[Korean Culture & Language] Puppy love


Hello, this is Uptempo!

‘풋’ is a prefix typically used for fruits. It means ‘fresh,’ ‘new,’ ‘green,’ ‘unripe,’ etc.

‘풋사과’ refers to ‘an unripe apple’ or ‘a green apple’.

‘풋’ can also be a prefix for the word ‘love’. ‘풋사랑’ refers to ‘a puppy love’ or ‘a crush,’ an informal word for feelings of romantic love, frequently experienced during childhood or early adolescence. Its likeness to the adoring, worshipful adoration that a dog might experience led to its naming.


Sun-mi, a popular South Korean singer, dancer, songwriter, and record producer has recently released the song, ‘풋사랑’. 


The following are the lyrics:




두려울 게 없던 그 여름
That summer when I had nothing to be afraid of


이맘때쯤 이었나
I guess it was around this time of the year…


어색해 눈도 못 마주치던 나를 쓰다듬던 게 늘 기억에 남아
I remember you stroking my hair when I was too shy to even look at you.


만약에 말야 널 지금 만났다면
What if I had met you now?


우린 덜 불안했을까

Would we have been less anxious?


사랑할 수 있었을까
Would we have been able to love each other?


아무것도 몰라 서툴러 울기만 했지만
I’ve only cried because I didn’t know what to do.


난 덜 아파했을까
Would I have been less hurt?


사랑할 수 있었을까

Would I have been able to love you?


Have you ever experienced a ‘풋사랑’ before? Did it resemble Sun-mi’s ‘풋사랑’ in any way?

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