Celebrity — IU: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync잊지 마 넌 흐린 어둠 사이it·jji ma neon heu·rin eo·dum sa·iDon't forget — you're amid the hazy darknessListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
IU's “Celebrity” is a reassuring message to someone who feels like an outsider, telling them their quiet uniqueness is worth celebrating. The singer sees a person who has grown up on the margins, tired and dimmed, and promises that a spotlight is waiting somewhere beyond their bowed head. Stars, constellations and a flower pushing through winter frost carry the hope that this person will come to see their own beauty. The mood is tender and quietly uplifting.
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.
잊지 마 넌 흐린 어둠 사이Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): it·jji ma neon heu·rin eo·dum sa·i
Meaning: Don't forget — you're amid the hazy darkness
Words in this line- 잊지it·jjidon't
- 마maforget
- 넌neonyou
- 흐린heu·rinhazy
- 어둠eo·dumdarkness
- 사이sa·iamid
Word for word: don't-forget, you hazy darkness between
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '잊지 마' is pronounced [읻찌마] — a plain negative imperative 'don't forget' with no polite softening, matching the direct, insistent tone of address.
헤매도 좋으니 웃음 짓게 되길Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): he·mae·do jo·eu·ni u·seum jit·kke doe·gil
Meaning: It's fine even if I wander, I just hope you come to smile
Words in this line- 헤매도he·mae·doeven if I wander
- 좋으니jo·eu·nisince it's fine
- 웃음u·seumsmile
- 짓게jit·kkeso as to make
- 되길doe·gilmay it become
Word for word: Even-if-wander good-since smile so-that-make become-may
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Four grammar endings are strung together: 도 "even if", 으니 "since", 게 "so that", 길 (from 기를) "I hope that". Individually they're just particles; together they form one thought — "even if I wander, as long as it makes you smile."
그 서투른 걸음이 새겨놓은 밑그림Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geu seo·tu·reun geo·reu·mi sae·gyeo·no·eun mit·kkeu·rim
Meaning: That clumsy walk sketched out the outline
Words in this line- 그geuthat
- 서투른seo·tu·reunclumsy
- 걸음이geo·reu·misteps (subj.)
- 새겨놓은sae·gyeo·no·eunthat engraved/left behind
- 밑그림mit·kkeu·rimsketch
Word for word: That clumsy step-which engraved-left bottom-picture
Why it doesn't translate word for word: «밑그림» is "bottom"(밑)+"picture"(그림) = a rough sketch, the foundation for a future drawing. «새겨놓다» = "to engrave"+"to leave" — the steps didn't just pass, they left a mark, like an engraving.
보이니 하루 뒤 봄이 얼마나 아름다울지 말야Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): bo·i·ni ha·ru dwi bo·mi eol·ma·na a·reum·da·ul·jji ma·rya
Meaning: Can you see how beautiful spring will be, just a day from now
Words in this line- 보이니bo·i·nido you see
- 하루ha·ruday
- 뒤dwilater
- 봄이bo·mispring
- 얼마나eol·ma·nahow
- 아름다울지a·reum·da·ul·jjihow beautiful it will be
- 말야ma·ryayou know
Word for word: Visible-question day after spring-how beautiful-will.be-whether word-is
Why it doesn't translate word for word: «보이니» is an inviting question "do you see?", not a statement. «말야» (from 말이야) is a colloquial tag meaning roughly "you know", with no literal meaning of its own. «하루 뒤» literally "a day later" means "very soon" here.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Celebrity” — IU. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask RenaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가는 | ga·neun | going |
| 가면 | ga·myeon | if (you) go |
| 가진 | ga·jin | that you have |
| 걸음걸이 | geo·reum·geo·ri | gait |
| 겨울 | gyeo·ul | winter |
| 결국 | gyeol·guk | eventually |
| 고개 | go·gae | head |
| 골칫거리 | gol·chit·kkeo·ri | troublemaker |
| 구부정하게 | gu·bu·jeong·ha·ge | hunched |
| 그리로 | geu·ri·ro | that way |
| 그린 | geu·rin | drawn |
| 까지 | kka·ji | even/up to |
| 꺼놓은 | kkeo·no·eun | turned off |
| 모르지 | mo·reu·ji | don't know |
| 아름다운지 | a·reum·da·un·ji | how beautiful |
| 왼손으로 | oen·so·neu·ro | with the left hand |
| 유일함이 | yu·i·ra·mi | uniqueness |
| 하나 | ha·na | one |
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Questions about “Celebrity”
What is “Celebrity” by IU about?
IU's “Celebrity” is a reassuring message to someone who feels like an outsider, telling them their quiet uniqueness is worth celebrating.
What does “잊지 마 넌 흐린 어둠 사이” mean in “Celebrity”?
Don't forget — you're amid the hazy darkness. '잊지 마' is pronounced [읻찌마] — a plain negative imperative 'don't forget' with no polite softening, matching the direct, insistent tone of address.
What does “헤매도 좋으니 웃음 짓게 되길” mean in “Celebrity”?
It's fine even if I wander, I just hope you come to smile. Four grammar endings are strung together: 도 "even if", 으니 "since", 게 "so that", 길 (from 기를) "I hope that".
How do you pronounce “그 서투른 걸음이 새겨놓은 밑그림”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “geu seo·tu·reun geo·reu·mi sae·gyeo·no·eun mit·kkeu·rim”: that's how it's actually sung by IU, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Celebrity” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena goes through all 36 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
- IU
- Official video
- 1theK (원더케이) · 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.