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NiziU

Sour Grapes — NiziU: meaning, key lines and pronunciation

First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync나만 알게 돼na·man al·ge dwaeOnly I get to knowListen to this line with the translationNo sign-up

What the song is about

NiziU's “Sour Grapes” is about a confident girl who skips the sweet, obvious choice everyone else wants and goes for the tart, unfamiliar one that pulls her in. Doubters call it too risky, and the safe, sugary option looks dull to her, so she bites in anyway and trusts her own taste. Any small sting gets brushed off with a wink, and the mood stays playful and self-assured throughout.

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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.

나만 알게 돼
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Romanization (as sung): na·man al·ge dwae

Meaning: Only I get to know

Words in this line
  • 나만na·manonly me
  • 알게al·geto know
  • 돼dwaebecome/end up

'-게 되다' means 'it turns out that...' — an outcome that happens on its own, not a deliberate choice; closer to 'it turns out I find out' than a plain 'I know'.

다 내 맘대로
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Romanization (as sung): da nae mam·dae·ro

Meaning: It'll all be my way

Words in this line
  • 다daall
  • 내naemy
  • 맘대로mam·dae·roas I please
어차피 아는 맛일 거라 Talky
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Romanization (as sung): eo·cha·pi a·neun ma·sil kkeo·ra Talky

Meaning: It's probably a taste I already know anyway, talky

Words in this line
  • 어차피eo·cha·pianyway
  • 아는a·neunknown
  • 맛일ma·sila taste
  • 거라kkeo·rait'll be

"어차피 아는 맛일 거라" is already a complete phrase — "it'll be a familiar taste anyway." The English "Talky" is tacked on for rhythm/rhyme, hinting at gossip/chatter rather than adding new grammar.

톡 쏘는 맛을 골라
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Romanization (as sung): tok sso·neun ma·seul gol·la

Meaning: Picking out that sharp, tangy taste

Words in this line
  • 톡toktangy pop
  • 쏘는sso·neunstinging
  • 맛을ma·seultaste
  • 골라gol·lapick

톡 쏘다 is a set phrase for a 'sharp, tingling' taste or personality; 톡 alone is an onomatopoeia for a 'pop', 쏘다 means 'to sting/shoot'. Together they describe the girl's spicy personality, not literally a bite.

Lyrics © their rights holders. “Sour Grapes” — NiziU. Quoted for commentary and learning.

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Song vocabulary

Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.

WordSounds likeMeaning
가볍게ga·byeop·kkelightly
그거면geu·geo·myeonif that
그저geu·jeojust
깨물kkae·mulbite
끌린다면kkeul·lin·da·myeonif drawn to
남들과nam·deul·gwacompared to others
낯선nat·sseonunfamiliar
눈에는nu·ne·neunin the eyes
느낌neu·kkimfeeling
다른da·reundifferent
따끔하대도tta·kkeum·ha·dae·doeven if it stings
망설이다간mang·seo·ri·da·ganif I hesitate
모두가mo·du·gaeveryone
몰라mol·ladon't know
색다른saek·tta·reununique
이끌림에i·kkeul·li·meinto the pull
충분해chung·bun·haeis enough
필요한pi·ryo·hanneeded

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Questions about “Sour Grapes”

What is “Sour Grapes” by NiziU about?

NiziU's “Sour Grapes” is about a confident girl who skips the sweet, obvious choice everyone else wants and goes for the tart, unfamiliar one that pulls her in.

What does “나만 알게 돼” mean in “Sour Grapes”?

Only I get to know.

What does “다 내 맘대로” mean in “Sour Grapes”?

It'll all be my way.

How do you pronounce “어차피 아는 맛일 거라 Talky”?

In the song it sounds roughly like “eo·cha·pi a·neun ma·sil kkeo·ra Talky”: that's how it's actually sung by NiziU, not the textbook romanization.

Where can I see every line of “Sour Grapes” explained?

This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Chaea goes through all 84 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.

Official music video

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Credits and sources

Artist
NiziU
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.

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