Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: AKMU

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the poetic beauty of 'Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart' by AKMU, a song that gently guides listeners through the acceptance of all emotions. Its profound Korean lyrics, crafted by Lee Chan-hyuk, offer deep philosophical insights into life's duality, making it an excellent piece to understand the nuanced expressions and comforting warmth of the Korean language. The song's tender melody and meaningful message create a unique opportunity to connect with Korean culture through its lyrical artistry.

[English]

When sadness follows joy

it is a beautiful heart

Don’t push it away, embrace it

It turns into a very beautiful stone

When there is shade behind the sunlight

it is a lovely sight

Even without a bright smile

there are many reasons to love

Your laughter and your harmonious tears

There’s nothing better than this

On cloudy days, sunny days, and cold days

once they fit together, they’ll all become a puzzle

When sadness follows joy

it is a beautiful heart

Don’t be afraid, sit face to face

It turns into a radiant picture

Your laughter and your harmonious tears

There’s nothing better than this

On cloudy days, sunny days, and cold days

once they fit together, they’ll all become a puzzle

Where could there be something better

A night that is both sad and lonely

the days it doesn’t come

Everything will feel tender

Your laughter and your harmonious tears

When sadness follows joy

it is a beautiful heart

...

[Korean]

기쁨 뒤에 슬픔이 오는 건

아름다운 마음이야

쫓아내지 말고 품어주어라

아주 예쁜 돌이 된단다

햇빛 뒤에 그늘이 있는 건

사랑스러운 모습이야

밝은 미소를 짓지 않아도

사랑할 이유가 많단다

너의 웃음과 조화로운 너의 눈물

이보다 더 좋은 것은 없어

흐린 날도 화창한 날도 시린 날도

끼우고 나면 다 퍼즐이 될 거야

기쁨 뒤에 슬픔이 오는 건

아름다운 마음이야

겁내지 말고 마주앉아라

찬란한 그림이 된단다

너의 웃음과 조화로운 너의 눈물

이보다 더 좋은 것은 없어

흐린 날도 화창한 날도 시린 날도

끼우고 나면 다 퍼즐이 될 거야

이보다 더 좋은 게 어딨어

슬프고도 외로운 밤이

찾아오지 않는 날

모든 게 애틋할 거야

너의 웃음과 조화로운 너의 눈물

기쁨 뒤에 슬픔이 오는 건

아름다운 마음이야

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
기쁨 gippeum TOPIK Level 1	noun - joy
슬픔 seulpeum TOPIK Level 1	noun - sorrow
아름다운 areumdaun TOPIK Level 2	adjective - beautiful
마음 maeum TOPIK Level 1	noun - heart
쫓아내지 jjochanaejji TOPIK Level 3	verb - to drive out
품어주어라 pumeojueora TOPIK Level 4	verb - to embrace
예쁜 yeppeun TOPIK Level 1	adjective - pretty
햇빛 haetbit TOPIK Level 2	noun - sunlight
그늘 geuneul TOPIK Level 2	noun - shade
사랑스러운 sarangsseureoun TOPIK Level 3	adjective - lovely
미소 miso TOPIK Level 1	noun - smile
조화로운 johwaro-un TOPIK Level 4	adjective - harmonious
끼우다 kkioada TOPIK Level 3	verb - to fit in
퍼즐 peojul TOPIK Level 2	noun - puzzle
찬란한 challanhan TOPIK Level 3	adjective - brilliant
애틋할 aetdothal TOPIK Level 4	adjective - poignant

Key Grammar Structures

• 기쁨 뒤에 슬픔이 오는 건

  ➔ `-는 건` (noun modifier/explanation)

  ➔ The structure "기쁨 뒤에 슬픔이 오는 **건**" means 'The fact that sorrow comes after joy'. `-는 건` turns the preceding clause into a noun, functioning as the subject of the sentence.

• 쫓아내지 말고 품어주어라

  ➔ `-지 말고` (negative command + and)

  ➔ The phrase "쫓아내지 말고 품어주어라" means 'Don't push it away, but embrace it'. `-지 말고` indicates a negative command ('Don't push away') followed by a positive command ('embrace').

• 너의 웃음과 조화로운 너의 눈물

  ➔ `-과/와` (and - connecting nouns)

  ➔ The phrase "너의 웃음과 너의 눈물" connects 'your laughter' and 'your tears' using `-과/와` meaning 'and'. The repetition of '너의' (your) emphasizes possession.

• 끼우고 나면 다 퍼즐이 될 거야

  ➔ `-고 나면` (after doing...)

  ➔ The phrase "끼우고 나면 다 퍼즐이 될 거야" means 'Once you fit them together, they will all become a puzzle'. `-고 나면` indicates 'after doing something'.