Candy — NCT DREAM: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync널 만날 거야 이런 날 이해해neol man·nal kkeo·ya i·reon nal i·hae·haeI'm going to meet you, so understand me as I am todayPlay the first verse with translationNo sign-upWhat does “Candy” by NCT DREAM mean?
In “Candy,” NCT DREAM sing about a young man who goes to meet his girlfriend meaning to end things, then chooses to stay. He is worn out from trailing behind her while other couples are close, but a bright morning and the open sky shift his heart. He drops the speech he prepared, tells her he loves her, and promises to stay close so she is never alone.
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.
널 만날 거야 이런 날 이해해Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neol man·nal kkeo·ya i·reon nal i·hae·hae
Meaning: I'm going to meet you, so understand me as I am today
Words in this line- 널neolyou
- 만날man·nalwill meet
- 거야kkeo·yagoing to
- 이런i·reonlike this
- 날nalme
- 이해해i·hae·haeunderstand
Word for word: You will-meet going-to, this-kind me understand
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 날 is not "day" here but a contraction of 나를, "me". 이런 alone is "this kind of", but with "me" it means "me, as I am right now". The tail 거야 marks intention, "I'm going to meet you", not just a plain future. That's why the line feels like a plea to be understood.
어렵게 맘 정한 거라 네게 말할 거지만Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eo·ryeop·kke mam jeong·han geo·ra ne·ge ma·ral geo·ji·man
Meaning: It was a hard decision, but I'll tell you
Words in this line- 어렵게eo·ryeop·kkewith difficulty
- 맘mammind, heart
- 정한jeong·handecided
- 거라geo·rasince it's
- 네게ne·geto you
- 말할ma·ralwill tell
- 거지만geo·ji·manthough I will
Word for word: Hardly heart decided since to-you will-say but
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 맘 alone is "heart", but 맘 정하다 means to settle one's mind, i.e. make a decision. 어렵게, "with difficulty", turns it into "decided it with great effort". 거라 ("since it's") and 거지만 ("but I will") chain two thoughts together in a way English word order doesn't.
언제나 네 옆에 있을게Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eon·je·na ne yeo·pe i·sseul·kke
Meaning: I'll always be by your side
Words in this line- 언제나eon·je·naalways
- 네neyour
- 옆에yeo·pebeside
- 있을게i·sseul·kkeI will be
Word for word: Always your flank-at exist-will-promise
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 옆 alone is 'flank/side', 에 is 'at', 있다 is 'to exist', and together they mean 'to be beside'. The ending -을게 adds a promise: the speaker is not just predicting but giving their word. Plain 'will be' lacks that feeling, which is why the literal line sounds stiff.
다신 너 혼자 아냐 너의 곁엔 내가 있잖아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): da·sin neo hon·ja a·nya neo·ui gyeo·ten nae·ga it·jja·na
Meaning: You're not alone anymore, I'm right here with you
Words in this line- 다신da·sinnever again
- 너neoyou
- 혼자hon·jaalone
- 아냐a·nyaaren't
- 너의neo·uiyour
- 곁엔gyeo·tenby the side
- 내가nae·gaI
- 있잖아it·jja·naam here, you know
Word for word: Never-again you alone not, your side-at I exist-you-know
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 다신 means 'never again', 혼자 'alone' and 곁 'close side'; together they say 'you're no longer alone'. 있잖아 is literally 'isn't there', but as a tail it means 'I'm here, you know'. It carries a comfort that no single word holds.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Candy” — NCT DREAM. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask EunsuSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 굳혔지만 | gu·chyeot·jji·man | firmed up, but |
| 그래 | geu·rae | yes |
| 그렇지만 | geu·reo·chi·man | but |
| 나도 | na·do | me too |
| 내게 | nae·ge | to me |
| 다른 | da·reun | other |
| 뒤로한 | dwi·ro·han | leaving behind |
| 많은 | ma·neun | many |
| 말을 | ma·reul | words |
| 말했지 | ma·raet·jji | said |
| 몰래 | mol·lae | secretly |
| 바라다보며 | ba·ra·da·bo·myeo | gazing |
| 이렇게 | i·reo·ke | like this |
| 이제껏 | i·je·kkeot | until now |
| 이제는 | i·je·neun | from now |
| 준비했던 | jun·bi·haet·tteon | prepared |
| 하늘 | ha·neul | sky |
| 향한 | hyang·han | toward |
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Questions about “Candy”
What is “Candy” by NCT DREAM about?
In “Candy,” NCT DREAM sing about a young man who goes to meet his girlfriend meaning to end things, then chooses to stay.
What does “널 만날 거야 이런 날 이해해” mean in “Candy”?
I'm going to meet you, so understand me as I am today. 날 is not "day" here but a contraction of 나를, "me".
What does “어렵게 맘 정한 거라 네게 말할 거지만” mean in “Candy”?
It was a hard decision, but I'll tell you. 맘 alone is "heart", but 맘 정하다 means to settle one's mind, i.e.
How do you pronounce “언제나 네 옆에 있을게”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “eon·je·na ne yeo·pe i·sseul·kke”: that's how it's actually sung by NCT DREAM, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Candy” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Eunsu goes through all 56 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
- NCT DREAM
- Official video
- SMTOWN · 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.