나였으면 – Bilingual Lyrics Korean/English

• By: Na Yoon Kwon
• Album: 황태자의 첫사랑 (Original Television Soundtrack)

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the emotive power of Korean ballads through Na Yoon Kwon's timeless classic, "나였으면". This song offers a great opportunity to learn expressive vocabulary related to love and longing. Its clear and melodic delivery makes it easier to follow the lyrics and appreciate the nuances of the Korean language, all while being moved by a story of unrequited love that has touched the hearts of many.

[English]

I just keep watching

As another day passes

And yet another day goes by

Your breathing sound

Your laughter

Still shakes me up

Tears flow again

Without knowing my hurting heart

You’re smiling

Foolish me

Immature and flawed me

Wondering if you could glance back at me even once

I know my wishes

Mean nothing to you

If only it were me

The one you love

If only it were me

I’ve prayed for countless days

Like a green tree, like a silent shining star

Here I am again, just watching

Do you know this?

Until today

Even the confessions of love I practiced alone

And the sad figure I leave behind, just for today

You’ll live without knowing this heart of mine

Waiting is easier than forgetting

Sadly, I know this well

If only it were me

The one you love

If only it were me

I’ve prayed for countless days

Like a green tree, like a silent shining star

Here I am again, just watching

Do you know this?

I want to ask

Are you doing well?

Does the one with you treat you well?

Though I know my foolish worries are pointless

I wanted to say at least once without tears

I love you

[Korean]

늘 바라만 보네요

하루가 지나가고

또 하루가 지나도

그대 숨소리

그대 웃음소리

아직도 나를 흔들죠

또 눈물이 흐르죠

아픈 내맘 모른채

그댄 웃고 있네요

바보같은 나

철없는 못난 나를

한번쯤 그대 돌아봐 줄 수 없는지

알고 있죠 내 바램들은

그대에겐 아무런 의미없단 걸

나였으면

그대 사랑하는 사람

나였으면

수 없이 많은 날을 나 기도해왔죠

푸르른 나무처럼 말없이 빛난별처럼

또 바라만 보고있는 나를

그댄 알고 있나요

늘 나 오늘까지만

혼자 연습해왔던 사랑의 고백들도

슬픈 뒷모습 그저 오늘까지만

이런 내맘을 모른채 살아갈테죠

기다림이 잊혀짐보다 쉽다는걸

슬프게 잘 알고있죠

나였으면

그대 사랑하는 사람

나였으면

수 없이 많은 날을 나 기도해왔죠

푸르른 나무처럼 말없이 빛난별처럼

또 바라만 보고 있는 나를

그댄 알고 있나요

묻고 싶죠

그댄 잘지내는가요

함께하는 그 사람이 그대에게 잘해주나요

바보같은 걱정도 부질없단걸 알지만

눈물없이 꼭 한번은 말하고 싶었죠

사랑한다고

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
바라다 /baˈɾaˈda/ A2	verb - to look at verb - to wish
흔들다 /hɯnˈdɯlˈda/ B1	verb - to shake
눈물 /nɯnˈmul/ A2	noun - tear
아프다 /aˈpɯtˈa/ A2	adjective - painful
바보 /baˈbo/ A1	noun - fool
철없다 /tɕʰɔˈrɛpˈtɯtˈa/ B1	adjective - immature
돌아보다 /doˈɾaˈboˈda/ A2	verb - to look back
기도하다 /giˈdoˈhaˈda/ A2	verb - to pray
푸르다 /puˈɾɯtˈa/ A2	adjective - green
빛나다 /binˈnaˈda/ A2	verb - to shine
고백 /goˈbɛk/ B1	noun - confession
기다리다 /giˈdaˈɾiˈda/ A2	verb - to wait
잊다 /itˈta/ A2	verb - to forget
슬프다 /sɯlˈpɯtˈa/ A2	adjective - sad
묻다 /muˈtɯtˈa/ A2	verb - to ask

Key Grammar Structures

• 하루가 지나가고

  ➔ Connective ending -고

  ➔ The verb "지나가다" + "-고" links this clause to the following one, meaning “and (then) passes”.

• 또 하루가 지나도

  ➔ Concessive ending -아/어도 (even if)

  ➔ The ending "-아/어도" expresses a concession: “even if another day passes”.

• 그대에겐 아무런 의미없단 걸

  ➔ Indirect quotation -다는/ㄴ/ㄹ 걸 (that ...)

  ➔ The pattern "-다는 걸" turns a statement into an indirect fact: “the fact that it means nothing to you”.

• 돌아봐 줄 수 없는지

  ➔ Potential negative question -ㄹ/을 수 없다 + -지 (can't ...?)

  ➔ "수 없다" expresses inability, and adding "-지" turns it into a rhetorical question: “can't (you) look back?”

• 알고 있죠

  ➔ Progressive -고 있다 + ending -죠 (affective confirmation)

  ➔ "알고 있다" (to know) in the progressive form "알고 있" + "-죠" adds a warm, confirming tone: “I know, you see”.

• 수 없이 많은 날을 나 기도해왔죠

  ➔ Present perfect -아/어 오다 (have been doing)

  ➔ "기도해오다" combines "기도하다" (to pray) with "-아/어 오다" indicating an action that began in the past and continues to the present: “have been praying”.

• 푸르른 나무처럼 말없이 빛난별처럼

  ➔ Comparative particle -처럼 (like, as)

  ➔ The particle "-처럼" attaches to nouns to draw a simile: “like a green tree, like a silent shining star”.

• 묻고 싶죠

  ➔ Verb + 고 싶다 (to want to do) + -죠 (confirming tone)

  ➔ "묻고 싶다" means “to want to ask”; adding "-죠" adds a soft, reflective confirmation: “I want to ask, you know”.

• 사랑한다고

  ➔ Declarative indirect speech -다고 (quoting)

  ➔ "사랑한다" (I love) + "고" turns the statement into a quoted clause: “(I say) I love you”.

• 그대에게 잘해주나요

  ➔ Interrogative ending -나요 (polite question)

  ➔ "잘해주나요" combines the verb "잘해주다" (to treat well) with the polite question ending "-나요", meaning “Do you treat them well?”.