GFRIEND
Rough — GFRIEND: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync우린 마치 평행선처럼u·rin ma·chi pyeong·haeng·seon·cheo·reomWe're just like parallel lines.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
GFRIEND's “Rough” is about a girl who likes someone but can't close the distance between them, so they stay like two lines that never touch. She is shy and still young, struggling to put her feelings into words, yet she holds on to hope that a day will come when they finally meet. Longing for adulthood and a promise that nothing will change, she waits with quiet, stubborn sweetness.
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.
우린 마치 평행선처럼Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): u·rin ma·chi pyeong·haeng·seon·cheo·reom
Meaning: We're just like parallel lines.
Words in this line- 우린u·rinwe
- 마치ma·chijust like
- 평행선처럼pyeong·haeng·seon·cheo·reomlike parallel lines
Word for word: We-topic just-like parallel-line-like.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 마치 ... 처럼 is an intensified simile (마치 'just as if' plus 처럼 'like'); the two words are near-synonyms alone, but together sharpen the image of lines that never meet.
좋아한단 말도 아직 못 하고 있어 whoaListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jo·a·han·dan mal·do a·jik mot ha·go i·sseo whoa
Meaning: I still can't even say that I like you, whoa
Words in this line- 좋아한단jo·a·han·danthat [I] like
- 말도mal·doeven the words
- 아직a·jikstill
- 못motcan't
- 하고ha·godoing
- 있어i·sseo[continuous]
Word for word: like-say-that word-even still not doing am, whoa
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 좋아한단 말도 is a contraction of 좋아한다는 말도 ('even the words that I like you'), and 못 하고 있어 means 'still haven't managed to'. Together the line stresses that even the confession itself hasn't been spoken.
언젠가는 못다 한 말을 전할 거야Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eon·jen·ga·neun mot·tta han ma·reul jeon·hal kkeo·ya
Meaning: Someday I'll say the words I never got to finish
Words in this line- 언젠가는eon·jen·ga·neunsomeday
- 못다mot·ttanot fully
- 한handone
- 말을ma·reulwords
- 전할jeon·halwill convey
- 거야kkeo·yawill
Word for word: someday-TOP not-fully-done word-ACC will-convey will
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 못다 한 말 is a set phrase — 못다 alone means 'not to completion', 한 means 'done', together meaning 'words left unfinished', i.e. an unspoken confession, richer than a literal 'not-all-done word'.
거친 세상 속에서 너를 안아 줄게Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geo·chin se·sang so·ge·seo neo·reul a·na jul·kke
Meaning: In this harsh world, I'll hold you
Words in this line- 거친geo·chinharsh
- 세상se·sangworld
- 속에서so·ge·seoin the midst of
- 너를neo·reulyou
- 안아a·naembrace
- 줄게jul·kkewill give you
Word for word: (Harsh world that inside) you embrace-will-give
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 속에서 literally means 'inside something', here 'amid [the harsh world]'. 안아 줄게 combines 'embrace' with 'will give [you]': the ending turns it into a warm promise a plain 'I'll hug' misses.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Rough” — GFRIEND. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
A line from the song with one word missing: listen, then pick the right word. Rena checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Rena about this song
Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask RenaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 기적처럼 | gi·jeok·cheo·reom | like a miracle |
| 꿈처럼 | kkum·cheo·reom | like a dream |
| 날의 | na·rui | day's |
| 다만 | da·man | just |
| 달려서 | dal·lyeo·seo | racing |
| 만날 | man·nal | will meet |
| 말하지 | ma·ra·ji | say |
| 못했어 | mo·tae·sseo | couldn't |
| 미처 | mi·cheo | not quite |
| 보고 | bo·go | looking |
| 손을 | so·neul | hand |
| 수만 | su·man | only if can |
| 시간을 | si·ga·neul | time |
| 어른이 | eo·reu·ni | adult |
| 어린 | eo·rin | young |
| 있다면 | it·tta·myeon | if there is |
| 잡아 | ja·ba | holding |
| 좋아했어 | jo·a·hae·sseo | liked |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “Rough” go to your study notebook with spaced review, so they come back right before you forget them.
Create a free accountWith Google, Apple or email · 10 seconds
Questions about “Rough”
What is “Rough” by GFRIEND about?
GFRIEND's “Rough” is about a girl who likes someone but can't close the distance between them, so they stay like two lines that never touch.
What does “우린 마치 평행선처럼” mean in “Rough”?
We're just like parallel lines. 마치 ...
What does “좋아한단 말도 아직 못 하고 있어 whoa” mean in “Rough”?
I still can't even say that I like you, whoa. 좋아한단 말도 is a contraction of 좋아한다는 말도 ('even the words that I like you'), and 못 하고 있어 means 'still haven't managed to'.
How do you pronounce “언젠가는 못다 한 말을 전할 거야”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “eon·jen·ga·neun mot·tta han ma·reul jeon·hal kkeo·ya”: that's how it's actually sung by GFRIEND, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Rough” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena goes through all 37 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
- GFRIEND
- Official video
- 여자친구 GFRIEND OFFICIAL · 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.