Birthday Wish (긴 소원) — NMIXX: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync서로 다른 차원의 틈에 널 마주해seo·ro da·reun cha·wo·nui teu·me neol ma·ju·haeIn a gap between different dimensions, I come face to face with youListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
NMIXX's “Birthday Wish” is about meeting a lost part of yourself and finding that reunion feels like being born again. Across a gap between dimensions, the singer faces someone who seems to be the missing half of her, blurry at first, then clear by candlelight. Love arrives with a rush, and a wish for the future turns the day of meeting into a shared birthday. It ends calm and whole, a vow never to forget.
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.
서로 다른 차원의 틈에 널 마주해Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): seo·ro da·reun cha·wo·nui teu·me neol ma·ju·hae
Meaning: In a gap between different dimensions, I come face to face with you
Words in this line- 서로seo·roeach other
- 다른da·reundifferent
- 차원의cha·wo·nuiof dimension
- 틈에teu·mein the gap
- 널neolyou
- 마주해ma·ju·haeface
Word for word: Each-other different dimension's in-gap you face-do.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 서로 다른 means “different from each other” and 틈 is just a crack, but together they paint a gap between two worlds. 마주해 comes from 마주하다, “to face directly”, which carries the feeling of an unexpected encounter rather than simply seeing.
(Whoo) 두 눈 앞에 가까워진 그 순간Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ho·o du nun a·pe ga·kka·wo·jin geu sun·gan
Meaning: (Whoo) The moment you came close before my eyes
Words in this line- 두dutwo
- 눈nuneyes
- 앞에a·pein front of
- 가까워진ga·kka·wo·jingrown close
- 그geuthat
- 순간sun·ganmoment
Word for word: (Whoo) Two eyes in-front become-close that moment.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 두 눈 앞에 is literally “in front of two eyes”, which naturally means “right before my eyes”. 가까워진 is “having become close”, showing the distance shrinking. 그 순간 is “that moment”, pointing at one special instant.
하나둘 모인 piecesListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ha·na·dul mo·in pieces
Meaning: Pieces gathered one by one
Words in this line- 하나둘ha·na·dulone by one
- 모인mo·ingathered
Word for word: One-two gathered pieces.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 하나 is “one” and 둘 is “two”, but 하나둘 together means “one by one, gradually”. 모인 is “gathered”, suggesting the pieces came together on their own.
널 위한 긴 소원을 빌게Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neol wi·han gin so·wo·neul bil·kke
Meaning: I’ll make a long wish for you
Words in this line- 널neolyou
- 위한wi·hanfor
- 긴ginlong
- 소원을so·wo·neulwish
- 빌게bil·kkeI’ll wish
Word for word: For-you long wish I’ll make
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 빌다 literally means “to beg or pray” and 소원 means “wish”. Together 소원을 빌다 is the normal way to say “make a wish”, and the ending -ㄹ게 adds a promise: “I will do this for you.”
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Birthday Wish” — NMIXX. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 감고 | gam·kko | closing |
| 기억해 | gi·eo·kae | remember |
| 꿈속 | kkum·sok | in a dream |
| 끝에 | kkeu·te | at the end |
| 너는 | neo·neun | you |
| 너로 | neo·ro | with you |
| 너와 | neo·wa | with you |
| 달라져도 | dal·la·jyeo·do | even if it changes |
| 닮은 | dal·meun | resembling |
| 돌고 | dol·go | turning |
| 돌아 | do·ra | going round |
| 떠올릴 | tteo·ol·lil | will recall |
| 마주침 | ma·ju·chim | encounter |
| 모든 | mo·deun | every |
| 물결 | mul·gyeol | wave |
| 불어 | bu·reo | blow |
| 완성된 | wan·seong·doen | completed |
| 초를 | cho·reul | candle |
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Questions about “Birthday Wish”
What is “Birthday Wish” by NMIXX about?
NMIXX's “Birthday Wish” is about meeting a lost part of yourself and finding that reunion feels like being born again.
What does “서로 다른 차원의 틈에 널 마주해” mean in “Birthday Wish”?
In a gap between different dimensions, I come face to face with you. 서로 다른 means “different from each other” and 틈 is just a crack, but together they paint a gap between two worlds.
What does “(Whoo) 두 눈 앞에 가까워진 그 순간” mean in “Birthday Wish”?
(Whoo) The moment you came close before my eyes. 두 눈 앞에 is literally “in front of two eyes”, which naturally means “right before my eyes”.
How do you pronounce “하나둘 모인 pieces”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “ha·na·dul mo·in pieces”: that's how it's actually sung by NMIXX, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Birthday Wish” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Chaea goes through all 64 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
- NMIXX
- 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.