ABCD — NAYEON: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync원하는 건 가져야 하는 걸won·ha·neun geon ga·jyeo·ya ha·neun geolWhat you want, you have to takeListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “ABCD,” NAYEON plays a self-assured woman who takes the lead and teaches a crush how to fall for her, as simply as reciting the alphabet. The title is a letter game, with B standing for “be” and C for “see”. Time slows, and she pulls them into her fantasy and her gravity, a spell they can't resist. Beneath the confident pull, she urges them to quit overthinking and follow instinct, and admits her own heart is trembling as she lets her real self show.
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.
원하는 건 가져야 하는 걸Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): won·ha·neun geon ga·jyeo·ya ha·neun geol
Meaning: What you want, you have to take
Words in this line- 원하는won·ha·neunwhat you want
- 건geonthe thing
- 가져야ga·jyeo·yamust take
- 하는ha·neunhave to
- 걸geolyou know
Word for word: The wanting thing must-have doing, you know.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 원하는 means 'the desired thing', 가져야 means 'must have/take', 하는 is 'doing', and 걸 at the end has no word of its own. The -는 걸 tail adds a confident 'it's obvious, isn't it'. So the natural translation sounds like a simple life motto.
Stop thinkin' 거부할 수 없을걸Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): Stop thinkin' geo·bu·hal ssu eop·sseul·kkeol
Meaning: Stop thinking, you won't be able to refuse
Words in this line- 거부할geo·bu·halrefuse
- 수ssuway/ability
- 없을걸eop·sseul·kkeolthere won't be
Word for word: Stop thinkin' refuse way there-won't-be you-know.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 거부할 수 없을걸 is 'refuse' (거부할) plus 'way/ability' (수) plus 'there won't be' (없을걸). The pattern '-ㄹ 수 없다' literally says 'there is no way to', which simply means 'can't'. The -ㄹ걸 tail adds a cocky 'I bet, you'll see', which no single word carries.
떨리는 마음 감출 수 없는 걸Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): tteol·li·neun ma·eum gam·chul ssu eom·neun geol
Meaning: I can't hide my trembling heart.
Words in this line- 떨리는tteol·li·neuntrembling
- 마음ma·eumheart, feelings
- 감출gam·chulto hide
- 수ssupossibility
- 없는eom·neunnonexistent
- 걸geolyou see (nuance)
Word for word: Trembling heart to-hide possibility doesn't-exist, you-see.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 마음 on its own is 'heart' or 'mind' and 떨리는 is 'trembling', so together they mean feelings that quiver. 수 없다 means 'cannot'. The ending 걸 has no standalone meaning but adds a helpless 'well, I just can't' tone, which is why the literal version has an awkward 'you-see' tacked on.
홀린 듯 하나가 되는 you & IListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): hol·lin deut ha·na·ga doe·neun you and I
Meaning: As if entranced, we become one, you and I
Words in this line- 홀린hol·linbewitched
- 듯deutas if
- 하나가ha·na·gaone
- 되는doe·neunbecoming
홀리다 means 'be bewitched' and 듯 means 'as if', so 'as if bewitched'; 하나가 되다 literally 'become one' means to merge into a unit.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “ABCD” — NAYEON. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 가르쳐 | ga·reu·chyeo | teach |
| 기다리는 | gi·da·ri·neun | waiting |
| 끈을 | kkeu·neul | the string |
| 너는 | neo·neun | you |
| 너와 | neo·wa | you and |
| 네게 | ne·ge | to you |
| 놓쳐 | not·chyeo | lose hold of |
| 다가오길 | da·ga·o·gil | to approach |
| 들어왔어 | deu·reo·wa·sseo | came in |
| 반복해 | ban·bo·kae | repeat |
| 벗어날 | beo·seo·nal | escape |
| 빠져 | ppa·jyeo | fall in |
| 빠져들고 | ppa·jyeo·deul·go | falling into |
| 쉽게 | swip·kke | easily |
| 알기 | al·gi | knowing |
| 알려줄게 | al·lyeo·jul·kke | I'll let you know |
| 줄게 | jul·kke | I'll do for you |
| 피어나 | pi·eo·na | bloom |
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Questions about “ABCD”
What is “ABCD” by NAYEON about?
In “ABCD,” NAYEON plays a self-assured woman who takes the lead and teaches a crush how to fall for her, as simply as reciting the alphabet.
What does “원하는 건 가져야 하는 걸” mean in “ABCD”?
What you want, you have to take. 원하는 means 'the desired thing', 가져야 means 'must have/take', 하는 is 'doing', and 걸 at the end has no word of its own.
What does “Stop thinkin' 거부할 수 없을걸” mean in “ABCD”?
Stop thinking, you won't be able to refuse. 거부할 수 없을걸 is 'refuse' (거부할) plus 'way/ability' (수) plus 'there won't be' (없을걸).
How do you pronounce “떨리는 마음 감출 수 없는 걸”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “tteol·li·neun ma·eum gam·chul ssu eom·neun geol”: that's how it's actually sung by NAYEON, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “ABCD” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Haein goes through all 66 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
- NAYEON
- Official video
- JYP Entertainment · 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.