어떻게 이별까지 사랑하겠어, 널 사랑하는 거지 – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: AKMU

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the melancholic beauty of AKMU's 'How can I love the heartbreak, you're the one I love' to deepen your Korean language skills. This song offers a rich vocabulary related to love, loss, and profound emotion, with poetic lyrics by Lee Chan-hyuk that are both impactful and culturally resonant. Its slow, expressive tempo allows for clear pronunciation, making it an excellent piece for learners to practice listening comprehension and appreciate the nuanced expression of heartbreak in Korean music.

[English]

Intentionally taking a few steps back

Watching you walk alone without me

The lonely scene next to me

In the black-and-white street, you turn around

That’s when I realized

I can't leave you

No matter how difficult things get between us

They were things we could handle rather than break up

How could I love someone until separation?

I love you

Just because I love you

We give up on each other

I can't handle the pain as if I were torn apart

Should I take a detour a couple more times?

Clasping my steps on this lonely road

Sharing silent conversations

Looking far ahead at the distant light

That’s when I realized

I can't go any further

Step by step, getting closer to parting

It feels like your hand in mine is disappearing

How could I love someone until separation?

I love you

Just because I love you

We give up on each other

I can't handle the pain as if I were torn apart

How could I, how could you

Our love, as deep as the ocean, after all this

Until it all dries up

Waiting must be part of breaking up

How could I, how could you

Our love, as deep as the ocean, after all this

Until it all dries up

Waiting must be part of breaking up

...

[Korean]

일부러 몇 발자국 물러나

내가 없이 혼자 걷는 널 바라본다

옆자리 허전한 너의 풍경

흑백 거리 가운데 넌 뒤돌아본다

그때 알게 되었어

난 널 떠날 수 없단 걸

우리 사이에 그 어떤 힘든 일도

이별보단 버틸 수 있는 것들이었죠

어떻게 이별까지 사랑하겠어

널 사랑하는 거지

사랑이라는 이유로

서로를 포기하고

찢어질 것같이 아파할 수 없어 난

두세 번 더 길을 돌아갈까

적막 짙은 도로 위에 걸음을 포갠다

아무 말 없는 대화 나누며

주마등이 길을 비춘 먼 곳을 본다

그때 알게 되었어

난 더 갈 수 없단 걸

한 발 한 발 이별에 가까워질수록

너와 맞잡은 손이 사라지는 것 같죠

어떻게 이별까지 사랑하겠어

널 사랑하는 거지

사랑이라는 이유로

서로를 포기하고

찢어질 것같이 아파할 수 없어 난

어떻게 내가 어떻게 너를

이후에 우리 바다처럼 깊은 사랑이

다 마를 때까지

기다리는 게 이별일 텐데

어떻게 내가 어떻게 너를

이후에 우리 바다처럼 깊은 사랑이

다 마를 때까지

기다리는 게 이별일 텐데

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
이별 /i.bjʌl/ B1	noun - breakup, separation
사랑 /sa.rãŋ/ A2	noun - love
포기 /po.gi/ B2	noun - giving up, abandoning
가까워지다 /ka.kka.wŏ.ji.da/ B2	verb - to become closer
돌아가다 /do.ra.ga.da/ B1	verb - to go back, return
운명 /un.myeong/ B2	noun - fate, destiny
흑백 /heuk.baek/ B1	noun - black and white
풍경 /pung-gyeong/ B2	noun - scenery, landscape
버틸 /beo.til/ B2	verb - to endure, withstand
아픔 /a.peum/ B2	noun - pain, ache
길 /gil/ A1	noun - road, path
걸음 /georeum/ B1	noun - step, walk
감정 /gam-jeong/ B2	noun - emotion, feelings
말 /mal/ A1	noun - word, speech

Key Grammar Structures

• 일부러 몇 발자국 물러나

  ➔ Adverb + verb structure to indicate intentionally doing something.

  ➔ The adverb **일부러** means **intentionally** or **deliberately**.

• 내가 없어 혼자 걷는 널 바라본다

  ➔ Use of the present tense with an implied subject for narrative description.

  ➔ The phrase **내가 없어** indicates **I am without (someone or something)**, emphasizing the subject's absence.

• 어떻게 이별까지 사랑하겠어

  ➔ Question form with ending **겠어** expressing conjecture or rhetorical question.

  ➔ The ending **겠어** indicates **a speculative or rhetorical tone**, often used in questions.

• 이별보단 버틸 수 있는 것들이었죠

  ➔ Comparison structure using **보다** ('than') to indicate preference.

  ➔ The phrase **이별보단** means **rather than breakup**, comparing two things.

• 다 마를 때까지 기다리는 게 이별일 텐데

  ➔ Use of **-까지** ('until') to specify limit or endpoint.

  ➔ The phrase **다 마를 때까지** indicates **until it is fully dried or exhausted**.

• 기다리는 게 이별일 텐데

  ➔ Phrase pattern **(noun) + 일 텐데** to express conjecture or assumption.

  ➔ The phrase **이별일 텐데** means **probably be parting or separation** in conjecture.