Hippo – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: LUCY
• Album: WAJANGCHANG

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic way to connect with a culture, and LUCY's "Hippo" is a perfect starting point for Korean. The song's clever and playful lyrics, which use the hippo as a metaphor for a lingering crush, offer a unique and memorable way to learn new vocabulary and expressions related to emotions and memory. The genre-bending sound, mixing indie rock with jazz, makes it a fun and engaging listen. By exploring the lyrics of "Hippo," you can dive into the nuances of Korean emotional expression in a creative and modern context.

[English]

A hippo right in front of me, on WAAC TV, a documentary

Why do I have this uneasy feeling?

Just when I'm about to forget, it pops up every time

Making sure to leave a lasting impression

(Hippo) Why are you suddenly there?

(Hippo) Why are you stealing my gaze?

I'm not going to lose my mind anymore,

Just disappear from my sight, far, far away

If it's like this, when I remember that day,

It's not that person, but you, you, you, only you

Boo here, and boo there

Eyes that say they didn't mean to scare me

Boo here, and boo there

So I guess I run away (Naturally, Eek!)

Boo here, and boo there

As if trying to make fun of my timidity

At this rate, it feels like it'll appear in my dreams

A hippo is wandering around in my head

That smile keeps lingering in front of it

Your voice in my ear

That fragrance, like the world is wide open

I couldn't even say a word and turned away

In the future where I return to that time

That smiling hippo hanging behind you

Let me see you, not it

That person was definitely not pushed back by you

You'll know if you also become shy in front of a hippo you fell for at first sight

(Hippo) I'm worried you might talk to me

(Hippo) I'm worried you might tear through the painting and come out

My lips are trembling, uh-buh-buh-buh

I'm also frustrated, frustrated, frustrated

I'm frustrated, frustrated, frus, frus

Singing it out

Boo here, and boo there

Maybe you're trying to cheer me on?

Even if I try to think it through

I can't remember because of you, Hippo

That expression with a smile (expression), oh

Your voice in my ear

That fragrance, like the world is wide open (like), that fragrance (your fragrance)

I couldn't even say a word and turned away

In the future where I return to that time (that future)

That smiling hippo hanging behind you

Let me see you, not it

...

[Korean]

눈앞에 하마가 왁 TV에 documentary

괜히 쎄한 이 기분은 뭔데?

잊을만하면 매번 튀어나와

눈 도장을 꼭 찍고 가지

(Hippo) 왜 뜬금없이 거기 있는데

(Hippo) 시선을 뺏어가는 건데

더는 정 줄 생각 없으니

내 눈앞에서 멀리, 더 멀리 사라져 줘

이대론 그날을 떠올리면

그 사람 말고 꼭 네가, 네가, 네가 너만

여기다 왁, 하고 저기다 왁

놀래킬 맘은 없었다는 눈

여기다 왁, 하고 저기다 왁

하니 도망가지 뭐 (당연하게도 꺅)

여기다 왁, 하고 저기다 왁

나의 소심을 놀리려는 듯

이러다 꿈에도 나올 것 같이

돌아다녀 내 머릿속에 하마가

자꾸 맴돌아 그 앞에 미소가

내 귓가에 너의 목소리

세상이 활짝 열린 것 같은 그 향기가

말 한마디 못 걸어보곤 뒤 돌았던

그 시간에 돌아가는 미래엔

너의 뒤에 걸려있던 그 웃는 하마가

아닌 너를 보게 해줘

절대로 그 사람이 네게 밀린 게 아냐

너도 첫눈에 반한 하마 앞에 부끄러워져 보면 알아

(Hippo) 혹시 내게 말을 걸까 봐

(Hippo) 그림을 찢고 나올까 봐

입이 떨려 어버버버버

나도 답답해, 답답해, 답답해

내가 답답해, 답답해, 답, 답

Singing it out

여기다 왁, 하고 저기다 왁

혹시 날 응원해 주려는 건

아닐까 하고 머리를 써봐도

너 때문에 기억이 나질 않잖아 하마야

미소를 담은 그 표정이 (표정이), oh

내 귓가에 너의 목소리

세상이 활짝 열린 것 같은 (같은) 그 향기가 (너의 향기가)

말 한마디 못 걸어보곤 뒤 돌았던

그 시간에 돌아가는 미래엔 (그 미래엔)

너의 뒤에 걸려있던 그 웃는 하마가

아닌 너를 보게 해줘

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
하마 /ˈha̠ːma̠/ A1	noun - hippopotamus
눈 /nun/ A1	noun - eye
기분 /ˈkibuːn/ A2	noun - feeling, mood
생각 /ˈsɛŋɡak/ A2	noun - thought, idea verb - to think
사람 /ˈsʰa̠ɾa̠m/ A1	noun - person
미소 /ˈmiso/ B1	noun - smile
목소리 /ˈmoks͈oɾi/ B1	noun - voice
세상 /ˈsʰe̞sʰa̠ŋ/ A2	noun - world
향기 /ˈçjaŋɡi/ B1	noun - fragrance, scent
시간 /ˈɕʰiɡa̠n/ A1	noun - time
미래 /ˈmiɾe/ A2	noun - future
꿈 /k͈um/ A2	noun - dream
기억 /ˈkiːək/ B1	noun - memory
표정 /ˈpʰjoːdʑʌŋ/ B1	noun - expression
사라지다 /ˈsʰa̠ɾa̠d͡ʑida̠/ B1	verb - disappear

Key Grammar Structures

• 괜히 쎄한 이 기분은 뭔데?

  ➔ Interrogative Pronoun + Descriptive Verb Ending

  ➔ The use of "뭔데?" which is a contracted form of "무엇인데?" is an informal interrogative asking "What is it?". The use of descriptive verb ending adds a sense of wonder or curiosity.

• 잊을만하면 매번 튀어나와

  ➔ -(으)ㄹ 만하다 (worthy of/deserves) + Conditional Clause

  ➔ "잊을만하면" uses "-(으)ㄹ 만하다" to express that it is *worthy* of being forgotten, meaning it *could* be forgotten if it weren't for the action in the following clause. "튀어나와" means "popping out" or "appearing".

• 더는 정 줄 생각 없으니

  ➔ -(으)ㄹ 생각 없다 (no intention of) + -으니 (because/so)

  ➔ "더는 정 줄 생각 없으니" means "Because I have no intention of losing my mind anymore..." Using the negative intention grammar and the reason/cause connector.

• 그 시간에 돌아가는 미래엔

  ➔ -(으)ㄴ/는 미래 (future) + -에 (in/at/to) + 가는 (going)

  ➔ This part uses the future modifying form "-(으)ㄴ/는" to describe the future ("미래"). "돌아가는 미래" means "the future that goes back/returns", and the -에 particle marks the location/time in which something happens.

• 절대로 그 사람이 네게 밀린 게 아냐

  ➔ -(으)ㄴ/는 게 아니다 (It's not that...)

  ➔ This sentence uses the structure "-(으)ㄴ/는 게 아니다", which is a common way to negate a previous statement or misconception. In this case, it negates the idea that the person was pushed back by "you (the hippo)".