Through the Night — IU: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync이 밤 그날의 반딧불을 당신의i bam geu·na·rui ban·dit·ppu·reul dang·si·nuiTonight, that day's firefly — to youListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
IU's “Through the Night” is a tender late-night love letter from someone who misses a distant loved one and sends their feelings across the distance. She recalls a first kiss and a shoreline where waves once lingered, fearing the person could fade away for good. Since she can't pull every word out of her heart, she lets a firefly carry the message to the window, hoping it arrives as a gentle dream.
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.
이 밤 그날의 반딧불을 당신의Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): i bam geu·na·rui ban·dit·ppu·reul dang·si·nui
Meaning: Tonight, that day's firefly — to you
Words in this line- 이ithis
- 밤bamnight
- 그날의geu·na·ruithat day's
- 반딧불을ban·dit·ppu·reulfirefly
- 당신의dang·si·nuiyour
Word for word: This night that day's firefly your
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The line breaks off at '당신의' (your) — a modifier for '창' (window), which only appears in the next line. On its own the sentence is incomplete; that's normal in lyrics, the full meaning comes together with the next line.
가장 먼 곳으로 가요Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ga·jang meon go·seu·ro ga·yo
Meaning: I go to the farthest place
Words in this line- 가장ga·jangmost
- 먼meonfar
- 곳으로go·seu·roto the place
- 가요ga·yogo
Word for word: Most far place-to go
Why it doesn't translate word for word: This continues the previous line: after closing his eyes, he mentally travels to 'the farthest place' — an image of retreating into memory or daydream, not a literal journey.
다 꺼내어 줄 순 없지만Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): da kkeo·nae·eo jul ssun eop·jji·man
Meaning: I can't take them all out, but
Words in this line- 다daall
- 꺼내어kkeo·nae·eotake out
- 줄julgive
- 순ssunway to
- 없지만eop·jji·manthere's none, but
Word for word: all take-out-and give way there's-none-but
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 순 없다 is short for '수(way)+는(topic)' plus 'there is none' — together 'there's no way to do X'. 꺼내어 줄 literally means 'take out and give', i.e. 'lay it all out for you'. He admits he can't say everything he feels.
나의 일기장 안에 모든 말을Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): na·ui il·gi·jang a·ne mo·deun ma·reul
Meaning: All the words inside my diary
Words in this line- 나의na·uimy
- 일기장il·gi·jangdiary
- 안에a·neinside
- 모든mo·deunall
- 말을ma·reulwords
Word for word: My diary inside all words-ACC
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean puts the location word 안에 (inside) after the noun and the object marker 을 at the very end, so literal English ends up backwards. It simply means all the words written inside the speaker's diary. Key words: 일기장 (diary), 안에 (inside), 을 (marks the object).
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Through the Night” — IU. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask HaeinSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가까이 | ga·kka·i | close |
| 감고 | gam·kko | closing |
| 같아 | ga·ta | seems |
| 걸까 | geol·kka | I wonder if |
| 것같아 | geot·kka·ta | it seems like |
| 그대가 | geu·dae·ga | you |
| 그리워 | geu·ri·wo | miss |
| 글씨처럼 | geul·ssi·cheo·reom | like writing |
| 말이에요 | ma·ri·e·yo | it's saying |
| 머물던 | meo·mul·deon | lingered |
| 멀리 | meol·li | far away |
| 모래 | mo·rae | sand |
| 버릴 | beo·ril | completely |
| 사라져 | sa·ra·jyeo | disappear |
| 사랑한다는 | sa·rang·han·da·neun | that (I) love |
| 위에 | wi·e | on |
| 적힌 | jeo·kin | written |
| 파도가 | pa·do·ga | wave |
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Questions about “Through the Night”
What is “Through the Night” by IU about?
IU's “Through the Night” is a tender late-night love letter from someone who misses a distant loved one and sends their feelings across the distance.
What does “이 밤 그날의 반딧불을 당신의” mean in “Through the Night”?
Tonight, that day's firefly — to you. The line breaks off at '당신의' (your) — a modifier for '창' (window), which only appears in the next line.
What does “가장 먼 곳으로 가요” mean in “Through the Night”?
I go to the farthest place. This continues the previous line: after closing his eyes, he mentally travels to 'the farthest place' — an image of retreating into memory or daydream, not…
How do you pronounce “다 꺼내어 줄 순 없지만”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “da kkeo·nae·eo jul ssun eop·jji·man”: that's how it's actually sung by IU, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Through the Night” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Haein goes through all 27 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.