[Korean Culture & Language] Friendship or Love

Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa4XHPifRi0&t=25s

Two famous Korean rappers Lee Young-ji and LAYONE released a double single on January 6th, 2021. This has become a hot issue in Korea because Lee Young-ji has confessed on the TV show ‘차린건 없지만 (I Didn’t Prepare Much)’ that she has had asked LAYONE out a while back. LAYONE turned her down, but they remained friends and even collaborated on music videos. 

One of their most well-known songs is Freesia. The following are the lyrics:

https://youtu.be/O-VFP--Age4

네가 빤히 바라봤을 때 외면하고픈 건 아니었다
I didn’t mean to ignore you when you stared into my eyes

이 마음이 어렵지만 관이 너무 어둡지만
It’s difficult, it’s dark in this coffin
(‘관’ may refer to either a ‘coffin’ or a certain ‘room’. ‘영화관’ means ‘cinema (movie room)’

나 그냥 솔직히 영화나 볼래요
I’ll just sit with you and watch movies.

Uh (그래 그럼, 영화보자), yeah
Yeah, sure, then let’s go to a movie.

영화는 아무나랑 보는 거 아니잖아 (ayy)
You don’t’ watch movies with friends
(In Korea, going to the movies is considered a ‘date’)

너무나 검은 하루에 너는 별이잖아 (별이잖아)
You are a star in my darkest day (a star)

나 때문에 (ay) 입었다는 옷이라는 q&a (oh)
You said you wore that Q&A shirt particularly for me

예쁘냐고 물어보는데 왜
You asked whether you’re pretty… Why?

도대체 그건 무슨 핑계들을 대야 될까?
What types of justifications should I make?

뚜벅뚜벅 무뚝뚝하게 걸음을 했지
I walked without any facial expressions

사랑 아닌 듯이 사랑하는데요 oh (eh, eh)
We love as if it’s not love

우리 마음은 (우리 마음은)
Our hearts

누가 봐도 이건 친군 아닌 것 같아
This is hardly what one would call friendship

걍 솔직하게 물을까? (물을까)
Should I confess?

너와 나
You and I

친구 아닌 친구 (그런 못된 표정)
Friends but not friends

나 그냥 솔직하게 말해도 될까?
Can I be completely honest?

Lay, mm, woh

Hold up

Um, we're not a friend anymore (more)


The question of whether they are dating or not is still being debated. They aren’t, at least not officially.

 

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