Yesterday, after a long time, I revisited NewJeans’ debut EP and was struck by nostalgia. It’s disheartening that these talented girls, along with their composers and producers, have been sidelined for over a year and a half without any resolution in sight. Even if there were a resolution, NewJeans without Danielle would be a different story.

To celebrate, I chose ‘Cookie’ from their eponymous debut EP. I love this song for its laid-back vibe, the sparse instrumentation, and their vocals. While the lyrics have sparked some controversy, and the reference to burning a mixtape audio CD may be lost on younger listeners (I doubt any NewJeans member actually did that), the song ultimately revolves around a girl’s desire to captivate a boy.

Let’s delve into today’s lyrics:

식사는 없어 배고파도 

음료는 없어 목말라도 

달콤한 맛만 디저트만 만 

원하게 될 거 알잖아

“No real meal, even if you’re starving.

No drinks, even if you’re thirsty.

You know you’ll end up craving only something sweet — just dessert.”

Vocabulary & grammar breakdown

1. 식사는 없어 배고파도

• 식사 = “meal”
• –는 = topic marker
• 없어 = “there isn’t / there’s no”
• 배고프다 → 배고파도 = “even if (you’re) hungry”

→ Pattern: adjective/verb + –아/어도

= “even if…”

2. 음료는 없어 목말라도

• 음료 = “beverage / drink”
• 목마르다 → 목말라도 = “even if (you’re) thirsty”

→ Same grammar pattern: –아/어도 (“even if”).

3. 달콤한 맛만 디저트만

• 달콤하다 → 달콤한 = “sweet” (attributive form)
• 맛 = “taste / flavor”
• 디저트 = “dessert”
• –만 = “only”

→ Repetition of –만 emphasizes exclusivity:

“only sweet taste, only dessert.”

4. 원하게 될 거 알잖아

• 원하다 → 원하게 되다 = “to come to want / end up wanting”
• –게 되다 = change of state (“come to…”)
• –ㄹ 거 = future form
• 알잖아 = “you know” (confirmation tone)

→ Pattern: verb + –게 되다

= “to end up doing / to come to do.”

I’m with you—I’m really hoping to see NewJeans perform again some time and hear some new music from them!