BLACKHOLE — IVE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync간직해왔던 불꽃을 일으켜gan·ji·kae·wat·tteon bul·kko·cheul i·reu·kyeoIgnite the flame you've treasuredListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
IVE's “BLACKHOLE” is a bold pep talk, urging a listener to stop fearing danger and let their dreams grow bigger. They picture a dark world sprinkled with glitter, offer a hand to anyone held back, and sing of a flower blooming in mud and a bird flying on torn wings. The mood is confident and glowing, ending on an invitation to stop waiting and be yourselves.
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.
간직해왔던 불꽃을 일으켜Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gan·ji·kae·wat·tteon bul·kko·cheul i·reu·kyeo
Meaning: Ignite the flame you've treasured
Words in this line- 간직해왔던gan·ji·kae·wat·tteonlong cherished
- 불꽃을bul·kko·cheulflame
- 일으켜i·reu·kyeoraise up
Word for word: Kept-all-along flame raise up.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 간직해왔던 is built from 간직하다 'to keep', 왔 'have been doing up to now' and the ending 던, which turns it into 'the one kept for a long time'. 일으켜 alone means 'raise up', but with 불꽃 'flame' it means 'ignite'. Korean puts the long modifier before the noun, so the literal version reads awkwardly.
두려울 게 없어 내겐 Ooh 새로운 걸 보여줄게 AhListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): du·ryeo·ul kke eop·sseo nae·gen Ooh sae·ro·un geol bo·yeo·jul·kke Ah
Meaning: I have nothing to fear; I'll show you something new.
Words in this line- 두려울du·ryeo·ulfearful
- 게kkething
- 없어eop·sseothere's none
- 내겐nae·genfor me
- 새로운sae·ro·unnew
- 걸geolthing (obj.)
- 보여줄게bo·yeo·jul·kkeI'll show
Word for word: Fearful thing doesn't-exist to-me (Ooh) new thing I'll-show (Ah).
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 두려울 게 is "a thing to fear", 없어 is "doesn't exist", and 내겐 is "for me", so Korean literally says "to me, fearful things don't exist". 걸 is a shortened "thing", and -ㄹ게 is a promise ending no single word carries.
꿈을 더 꿈꿔봐도 돼 Ooh 끝내 현실이 돼 OohListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): kku·meul deo kkum·kkwo·bwa·do dwae Ooh kkeun·nae hyeon·si·ri dwae Ooh
Meaning: You can dream even bigger; in the end it becomes reality.
Words in this line- 꿈을kku·meuldream (obj.)
- 더deomore
- 꿈꿔봐도kkum·kkwo·bwa·doeven try dreaming
- 돼dwaeit's okay
- 끝내kkeun·naein the end
- 현실이hyeon·si·rireality
- 돼dwaebecomes
Word for word: Dream more dream-try even okay (Ooh) finally reality becomes (Ooh).
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 꿈을 꿈꾸다 is literally "dream a dream", a repetition for emphasis. -아도 돼 means "it's okay to", yet the same 돼 in 현실이 돼 means "becomes". 끝내 alone is "finally", but here it carries "after all, in the end".
Hey 불을 지핀 건 Hey 운명을 쥔 건Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): Hey bu·reul ji·pin geon Hey un·myeong·eul jwin geon
Meaning: The one who lit the fire, the one who holds fate
Words in this line- 불을bu·reulfire
- 지핀ji·pinkindled
- 건geonthe one who
- 운명을un·myeong·eulfate
- 쥔jwinholds
- 건geonthe one who
Word for word: (Hey) fire-kindled the-one (hey) fate-gripped the-one.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 건 is short for 것은 and means 'the one who'. On its own 불을 지피다 is 'to stoke a fire' and 운명을 쥐다 is 'to clutch fate'. Together they become a teasing question about who is responsible for all this. Korean stacks the descriptions before 'the one', so the literal order feels backwards.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “BLACKHOLE” — IVE. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask YoonaSong 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 |
| 겁내지 | geom·nae·ji | to fear |
| 과감히 | gwa·gam·hi | boldly |
| 기다림을 | gi·da·ri·meul | waiting |
| 나와 | na·wa | with me |
| 모든 | mo·deun | every |
| 뭐든 | mwo·deun | anything |
| 빗속에서도 | bit·sso·ge·seo·do | even in rain |
| 손을 | so·neul | hand (obj.) |
| 원하면 | won·ha·myeon | if you want |
| 원한 | won·han | wished-for |
| 위에 | wi·e | on top of |
| 위험을 | wi·heo·meul | danger |
| 읊조려봐 | eup·jjo·ryeo·bwa | try murmuring |
| 이뤄지리라 | i·rwo·ji·ri·ra | shall come true |
| 있게 | it·kke | so there is |
| 타오를 | ta·o·reul | to blaze |
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Questions about “BLACKHOLE”
What is “BLACKHOLE” by IVE about?
IVE's “BLACKHOLE” is a bold pep talk, urging a listener to stop fearing danger and let their dreams grow bigger.
What does “간직해왔던 불꽃을 일으켜” mean in “BLACKHOLE”?
Ignite the flame you've treasured. 간직해왔던 is built from 간직하다 'to keep', 왔 'have been doing up to now' and the ending 던, which turns it into 'the one kept for a long time'.
What does “두려울 게 없어 내겐 Ooh 새로운 걸 보여줄게 Ah” mean in “BLACKHOLE”?
I have nothing to fear; I'll show you something new. 두려울 게 is "a thing to fear", 없어 is "doesn't exist", and 내겐 is "for me", so Korean literally says "to me, fearful things don't exist".
How do you pronounce “꿈을 더 꿈꿔봐도 돼 Ooh 끝내 현실이 돼 Ooh”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “kku·meul deo kkum·kkwo·bwa·do dwae Ooh kkeun·nae hyeon·si·ri dwae Ooh”: that's how it's actually sung by IVE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “BLACKHOLE” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 57 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
- IVE
- Official video
- STARSHIP · 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.