Another week has passed, time for another classic K-pop song, this time from Girl’s Day with their 2011 hit ‘반짝반짝’ (Twinkle Twinkle).
This is a pure, joyful lovesong, full off shyness and heart fluttering, as exemplified in these lyrics:
슬쩍슬쩍 바라보지 마
반짝반짝 내 입술 바라보지 마
좋아하는 우리 사이 멀어질까 봐
멀어질까 두려워
“Don’t keep sneaking glances at me.
Don’t keep staring at my sparkling lips.
I’m afraid our relationship — the one we like — might grow distant.
I’m afraid we might drift apart.”
Vocabulary & grammar breakdown
1. 슬쩍슬쩍 바라보지 마
- 슬쩍슬쩍 = mimetic adverb meaning “secretly / in quick glances”
- 바라보다 = “to look at / gaze at”
- –지 마 = negative imperative (“don’t do…”)
→ Pattern: verb + –지 마 = “don’t (verb).”
2. 반짝반짝 내 입술 바라보지 마
- 반짝반짝 = “sparkling / glittering”
- 내 입술 = “my lips”
- Same negative command –지 마
→ Repetition creates emphasis and rhythm.
3. 좋아하는 우리 사이 멀어질까 봐
- 좋아하다 → 좋아하는 = present attributive form
- 우리 사이 = “our relationship / between us”
- 멀어지다 = “to become distant”
- –(으)ㄹ까 봐 = “because I’m worried that…”
→ Means: “because I’m afraid we might grow apart.”
4. 멀어질까 두려워
- 멀어질까 = “maybe (we) will grow distant”
- 두렵다 → 두려워 = “to be afraid” (informal)
→ Expresses fear about a possible future event.
What other songs by Girl’s Day do you enjoy?
