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Day 6: Common Verbs

Basic Verbs Commonly Heard in K-pop Songs

안녕하세요! Welcome to Day 6, where we'll be focusing on verbs that frequently appear in K-pop songs. Verbs are the heart of Korean sentences, so mastering them is crucial. Plus, recognizing these verbs can make listening to K-pop even more fun and meaningful.

List of Common Verbs

Here's a list of common verbs often found in K-pop lyrics, along with their meanings:

1. 사랑하다 (Saranghada) - To love 💌

"나는 내 가족을 사랑해." (I love my family.)
"제이홉을 정말 사랑해요!" (I really love J-Hope!)

2. 기다리다 (Gidarida) - To wait ⏳

"나는 버스를 기다리고 있어." (I am waiting for the bus.)
"새 앨범이 나올 때까지 기다릴게요!" (I will wait for the new album to come out!)

3. 가다 (Gada) - To go 🚶

"학교에 가야 해." (I have to go to school.)
"내일 콘서트에 가요!" (I’m going to the concert tomorrow!)

4. 오다 (Oda) - To come 🏃

"친구가 집에 올 거야." (My friend will come to the house.)
"언제 한국에 오나요?" (When are you coming to Korea?).

5. 느끼다 (Neukkida) - To feel 🌟

"나는 기쁨을 느낀다." (I feel joy.)
"이 노래를 들을 때마다 행복을 느껴요." (I feel happy every time I listen to this song.)

6. 만나다 (Mannada) - To meet 👥

"친구를 만나러 가요." (I am going to meet a friend.)
"우리 언젠가 아이돌을 만날 거예요!" (We will meet the idols someday!)

7. 잊다 (Itda) - To forget 🍃

"나는 내 열쇠를 잊었다." (I forgot my keys.)
"그녀의 생일을 잊었어!" (I forgot her birthday!)

8. 생각하다 (Saenggakhada) - To think 💭

"나는 내 미래에 대해 생각한다." (I am thinking about my future.)
"그들의 새로운 뮤직 비디오에 대해 어떻게 생각해요?" (What do you think about their new music video?)

9. 떠나다 (Tteonada) - To leave 🌆

"지금 집을 떠나야 해." (I have to leave home now.)
"그들이 떠난 후 콘서트장은 너무 조용해요." (The concert hall is so quiet after they left.)

10. 원하다 (Wonhada) - To want 💖

"커피 한 잔 원해요." (I want a cup of coffee.)
"나는 새 앨범을 원해요!" (I want the new album!)

K-pop Tip: If you've listened to GOT7's "니가 하면 (If You Do) ", you may have heard the line "너를 원해, " which means "I want you." Here, 원하다 (to want) is the verb at play.

Quick Practice

Try to identify the verbs in these K-pop lyrics (English translations included for context):

사랑을 했다 (Sarangeul Haetda) - "I loved you" (From iKON's "Love Scenario")
- Verb: 사랑하다 (To love)
- Explanation: The verb "사랑하다" directly translates to "to love." In the lyric "사랑을 했다," the verb is in the past tense, indicating an action that has already occurred — "loved." The structure of Korean verbs is such that the verb stem "사랑하" remains constant while the ending changes with tense. Here, "했다" is the past tense form. In this song, it reflects on a love that happened in the past, suggesting a sense of nostalgia or reminiscence.
떠나지마 (Tteonajima) - "Don't leave" (From BIGBANG's "Blue")
- Verb: 떠나다 (To leave)
- Explanation: "떠나다" means "to leave." "떠나지마" is an imperative form, requesting someone not to do the action indicated by the verb — hence, "Don't leave." Korean often uses "-지마" attached to the verb stem for negative commands (telling someone not to do something). The sentiment in this lyric is a common theme in songs, expressing the desire for someone not to leave, indicating a fear of separation or loss.
널 기다리고 있어 (Neol Gidarigo Isseo) - "I'm waiting for you" (From EXO's "Call Me Baby")
- Verb: 기다리다 (To wait)
- Explanation: Here, "기다리다" means "to wait." The phrase "기다리고 있어" is in the present progressive tense, which indicates an ongoing action. In Korean, "-고 있어" is a common way to express that an action is currently happening. The lyric "널 기다리고 있어" expresses the singer's current state of waiting for someone, implying anticipation and longing.
나는 음악을 느껴. (Naneun eumageul neukkyeo) - "I feel the music"
- Verb: 느끼다 (Neukkida - To feel)
- Explanation: In this sentence, "느끼다" is in its present tense form "느껴," which means "feel." The structure is "나는 (I) 음악을 (the music) 느껴 (feel)." The subject is "나는" referring to "I," and "음악을" is the object, meaning "the music," marked by the object particle "을." The verb "느껴" comes at the end of the sentence, as is typical in Korean sentence structure. This sentence expresses a personal, ongoing experience of feeling or sensing the music, a statement you might use to describe your deep connection or emotional response to music.
"[Idol's name]의 새 앨범을 기다려" (Idol's name-ui sae aelbeom-eul gidaryeo). - "I'm waiting for [Idol's name]'s new album"
- Verb: 기다리다 (Gidarida - To wait)
- Explanation: Here, "기다리다" is in its imperative form "기다려," suggesting a state of waiting. The sentence structure is "[Idol's name]의 (Idol's name's) 새 앨범을 (new album) 기다려 (waiting)." "[Idol's name]의" is the possessive form meaning "Idol's name's." "새 앨범을" means "new album," with "새" meaning new, and "앨범" meaning album. The particle "을" marks it as the object of the verb. "기다려" at the end of the sentence means "waiting" and indicates a continuous, anticipatory action. This sentence is something a fan might say in anticipation of a new release from their favorite artist.

Using Verbs in Sentences

To form sentences in Korean, you'll often need to conjugate the verb. Here's a simple way to do that:

사랑하다 (To love) → 사랑해 (Love)
- 나는 BTS를 사랑해 (I love BTS)

K-pop Tip: When confessing your love for your favorite K-pop group on social media, you can say "BTS를 사랑해" or "[Your favorite group]를 사랑해" to fit the situation!

Flip Cards

사랑하다 (Saranghada)

너를 사랑해요 (Neoreul saranghaeyo)

K-pop lyric:

사랑해요 그대만이 내 전부니까 (Saranghaeyo geudaemani nae jeonbunikka)

Verb: 기다리다 (Gidarida)

Meaning: To wait

Sentence: 기다려 주세요 (Gidaryeo juseyo) - Please wait.

Verb: 가다 (Gada)

Meaning: To go

Sentence: 학교에 가요 (Hakgyoe gayo) - I go to school.

Quiz

How do you say 'I love you' in Korean?

Can you mention a K-pop song that uses the verb 사랑하다 (Saranghada)?

What is the Korean verb for 'to wait'?

Use '기다리다'in a sentence

Can you form a simple sentence using the verb 가다 (Gada - To go)?

Match the K-pop lyrics with the correct verbs: 사랑하다

Match the K-pop lyrics with the correct verbs: 기다리다

Match the K-pop lyrics with the correct verbs: 가다

How would you use the verb 가다 in the context of planning an outing with a friend?

By recognizing and understanding these verbs, not only do you get to improve your Korean, but you also deepen your connection to the K-pop songs you adore.

That's all for today! In tomorrow's lesson, we'll learn about adjectives commonly used in K-pop lyrics and interviews. So, stay tuned, keep practicing, and as always, 화이팅!

D5. Syllable blocks D7. Review and Practice

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