IU · Korean · 32 words

CHAT-SHIRE, Part 1

CHAT-SHIRE (2015) is the first album IU produced herself, with her own lyrics throughout, and it sounds like someone thinking out loud rather than performing. 스물셋 in particular is built from ordinary conversational Korean — hedging, teasing, contradicting herself — and is one of the most useful single tracks on this shelf. Alongside it come a bouncy new-shoes song, a tree addressing a mischievous boy, and a quiet memory of one summer night in the rain.

Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
시무룩하다	to look sulky, to go quiet in a mood	동생이 아까부터 시무룩해 있어요.My little brother has been sulking for a while now.
사뿐히	lightly, with a soft step	고양이가 사뿐히 담을 넘었어요.The cat went over the wall with a soft step.
소용돌이	a whirlpool, a swirl	강물이 소용돌이를 만들며 흘러가요.The river flows on, making little whirlpools.
근사하다	to be splendid, to look great	오늘 입은 옷이 정말 근사해요.The clothes you're wearing today look really great.
단단히	firmly, thoroughly	끈을 단단히 묶어 두세요.Tie the laces firmly.
맘먹다	to make up one's mind, to resolve to do something	올해는 운동하기로 맘먹었어요.I've made up my mind to exercise this year.
부딪히다	to bump into, to collide with	뛰다가 문에 부딪혔어요.I ran into the door while I was running.
계단	stairs, steps	엘리베이터 대신 계단으로 올라갔어요.I took the stairs instead of the lift.
설레다	to flutter with excitement, to feel one's heart quicken	내일 소풍 생각에 자꾸 설레요.I keep getting excited thinking about tomorrow's picnic.
흥미롭다	to be interesting, to be intriguing	어제 들은 강의가 꽤 흥미로웠어요.The lecture I heard yesterday was quite interesting.
짓궂다	to be mischievous, to tease in a naughty way	그 아이는 장난이 좀 짓궂어요.That kid can be a bit mischievous with his pranks.
간지럽다	to tickle, to be ticklish, to itch	목도리 때문에 목이 간지러워요.My neck itches because of the scarf.
순진하다	to be innocent, to be naive	그렇게 순진하게 믿으면 안 돼요.You shouldn't believe it that naively.
교활하다	to be cunning, to be sly	여우처럼 교활한 수법이었어요.It was a cunning trick, like something a fox would do.
꺾다	to pick a flower, to snap off	길가에서 꽃을 꺾으면 안 돼요.You shouldn't pick flowers by the roadside.
장난치다	to play pranks, to mess about	수업 시간에 장난치지 마세요.Don't mess about during class.
사랑스럽다	to be lovable, to be endearing	웃는 모습이 참 사랑스러워요.The way she smiles is really endearing.
수수께끼	a riddle, a puzzle	그 사건은 아직 수수께끼로 남았어요.That case is still a puzzle.
예민하다	to be sensitive, to be easily set off	시험 기간이라 좀 예민해요.I'm a bit on edge because it's exam season.
얄밉다	to be annoying in a cheeky way, to be a little infuriating	말은 맞는데 어쩐지 얄미워요.What he says is right, but somehow it's infuriating.
속마음	one's true feelings, what one really thinks	속마음을 좀처럼 말하지 않아요.She rarely says what she really thinks.
간단하다	to be simple, to be straightforward	설명이 간단해서 이해하기 쉬웠어요.The explanation was simple, so it was easy to follow.
엉망	a mess, a shambles	방이 엉망이라 치우는 중이에요.My room is a mess, so I'm tidying it up.
친절하다	to be kind, to be helpful in manner	직원분이 아주 친절하셨어요.The staff member was very kind.
애초에	in the first place, from the outset	애초에 무리한 계획이었어요.It was an unreasonable plan in the first place.
대충	roughly, without much care	시간이 없어서 대충 정했어요.I didn't have time, so I just roughly decided.
적당히	moderately, to a reasonable degree	간을 적당히 맞춰 주세요.Please season it moderately.
두고두고	for a long time afterwards, over and over	그 말이 두고두고 기억에 남았어요.Those words stayed with me for a long time afterwards.
고이다	to collect, to pool as a liquid	마당에 빗물이 고여 있었어요.Rainwater had pooled in the yard.
머금다	to hold in (moisture or tears), to hold in the mouth	잎이 이슬을 머금고 반짝여요.The leaves glisten, holding the dew.
삼키다	to swallow; to swallow up	알약을 물과 함께 삼켰어요.I swallowed the tablet with water.
또렷하다	to be distinct, to be clearly defined	글씨가 또렷해서 읽기 좋아요.The writing is distinct and easy to read.