The Chase — Hearts2Hearts: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in syncHop, 내 모험의 첫걸음을 디뎌Hop, nae mo·heo·mui cheot·kkeo·reu·meul di·dyeoHop! I take the first step of my adventureListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
Hearts2Hearts’ “The Chase” is about stepping into a dreamy adventure where curiosity and a playful pursuit pull two people together. Riddles, floating quizzes, blue ink and chalk make the world feel like a puzzle, and a key rattles a door open. They vow to make the other person say their name, then invite them into a candy-sweet love under sunlight, ending in a shared fall into fantasy.
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.
Hop, 내 모험의 첫걸음을 디뎌Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): Hop, nae mo·heo·mui cheot·kkeo·reu·meul di·dyeo
Meaning: Hop! I take the first step of my adventure
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 모험의mo·heo·muiof adventure
- 첫걸음을cheot·kkeo·reu·meulfirst step
- 디뎌di·dyeostep
Word for word: Hop, my adventure's first step tread
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 첫걸음 means 'first step' and also 'the beginning of a journey'. 디디다 is 'to tread', so word for word it is 'tread a first step', while English says 'take a first step'. Hop is a playful jumping sound.
그새 커버린 걸까 설명할 수 없는데Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geu·sae keo·beo·rin geol·kka seol·myeong·hal ssu eom·neun·de
Meaning: Did I grow up that fast? I can't explain it
Words in this line- 그새geu·saein the meantime
- 커버린keo·beo·ringrown up
- 걸까geol·kkaI wonder if
- 설명할seol·myeong·halto explain
- 수ssuway, ability
- 없는데eom·neun·dethere isn't, but
Word for word: In-that-time grown-completely I-wonder? Explain way not-exist-but
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 커버린 joins 크다 'to grow' and 버리다 'to finish off', giving a sense of 'has gone and grown up'. 걸까 adds a musing 'I wonder if', and 수 없는데 literally 'there is no way' means 'I can't', with the ending 는데 carrying a trailing, puzzled feeling.
온 힘을 다해 난 달려 멈춰 서 있고Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): on hi·meul da·hae nan dal·lyeo meom·chwo seo it·kko
Meaning: I run with all my strength, I don't want to stand still
Words in this line- 온onwhole
- 힘을hi·meulstrength
- 다해da·haeexhausting
- 난nanI
- 달려dal·lyeorun
- 멈춰meom·chwostopped
- 서seostand
- 있고it·kkobe
Word for word: Whole strength exhausting I run, having-stopped stand be-and
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 온 means 'whole', 힘 means 'strength' and 다하다 means 'to use up', so together they mean 'with everything I have'. 멈춰 서 있고 is 'stopped and standing', where 서 있다 describes a state rather than an action. Literally it is bulky, but it just means 'I refuse to stay frozen'.
맞아 꿈이 꿈꾸길 시작해 yeahListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ma·ja kku·mi kkum·kku·gil si·ja·kae yeah
Meaning: That's right, the dream has begun to dream, yeah
Words in this line- 맞아ma·jaright
- 꿈이kku·midream
- 꿈꾸길kkum·kku·gilto dream
- 시작해si·ja·kaebegins
Word for word: Right, dream to-dream begins, yeah
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 꿈 means 'dream', and 꿈꾸다 means 'to dream'. With the dream itself as the subject, it becomes wordplay: the dream comes alive and starts dreaming on its own. 맞아 at the start means 'right', like agreeing with oneself.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “The Chase” — Hearts2Hearts. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask YoonaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가고 | ga·go | go and |
| 가만히 | ga·man·hi | quietly |
| 가져봐 | ga·jyeo·bwa | try taking |
| 가지런히 | ga·ji·reon·hi | neatly |
| 같아 | ga·ta | seems |
| 떠다니는 | tteo·da·ni·neun | drifting |
| 맘대로 | mam·dae·ro | as I please |
| 뭔가를 | mwon·ga·reul | something |
| 빛깔 | bit·kkal | hue |
| 수수께끼 | su·su·kke·kki | riddles |
| 싶어 | si·peo | want to |
| 알고 | al·go | know |
| 온통 | on·tong | all over |
| 잉크 | ing·keu | ink |
| 잘라낸 | jal·la·naen | cut out |
| 조각 | jo·gak | piece |
| 파란 | pa·ran | blue |
| 환상의 | hwan·sang·ui | of fantasy |
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Questions about “The Chase”
What is “The Chase” by Hearts2Hearts about?
Hearts2Hearts’ “The Chase” is about stepping into a dreamy adventure where curiosity and a playful pursuit pull two people together.
What does “Hop, 내 모험의 첫걸음을 디뎌” mean in “The Chase”?
Hop! I take the first step of my adventure. 첫걸음 means 'first step' and also 'the beginning of a journey'.
What does “그새 커버린 걸까 설명할 수 없는데” mean in “The Chase”?
Did I grow up that fast? I can't explain it. 커버린 joins 크다 'to grow' and 버리다 'to finish off', giving a sense of 'has gone and grown up'.
How do you pronounce “온 힘을 다해 난 달려 멈춰 서 있고”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “on hi·meul da·hae nan dal·lyeo meom·chwo seo it·kko”: that's how it's actually sung by Hearts2Hearts, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “The Chase” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 44 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
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Credits and sources
- Artist
- Hearts2Hearts
- Official video
- SMTOWN · 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.