DESERVE — BABYMONSTER: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync오랜만이야 잘 지낸 거니o·raen·ma·ni·ya jal ji·naen geo·niLong time no see, how have you been?Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BABYMONSTER's “DESERVE” is about meeting a former love again and finding the feelings are still there, though that person is still with someone else. The singer reads need in that person's eyes and cannot walk away, believing they deserve a love that is clear and true. Memories of spring, a summer breeze, a piggyback ride and flowers give way to rain without an umbrella, ending in a steady promise to be remembered.
Key lines
4 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
오랜만이야 잘 지낸 거니Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): o·raen·ma·ni·ya jal ji·naen geo·ni
Meaning: Long time no see, how have you been?
Words in this line- 오랜만이야o·raen·ma·ni·yalong time no see
- 잘jalwell
- 지낸ji·naenspent time
- 거니geo·ni(question ending)
Word for word: It is after-long-time; well spent-time, are you?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 오랜만 literally means 'after a long while', but in English it is simply 'long time no see'. 지낸 거니 literally asks 'have you spent time well', which means 'how have you been?'. The ending -니 makes the question soft and friendly.
여전히 눈이 부셔 넌Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): yeo·jeon·hi nu·ni bu·syeo neon
Meaning: You're still dazzling.
Words in this line- 여전히yeo·jeon·histill
- 눈이nu·nieyes
- 부셔bu·syeodazzles
- 넌neonyou (topic)
Word for word: Still eyes are dazzled, you.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 눈 means 'eyes' and 부시다 means 'to be dazzled', but together they are an idiom for radiant beauty, not eye pain. The topic word 넌 is put last to emphasize 'you'.
아마도 너는 잘 모를 거야Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): a·ma·do neo·neun jal mo·reul kkeo·ya
Meaning: You probably have no idea.
Words in this line- 아마도a·ma·doprobably
- 너는neo·neunyou
- 잘jalwell
- 모를mo·reulnot knowing
- 거야kkeo·yaprobably will
Word for word: Perhaps you well not-knowing will be.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 잘 모르다 literally reads 'not know well', but it means 'have no idea'. The tail 거야 expresses a guess, which gives the sense of 'probably'.
결국 비는 내리고 난 우산이 없네Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): gyeol·guk bi·neun nae·ri·go nan u·sa·ni eom·ne
Meaning: In the end the rain fell, and I have no umbrella.
Words in this line- 결국gyeol·gukin the end
- 비는bi·neunrain
- 내리고nae·ri·gofalls and
- 난nanI
- 우산이u·sa·niumbrella
- 없네eom·nedon't have
Rain and umbrella are metaphors for trouble and no protection. The ending -네 carries a sudden realization.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “DESERVE” — BABYMONSTER. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask SoriSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 같아 | ga·ta | seems like |
| 겨울을 | gyeo·u·reul | winter |
| 계절 | gye·jeol | season |
| 구름처럼 | gu·reum·cheo·reom | like a cloud |
| 꽃까지 | kkot·kka·ji | even flowers |
| 덮어준 | deo·peo·jun | covered for me |
| 돌아보니까 | do·ra·bo·ni·kka | since I looked back |
| 동화 | dong·hwa | fairy tale |
| 돼주던 | dwae·ju·deon | used to become for me |
| 들었어 | deu·reo·sseo | heard |
| 띄워 | ttui·wo | floating up |
| 라며 | ra·myeo | saying it's |
| 매번 | mae·beon | every time |
| 사람이 | sa·ra·mi | person |
| 아직 | a·jik | still |
| 옆엔 | yeo·pen | beside |
| 있다고 | it·tta·go | is, they say |
| 전해 | jeon·hae | passed along |
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Questions about “DESERVE”
What is “DESERVE” by BABYMONSTER about?
BABYMONSTER's “DESERVE” is about meeting a former love again and finding the feelings are still there, though that person is still with someone else.
What does “오랜만이야 잘 지낸 거니” mean in “DESERVE”?
Long time no see, how have you been? 오랜만 literally means 'after a long while', but in English it is simply 'long time no see'.
What does “여전히 눈이 부셔 넌” mean in “DESERVE”?
You're still dazzling. 눈 means 'eyes' and 부시다 means 'to be dazzled', but together they are an idiom for radiant beauty, not eye pain.
How do you pronounce “아마도 너는 잘 모를 거야”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “a·ma·do neo·neun jal mo·reul kkeo·ya”: that's how it's actually sung by BABYMONSTER, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “DESERVE” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sori goes through all 49 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- BABYMONSTER
- Official video
- BABYMONSTER · YouTube
Lyrics and music belong to their rights holders. This page quotes no more than four lines for commentary; the translations, pronunciation and explanations are written by theIDOL.