LEE CHANHYUK
Endangered Love (멸종위기사랑) — LEE CHANHYUK: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync사랑이 있었대sa·rang·i i·sseot·ttaethey say there was loveListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “Endangered Love,” LEE CHANHYUK imagines love as a species close to extinction, with the news announcing that it may vanish for good. Even the god of love seems lost, and the singer begs people to stop letting the world decay. Remembering an age of first fires when everyone had love, the singer asks who will sing for it now and urges a revival. Urgent, an alarm turning into a plea.
Key lines
2 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
사랑이 있었대Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): sa·rang·i i·sseot·ttae
Meaning: they say there was love
Words in this line- 사랑이sa·rang·ilove
- 있었대i·sseot·ttaethere was, they say
Word for word: Love there-was-they-say
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 있었대 is 있다 ('to exist') plus -대, a contraction meaning 'they say that.' Separately the words are 'love' and 'existed,' but together they sound like retelling an old legend.
멸종 위기 사랑Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): myeol·jong wi·gi sa·rang
Meaning: Love on the brink of extinction
Words in this line- 멸종myeol·jongextinction
- 위기wi·gicrisis, danger
- 사랑sa·ranglove
Word for word: Extinction-crisis-love
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 멸종 alone means 'extinction', 위기 means 'crisis' and 사랑 means 'love'. Glued together, 멸종위기 is the ready-made phrase 'endangered', normally said of rare animals, and the song applies it to love.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Endangered Love” — LEE CHANHYUK. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 내일이면 | nae·i·ri·myeon | once tomorrow comes |
| 만들어지는 | man·deu·reo·ji·neun | being made |
| 멸종위기 | myeol·jong·wi·gi | endangered |
| 믿었던 | mi·deot·tteon | believed (back then) |
| 불이 | bu·ri | fire |
| 사람당 | sa·ram·dang | per person |
| 사랑의 | sa·rang·ui | of love |
| 아무도 | a·mu·do | nobody |
| 왔다네 | wat·tta·ne | came, so it seems |
| 인류가 | il·lyu·ga | humankind |
| 잃어버릴 | i·reo·beo·ril | will lose |
| 정말로 | jeong·mal·lo | truly |
| 종말론 | jong·mal·lon | doomsday theory |
| 하나의 | ha·na·ui | of one |
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Questions about “Endangered Love”
What is “Endangered Love” by LEE CHANHYUK about?
In “Endangered Love,” LEE CHANHYUK imagines love as a species close to extinction, with the news announcing that it may vanish for good.
What does “사랑이 있었대” mean in “Endangered Love”?
they say there was love. 있었대 is 있다 ('to exist') plus -대, a contraction meaning 'they say that.' Separately the words are 'love' and 'existed,' but together they sound like retelling…
What does “멸종 위기 사랑” mean in “Endangered Love”?
Love on the brink of extinction. 멸종 alone means 'extinction', 위기 means 'crisis' and 사랑 means 'love'.
How do you pronounce “사랑이 있었대”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “sa·rang·i i·sseot·ttae”: that's how it's actually sung by LEE CHANHYUK, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Endangered Love” explained?
This page explains 2 key lines. In the theIDOL app Eunsu goes through all 55 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
- LEE CHANHYUK
- Official video
- AKMU · 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.