이제 내가 지킬게요 – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: Son Taejin, Jeon Yujin
• Album: 이제 내가 지킬게요

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the beautiful Korean language through "이제 내가 지킬게요" by Son Taejin and Jeon Yujin. This touching trot ballad offers a unique opportunity to grasp heartfelt expressions of love and gratitude towards parents. You can learn emotional vocabulary and common phrases related to family bonds, and appreciate the poetic nuances of Korean songwriting. Its clear vocal delivery and sincere lyrics make it an accessible and meaningful piece for language learners, revealing the deep cultural value of filial piety in Korea.

[English]

I didn't realize

How much I had gotten used to it

Love and rest,

Those days I kept postponing

As a mother

The time I lived

Was time spent clearing you away,

Wasn't it?

Someone who loved me

More than I loved myself

The fate, not just a chance

Given to me

My father’s

Shoulders were my home,

And his broad chest was the sea,

Truly,

He embraced me,

That love was my beginning.

Thank you for coming to me,

Thank you.

As my mother,

As my father,

Always on my side,

Unconditional love,

You gave it all

To me.

That difficult

Heart of yours,

Now I will protect it.

Thank you for coming to me,

Thank you.

As my mother,

As my father,

Always on my side,

Unconditional love,

You gave it all

To me.

Even as time passes,

I won't forget,

Those two hands that raised me.

Whenever I cry,

You always held me tight,

You are my light.

[Korean]

몰랐어요

너무 익숙해서

사랑도 쉼도

미룬 그날들을

엄마로

살아온 시간들은

당신을 치운 시간

이겠죠

나보다 나를 더

아끼는 사람

내게 주어진

인연 아닌 운명

아빠의

어깨는 집이었고

넓은 가슴은 바다였으니

참 날

안아주던

그 사랑이 내 시작이죠

내게로 와줘서

고마워요

내 엄마로

아빠로

언제나 내 편이던

조건 없는 사랑

남김없이

내주셨죠

고다 했던

그 마음을

이제 내가 지켜줄게요

내게로 와줘서

고마워요

내 엄마로

아빠로

언제나 내 편이던

조건 없는 사랑

남김없이

내주셨죠

세월이 흘러도

잊지 않죠

날 키운 그 두 손을

눈물 날 때마다

날 꼭 안아주던

당신은 내 빛입니다

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
사랑 /sa.rang/ A2	noun - love
시간 /si.gan/ A2	noun - time
마음 /ma.eum/ B1	noun - heart, mind, feeling
지키다 /t͡ɕi.ki.da/ B1	verb - to protect, to keep, to observe
주다 /t͡ɕu.da/ A2	verb - to give
운명 /un.myeong/ B2	noun - fate, destiny
어깨 /eo.kke/ A2	noun - shoulder
바다 /pa.da/ A2	noun - sea, ocean
시작 /si.t͡ɕak/ B1	noun - beginning, start
빛 /pit/ B1	noun - light
키우다 /ki.u.da/ B1	verb - to raise, to grow
잊다 /it.da/ A2	verb - to forget
안아주다 /a.na.ju.da/ B1	verb - to embrace, to hug
넓다 /nʌl.da/ B1	adjective - wide, broad
고맙다 /ko.map.da/ A2	adjective - thankful, grateful

Key Grammar Structures

• 몰랐어요

  ➔ Past Tense Verb (informal polite)

  ➔ The verb '몰라요' (to not know) is conjugated in the past tense informal polite form: '몰랐어요'. This indicates an action or state that occurred in the past.

• 너무 익숙해서

  ➔ Conjunction '-(아/어/여)서' indicating reason/cause

  ➔ The ending '-(아/어/여)서' is attached to the verb stem to connect two clauses, where the first clause explains the reason or cause for the second clause. Here, being too accustomed is the reason for not noticing.

• 미룬 그날들을

  ➔ Object particle '-(으)를'

  ➔ The particle '-(으)를' is used to mark the direct object of a verb. In this line, '그날들을' (those days) is the direct object of the implied verb '미루다' (to postpone).

• 당신을 치운 시간

  ➔ Noun modifying adjective + Noun

  ➔ Here, '치운' (removed, put away) functions as a modifier for the noun '시간' (time). It describes the time that was spent removing or putting away 'you'.

• 나보다 나를 더 아끼는 사람

  ➔ Comparative structure with '-보다' and '더'

  ➔ '-보다' is used to indicate the item being compared, and '더' means 'more'. This phrase means 'a person who cherishes me more than I cherish myself'.

• 내게 주어진 인연 아닌 운명

  ➔ Noun modifier '-ㄴ/은/는' + Noun

  ➔ The adjective form '주어진' (given) modifies the noun phrase '인연 아닌 운명' (destiny, not fate/relationship). It specifies that this destiny was given to 'me'.

• 아빠의 어깨는 집이었고

  ➔ Metaphorical comparison using '-(이)었고'

  ➔ This line uses a metaphor where 'dad's shoulders' are equated to 'a house'. The connective ending '-(이)었고' links this metaphorical statement to the next, indicating a past state.

• 내게로 와줘서 고마워요

  ➔ Verb stem + '-(아/어/여)줘서' for giving/receiving favor + Gratitude

  ➔ '와줘서' (because you came to me) uses the honorific imperative form of '오다' (to come) combined with '-아/어/여줘서' to express gratitude for someone doing something for the speaker's benefit. '고마워요' directly expresses thanks.

• 남김없이 내주셨죠

  ➔ Adverbial form of '남기다' (to leave behind) + Verb '내주다' (to give out) + Past Tense

  ➔ '남김없이' means 'without leaving anything behind' or 'completely'. '내주셨죠' is the past tense honorific form of '내주다' (to give out, to offer). It signifies that the parents gave their love completely.

• 당신은 내 빛입니다

  ➔ Subject + Copula '-(이)ㅂ니다' + Complement

  ➔ This is a declarative sentence using the formal polite copula '-(이)ㅂ니다'. '당신' (you) is the subject, and '내 빛' (my light) is the complement, stating a direct assertion.