[Korean Culture & Language] Hard to Read

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Ive, one of Korea's most popular idol groups in 2022, has released their second single, LOVE DIVE. One of the lines from the lyrics goes: ‘마음은 이렇게 알다가도 모르지’.

‘마음’ means ‘heart,’ ‘이렇게’ means ‘like this,’ ‘알다’ means ‘to know/understand,’ and ‘모르다’ means ‘to not know/understand’. ‘알다가도 모르겠다’ directly translates to ‘I thought I knew/understood_something/someone, but I guess not’. The expression is typically used when someone/something is hard to read or confusing. So, ‘마음은 이렇게 알다가도 모르지’ means ‘It’s hard to read someone’s heart/mind’. It implies that the person once believed they could read and understand the other person but now realizes they don’t.


Photo by 愚木混株 cdd20 on Unsplash


Ex)

A: 너 브리아나 6월에 결혼 한다는 소식 들었어?
A: Did you hear that Brianna is getting married in June?

B: 누구랑? 나다니엘이랑?
B: To whom? Nathaniel? 

A: 응.
A: Yeah.

B: 와!! 잘됐다. 그런데 걔네 사귄지 두 달 밖에 안 되지 않았나?
B: Wow!! That’s great news. I thought they had only been together for two months, though?

A: 맞아. 그래서 나는 사실 좀 놀랐어. 브리아나가 항상 비혼주의라고 하기도 했었고.
A: Right. So I was actually surprised, too. She had always said that she is opposed to marriage, too.

B: 아, 그 말 했던 거 기억난다. 브리아나는 가끔 보면 알다가도 모르겠어.
A: Oh I remember her saying that. Oh well. She can be hard to read sometimes. 

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