Parc Jae-jung
헤어지자 말해요 — Parc Jae-jung: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync그대 먼저 헤어지자 말해요geu·dae meon·jeo he·eo·ji·ja ma·rae·yoYou be the one to say first that we should break up.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
Parc Jae-jung's “헤어지자 말해요” is about someone who sets out to end a relationship but, feeling he is not good for his partner, asks them to say it first. Memories of a first meeting, a first snowfall and a gift prepared for the first time fill the walk there, along with a fear that grateful tears will change. Thanks and guilt settle into a gentle, aching goodbye, with the song itself vowing to keep loving.
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.
그대 먼저 헤어지자 말해요Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geu·dae meon·jeo he·eo·ji·ja ma·rae·yo
Meaning: You be the one to say first that we should break up.
Words in this line- 그대geu·daeyou (poetic)
- 먼저meon·jeofirst
- 헤어지자he·eo·ji·jalet's break up
- 말해요ma·rae·yosay
어쩔 수 없을 걸 문득 너의 사진 보겠지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eo·jjeol ssu eop·sseul kkeol mun·deuk neo·ui sa·jin bo·get·jji
Meaning: I probably won't be able to help it and will suddenly look at your photo.
Words in this line- 어쩔eo·jjeolwhat to do
- 수ssuway
- 없을eop·sseulthere won't be
- 걸kkeolI guess
- 문득mun·deuksuddenly
- 너의neo·uiyour
- 사진sa·jinphoto
- 보겠지bo·get·jjiwill probably look
어쩔 수 없다 literally means 'there is no way to do anything', i.e. 'can't be helped'; the ending -ㄹ 걸 adds a soft 'I guess that's how it will be'.
새로 사귄 친구 함께 웃음 띤 네 얼굴 보면Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): sae·ro sa·gwin chin·gu ham·kke u·seum ttin ne eol·gul bo·myeon
Meaning: When I see your face smiling with a new friend,
Words in this line- 새로sae·ronewly
- 사귄sa·gwinmade (a friend)
- 친구chin·gufriend
- 함께ham·kketogether
- 웃음u·seumsmile
- 띤ttinwearing
- 네neyour
- 얼굴eol·gulface
- 보면bo·myeonif I see
그댈 위한 이 노래가 당신을 영원히 사랑할 테니Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geu·dael wi·han i no·rae·ga dang·si·neul yeong·won·hi sa·rang·hal te·ni
Meaning: this song for you will love you forever.
Words in this line- 그댈geu·daelyou
- 위한wi·hanfor
- 이ithis
- 노래가no·rae·gasong
- 당신을dang·si·neulyou
- 영원히yeong·won·hiforever
- 사랑할sa·rang·halwill love
- 테니te·niso / since it will
할 테니 expresses a firm promise or expectation: 'since it will love…, so…'. The trailing tone leaves an unspoken 'so don't worry.'
Lyrics © their rights holders. “헤어지자 말해요” — Parc Jae-jung. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Try the lessonAsk Jaemin about this song
Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask JaeminSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가까스로 | ga·kka·seu·ro | barely |
| 가다가 | ga·da·ga | while going |
| 가보고 | ga·bo·go | go and see |
| 감정들이 | gam·jeong·deu·ri | feelings |
| 거리에 | geo·ri·e | on the street |
| 걷던 | geot·tteon | that we walked |
| 고마웠다고 | go·ma·wot·tta·go | was thankful |
| 고맙다는 | go·map·tta·neun | saying thanks |
| 그대에게 | geu·dae·e·ge | for you |
| 나는 | na·neun | I |
| 느껴서 | neu·kkyeo·seo | because I felt |
| 떠난다 | tteo·nan·da | leave |
| 사람이 | sa·ra·mi | person |
| 사실 | sa·sil | actually |
| 아녜요 | a·nye·yo | am not |
| 잠시라도 | jam·si·ra·do | even briefly |
| 좋은 | jo·eun | good |
| 행복을 | haeng·bo·geul | happiness |
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Questions about “헤어지자 말해요”
What is “헤어지자 말해요” by Parc Jae-jung about?
Parc Jae-jung's “헤어지자 말해요” is about someone who sets out to end a relationship but, feeling he is not good for his partner, asks them to say it first.
What does “그대 먼저 헤어지자 말해요” mean in “헤어지자 말해요”?
You be the one to say first that we should break up.
What does “어쩔 수 없을 걸 문득 너의 사진 보겠지” mean in “헤어지자 말해요”?
I probably won't be able to help it and will suddenly look at your photo.
How do you pronounce “새로 사귄 친구 함께 웃음 띤 네 얼굴 보면”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “sae·ro sa·gwin chin·gu ham·kke u·seum ttin ne eol·gul bo·myeon”: that's how it's actually sung by Parc Jae-jung, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “헤어지자 말해요” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Jaemin goes through all 28 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
- Parc Jae-jung
- Official video
- 1theK (원더케이) · 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.