Basic Korean words beginning with the consonant ㅆ([ssang-si-ot], [ss] sound)
Let’s learn Korean words 싸움, 싹, 쓰다, 쓰러지다, 쓸데없다, 씨 with BTS lyrics.
Click on the image below to listen to all the BTS lyrics used in this post.
싸움 [ssa-um] fight
ⒷⓉⓈ 새 기록은 자신과 싸움이지
sae gi-ro-geun ja-sin-gwa ssa-u-mi-ji
The new record is the fight against oneself
*새(new) +
기록(record) + 은(topic particle) +
자신(oneself) + 과(with) +
싸움(fight) + 이지(to be, = 이다)
싹 [ssak] completely
ⒷⓉⓈ 싹 다 불태워라
ssak da bul-tae-wo-ra
Set everything on fire
*싹(completely) +
다(all) +
불태워라(불태우다(burn) + ~어라(an imperative ending suffix))
싹 [ssak] sprout
ⒷⓉⓈ 아, 노랗구나 싹수가
a no-rat-ku-na ssak-su-ga
Ah, you really don’t have a chance[prospect]
*아(Ah) +
노랗구나(노랗다(to be yellow) + ~구나(to be)) +
싹수(sprout) + 가(subject particle)
(*싹수 is a derivative of 싹, and ‘싹수가 없다’ means ‘don’t have a chance[prospect].
~는군(요), ~군(요), ~는구나, and ~구나 are used with verbs to express the speaker’s realization or surprise when learning or realizing something for the first time.)
쓰다 [sseu-da] to wear, to put on
ⒷⓉⓈ 또 가면을 쓰고 널 만나러 가
tto ga-myeo-neul sseu-go neol man-na-reo ga
I wear a mask again and go to see you
*또 (again) +
가면(mask) + 을(object mark) +
쓰고(쓰다(wear, put on) + ~고(and)) +
널(너(you) + 를(object particle)) +
만나러(만나다(meet) + ~러(in order to)) +
가(go)
쓰다 [sseu-da] to write
ⒷⓉⓈ 편지라도 써야 될런지?
pyeon-ji-ra-do sseo-ya doel-leon-ji
Should I write you a letter?
*편지(letter) + 라도(even) +
써야 될런지(쓰다(write) + ~어야 되다(must) + ~ㄹ지)?
(*’~아야/어야 되다’ means ‘should’, ‘ought to’ or ‘must’.
‘~아야/어야 하다’ is also used at the end of a sentence to indicate that something ‘must’ be done.
~ㄹ지 is a connective ending used when you have a doubt about a certain assumption and relate it to the fact or judgement of the following statement.)
쓰러지다 [sseu-reo-ji-da] to fall, to collapse
ⒷⓉⓈ 또 다시 쓰러진대도 난 괜찮아
tto da-si sseu-reo-jin-dae-do nan gwaen-cha-na
Even if I fall down again, I’m fine
*또(again) +
다시(again) +
쓰러진대도(쓰러지(다)(fall down) + ~ㄴ대도(even if)) +
난(나(I) + 는(topic particle)) +
괜찮아(Okay)
쓸데없다 [sseul-tte-eop-tta] to be useless
ⒷⓉⓈ 다 쓸데없어
da sseul-de-eop-sseo
It’s good for nothing
*다 (all) +
쓸데없어(useless)
씨 [ssi] ah [*interjection]
ⒷⓉⓈ 아, 어깨 아퍼 씨
a eo-kkae a-peo ssi
Ah, my shoulder hurts
*아(Ah) +
어깨(shoulder) +
아퍼(hurt) +
씨(Ah)
(씨 isn’t just used for intersection, it’s also often used as a title, such as Mr, Mrs, Miss, after a first name, surname or full name. It is a polite title to use when addressing someone. It is similar to “Mr.” or “Ms.” in English. It is often used with a person’s surname, such as “김씨(Kim-ssi)” or “박씨(Park-ssi)”.)
씨 [ssi] seed
ⒷⓉⓈ 뒤에선 호박씨 까는 거
dwi-e-seon ho-bak-ssi kka-neun geo
People talk shit behind your back
*뒤(behind) + 에선(at, from) +
호박(pumpkin) + 씨(seed) +
까는(까다(crack) + ㄴ(noun modifier) = 까는) + 거(thing, =것)
(*호박씨 깐다 (to peel the pumpkin seeds) means ‘to gossip about people behind their backs’.)
Grammar Reference
*Noun + ~은/는 : noun + topic particle
ex)기록은 : 기록(record) + 은(topic particle)
난 : 나(I) + 는(topic particle)
은 for nouns ending in a consonant, 는 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~이/가 : noun + subject particle
ex)싹수가 : 싹수(sprout) + 가(subject particle)
끝이 : 끝(end) + 이(subject particle)
이 for nouns ending in a consonant, 가 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~을/를 : noun + object particle
ex)가면을 : 가면(mask) + 을(object particle)
널 : 너(you) + 를(object particle)
을 for nouns ending in a consonant, 를 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + 이다 : to be
ex)싸움이지 : 싸움(fight) + 이지(to be, = 이다)
In some cases, nouns can be turned into verbs by simply adding the verb 이다(to be).
*Verb stem + ~아/어/여라(an imperative ending suffix)
ex)불태워라 : 불태우다(burn) + ~어라(an imperative ending suffix)
Imperative form is used when you want to make a request or command.
아/어/여라 is an imperative ending suffix.
*If you want to learn more about Korean honorifics, you can learn Korean honorifics at the following website.
Korean Honorifics: Important Titles, Words, & Phrases
Quiz. Linking words to images
BTS music video to enjoy
Well done for making it this far.
Watch the 불타오르네 (FIRE) music video above and see if you can hear “싹 다 불태워라”, which you learned today.