OH MY GIRL
Dolphin — OH MY GIRL: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync머리는 엉망인 데다 상태가 말이 아니야meo·ri·neun eong·mang·in de·da sang·tae·ga ma·ri a·ni·yaMy hair's a mess, and I look absolutely terribleListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
“Dolphin” by OH MY GIRL is about a flustered crush on someone who keeps appearing just when the singer is least ready to be seen. Messy hair and a rushed morning make the singer want to vanish, yet whenever the guard around the heart slips, that person drifts back like a swimmer, leaving ripples and splashes. Beneath the embarrassment runs a dizzy, wave-riding thrill and a crush kept secret.
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.
머리는 엉망인 데다 상태가 말이 아니야Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): meo·ri·neun eong·mang·in de·da sang·tae·ga ma·ri a·ni·ya
Meaning: My hair's a mess, and I look absolutely terrible
Words in this line- 머리는meo·ri·neunhair
- 엉망인eong·mang·ina mess
- 데다de·daon top of that
- 상태가sang·tae·gacondition
- 말이ma·riwords
- 아니야a·ni·yaisn't
Word for word: Hair messy on-top-of-that condition words isn't
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 상태가 말이 아니다 literally means 'the condition isn't words' — a set idiom for 'too bad to describe.' The word 말 (speech/words) alone has nothing to do with appearance; the whole idiom just means 'in terrible shape.'
Da-da-da-da, 또 물보라를 일으켜Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): Da-da-da-da, tto mul·bo·ra·reul i·reu·kyeo
Meaning: Da-da-da-da, stirring up a splash again
Words in this line- 또ttoagain
- 물보라를mul·bo·ra·reula splash
- 일으켜i·reu·kyeostir up
Word for word: Da-da-da-da, again water-spray raise
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Same splash line (물보라) as the previous verse, now following the 'Da-da-da-da' vocable — those syllables are melodic filler, unrelated to the line's meaning.
내 맘이 방심할 때마다 불쑥 나타난 뒤Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nae ma·mi bang·sim·hal ttae·ma·da bul·ssuk na·ta·nan dwi
Meaning: Every time my heart lets its guard down, you suddenly appear
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 맘이ma·miheart
- 방심할bang·sim·haloff guard
- 때마다ttae·ma·daevery time
- 불쑥bul·ssuksuddenly
- 나타난na·ta·nanappeared
- 뒤dwithen
Word for word: My heart-subject careless-becomes every-time suddenly appeared after
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 방심하다 literally means 'to let one's guard down.' 뒤 on its own means 'back, behind,' but here it's not a place — it's a connector 'and then,' leading into the next line about drifting away.
원을 갈라 하트를 그려Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): wo·neul gal·la ha·teu·reul geu·ryeo
Meaning: Splitting the circle, you draw a heart
Words in this line- 원을wo·neulcircle
- 갈라gal·lasplitting
- 하트를ha·teu·reulheart
- 그려geu·ryeodraws
Word for word: Circle-obj splitting heart-obj draws
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The line describes the finger-heart gesture: hands first form a circle, then "split" (갈라) it into a heart. 갈라 alone just means "splitting", but next to 그려 ("draws") it reads as one shape transforming into another.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Dolphin” — OH MY GIRL. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask YoonaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 갑자기 | gap·jja·gi | suddenly |
| 낮추고 | nat·chu·go | lowering |
| 느낌 | neu·kkim | feeling |
| 다가온 | da·ga·on | came close |
| 들켰나 | deul·kyeon·na | got caught, maybe |
| 마주쳐 | ma·ju·chyeo | ran into (you) |
| 멀어지는 | meo·reo·ji·neun | growing distant |
| 모른 | mo·reun | not knowing |
| 몸을 | mo·meul | body |
| 뭐야 | mwo·ya | what is it |
| 빠졌지 | ppa·jyeot·jji | fell for it |
| 서핑을 | seo·ping·eul | surfing |
| 솔직히 | sol·ji·ki | honestly |
| 숨을 | su·meul | breath |
| 아래로 | a·rae·ro | downward |
| 온종일 | on·jong·il | all day long |
| 파도 | pa·do | wave |
| 헤엄치듯 | he·eom·chi·deut | as if swimming |
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Questions about “Dolphin”
What is “Dolphin” by OH MY GIRL about?
“Dolphin” by OH MY GIRL is about a flustered crush on someone who keeps appearing just when the singer is least ready to be seen.
What does “머리는 엉망인 데다 상태가 말이 아니야” mean in “Dolphin”?
My hair's a mess, and I look absolutely terrible. 상태가 말이 아니다 literally means 'the condition isn't words' — a set idiom for 'too bad to describe.' The word 말 (speech/words) alone has nothing to do with…
What does “Da-da-da-da, 또 물보라를 일으켜” mean in “Dolphin”?
Da-da-da-da, stirring up a splash again. Same splash line (물보라) as the previous verse, now following the 'Da-da-da-da' vocable — those syllables are melodic filler, unrelated to the line's meaning.
How do you pronounce “내 맘이 방심할 때마다 불쑥 나타난 뒤”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “nae ma·mi bang·sim·hal ttae·ma·da bul·ssuk na·ta·nan dwi”: that's how it's actually sung by OH MY GIRL, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Dolphin” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 38 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
- OH MY GIRL
- Official video
- 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.