[Korean Culture & Language] The Persimmon You Can't Eat


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9A2l1eyen4

Above is a popular song titled “못 먹는 감(Sour Grapes)” by San-E, one of Korea's most well-known rappers. The title is directly translated as “The persimmons you can’t eat”. 

못 먹는 감 is an old Korean saying that describes a person’s negative attitude toward something, saying that something is worthless or undesirable, simply because they cannot have it themselves. 

The original version of the saying is “못 먹는 감 찔러나 보자,” which is translated as “Let me poke the persimmons if I can’t eat it”. The closest English idiom is “Dog in a manger,” which refers to a greedy individual who prevents others from using something that he or she does not need.

Here's how the lyric goes:

나 지금 뭐래니 나도 잘 몰라
What did I say? I’m not sure
너 조금 놀랬지 미안해 사과
Did I surprise you? I’m sorry
(‘사과’ means an ‘apology,’ but it also means ‘an apple’. So, San-E hands apples in the music video)
나 내일 일어나면
When I wake up tomorrow
후회할 거 알아도
I’d regret,
질러 보려 해 해 해 해
but I’m going to try anyway (질러 and 찔러 sounds similar. Like 못 먹는 감 찔러보다, he’s going to 질러 (trying something that is usually too far out of reach that is nearly impossible) her.

어머님 누구니 한번 뵙고 싶다
Who’s your mother? I want to meet her. (It means you’re ‘beautiful,’ implying that your mom raised you to be so beautiful)
어떻게 해야지 내게 바나나
What should I do so you’ll fall in love with me? (바나나 actually means a ‘banana,’ but since it sounds like ‘반하나,’ it’s used to mean ‘to fall in love’)
나 내일 일어남
When I wake up tomorrow
후회할거 알아도
I’d regret,
찔러 보려 해 해 해 해
But I’m going to poke(찔러) at it (try it)

아 몰라 못 먹는 감

Whatever. Sour Grapes.
못 먹는 감 못 먹는 감
Whatever. Sour Grapes.
걍 그림에 그림의 떡떡
Whatever. Pie in the Sky. (The literal translation of ‘그림의 떡’ is “a rice cake in a picture,” which refers to something that is appetizing/attractive but unattainable)

So, he’s singing about a girl who’s out of his league – unattainable.

This song is unique in that it has many wordplays. Did you enjoy it? When you need to apologize to a Korean friend, try sending an ‘apple’ emoji. They will love it.

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