이네 /umjigine/ A2 |
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Are there any new words in “CDEFG” you don’t know yet?
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Key Grammar Structures
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사랑은 여섯줄 1번부터 6번
➔ Counter nouns & Enumeration
➔ The use of '줄' (line) as a counter noun for guitar strings. '1번부터 6번' (from 1 to 6) demonstrates enumeration.
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시작은 누구나 꽤나 아팠지만
➔ Adverbial Clause & Degree Adverb
➔ "시작은...아팠지만" (The beginning...was painful, but) is an adverbial clause modifying the main clause. '꽤나' (quite, considerably) is a degree adverb intensifying '아팠다' (was painful).
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너를 위해 매일 밤 연습했어
➔ Purpose Clause & Past Tense
➔ "너를 위해" (for you) indicates the purpose of the action. "연습했어" (practiced) is in the past tense, indicating a completed action.
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달콤할수록 복잡하고 손이 아파
➔ Correlative Conjunction & Sequential Adjectives
➔ "달콤할수록...아파" (The sweeter...the more painful) uses the correlative conjunction '–ㄹ수록' to show a proportional relationship. '복잡하고' (complex and) and '손이 아파' (hands hurt) are sequential adjectives describing the effect.
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피아노를 배웠어야 했나
➔ Counterfactual Past Tense & Question Particle
➔ "피아노를 배웠어야 했나" (Should I have learned the piano?) expresses regret and a counterfactual situation. The '–어야 하다' (should) construction in the past tense indicates something that *should* have been done. '나' is a question particle.
