[Korean Culture & Language] All For Nothing


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The below is one of the most viewed YouTube videos. 민수(Minsu) performs her song “괜히” in this video. Minsu is a Korean singer-songwriter who debuted in 2018. She not only composed this song but also wrote lyrics for it.


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


The lyrics are as follows:


괜히 한번 걸어봤어

I called you all for nothing


이 새벽에 널 흔드려는 건 아니고

I am not trying to make you feel weak


내 맘을 주체할 수가 없어서
I just couldn’t control my feelings


차분했다가 벅차 올랐다가
I felt calm, and then suddenly felt overwhelmed


괜히 한번 불러봤어
I called you for nothing.


네 목소리 좀 들으면 나아질까 해서
Thinking that hearing your voice might make me feel better.


괜히 means ‘all for nothing’


Ex) 

A: 오늘 시험 안 본대. = There’s no test today.
B: 나 어제 밤새도록 공부했는데. 괜히 했잖아! = I studied all night last night. It was all for nothing!


Ex) 

A: 너 요즘에도 지혜 만나? = Are you still seeing Ji-hye?
B: 요즘 걔가 바빠서 못 만나고 있어. = I haven’t seen her for a while. She seems busy these days.
A: 걔 민준이랑 썸 타는 것 같던데. = It looks like there’s something going on between Min-jun and her.

B: 정말? 그래서 시간이 안 났을 수도 있겠네. = Oh yeah? I guess that may be the reason why she was always busy.
A: 그럴수도. 카페에서 둘이 꽁냥거리는 거 자주 봤어. = That could be. I saw them several times at a cafe, acting all lovey-dovey.

B: 와… 내가 얼마나 걔한테 공을 들였는데. 다 괜한 짓이었네. = Ugh… I worked so hard to get her. All that was for nothing.

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