Blue Valentine — NMIXX: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync언제 그랬냐는 듯이 또 서로를 찾아eon·je geu·raen·nya·neun deu·si tto seo·ro·reul cha·jaAs if nothing happened, we look for each other againListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
NMIXX's “Blue Valentine” is about a volatile, bruising love that keeps flaring and chilling, yet the singer keeps choosing it. Fights, sighs and reunions leave marks like a bruise and shattered glass, while ice with a flame inside and a roller coaster capture the thrill and the hurt. Even lonely together, the singer treats the pain as the price of someone who might be the one.
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.
언제 그랬냐는 듯이 또 서로를 찾아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): eon·je geu·raen·nya·neun deu·si tto seo·ro·reul cha·ja
Meaning: As if nothing happened, we look for each other again
Words in this line- 언제eon·jewhen
- 그랬냐는geu·raen·nya·neunas if it was so
- 듯이deu·sias if
- 또ttoagain
- 서로를seo·ro·reuleach other
- 찾아cha·jaseek
Word for word: When did-it-happen-so as-if again each-other seek.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 언제 alone means 'when', 그랬다 'it was so', and 듯이 'as if'. Together 언제 그랬냐는 듯이 means 'as if it never happened'. The literal version sounds like a question, but the meaning is pretending the fight was forgotten.
다시 뛰어들어 난Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): da·si ttwi·eo·deu·reo nan
Meaning: I'll dive right back in
Words in this line- 다시da·siagain
- 뛰어들어ttwi·eo·deu·reodive in
- 난nanI
Word for word: Again jumping-entering I
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 뛰다 means 'jump' and 들다 means 'enter', but 뛰어들다 together means to plunge in without hesitation. 난 is 'I' with a topic nuance that English simply drops.
식어도 타오르는 얼음 속 불꽃Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): si·geo·do ta·o·reu·neun eo·reum sok bul·kkot
Meaning: A flame inside the ice burns even as it cools
Words in this line- 식어도si·geo·doeven cooling
- 타오르는ta·o·reu·neunblazing
- 얼음eo·reumice
- 속sokinside
- 불꽃bul·kkotflame
Word for word: Even cooling blazing ice inside flame
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 식어도 means 'even if it cools' and 타오르는 means 'blazing', which together create a paradox of fire that won't die. 불꽃 joins 불 'fire' and 꽃 'flower', literally a 'fire-flower'.
불고 푸른Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): bul·go pu·reun
Meaning: Red and blue
Words in this line- 불고bul·gored and
- 푸른pu·reunblue
Word for word: Red and blue
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The text shows 불고, but it is probably 붉고 'red and'. With 푸른 'blue' it sums up the fire and ice colours of the whole song.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Blue Valentine” — NMIXX. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask MinaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 겁도 | geop·tto | even fear |
| 깊게 | gip·kke | deeply |
| 낯지는 | nat·jji·neun | heal (topic) |
| 대가로 | dae·ga·ro | as the price |
| 돌아갈 | do·ra·gal | will return |
| 돌이킬 | do·ri·kil | to undo |
| 롤러코스터처럼 | rol·leo·ko·seu·teo·cheo·reom | like a roller coaster |
| 마음의 | ma·eu·mui | of the heart |
| 마치 | ma·chi | just like |
| 멀리 | meol·li | far |
| 멍이 | meong·i | bruise |
| 바뀌어 | ba·kkwi·eo | changed |
| 번이고 | beo·ni·go | times, even |
| 부서진 | bu·seo·jin | shattered |
| 불길 | bul·gil | flames |
| 비친 | bi·chin | reflected |
| 뻗어버린 | ppeo·deo·beo·rin | stretched out |
| 사랑이란 | sa·rang·i·ran | love is (topic) |
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Questions about “Blue Valentine”
What is “Blue Valentine” by NMIXX about?
NMIXX's “Blue Valentine” is about a volatile, bruising love that keeps flaring and chilling, yet the singer keeps choosing it.
What does “언제 그랬냐는 듯이 또 서로를 찾아” mean in “Blue Valentine”?
As if nothing happened, we look for each other again. 언제 alone means 'when', 그랬다 'it was so', and 듯이 'as if'.
What does “다시 뛰어들어 난” mean in “Blue Valentine”?
I'll dive right back in. 뛰다 means 'jump' and 들다 means 'enter', but 뛰어들다 together means to plunge in without hesitation.
How do you pronounce “식어도 타오르는 얼음 속 불꽃”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “si·geo·do ta·o·reu·neun eo·reum sok bul·kkot”: that's how it's actually sung by NMIXX, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Blue Valentine” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Mina goes through all 51 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.