Basic Korean words beginning with the consonant ㅂ([bi-eup], [b] sound)
Let’s learn Korean words 발, 밤, 별, 보다, 비, 빛 with BTS lyrics.
Click on the image below to listen to all the BTS lyrics used in this post.
발 [bal] foot
ⒷⓉⓈ 두 발에 상처만 가득해도
du ba-re sang-cheo-man ga-deuk-kae-do
Even though my feet are full of scars
*두(two) + 발(foot) + 에(on) +
상처(wound) + 만(only) +
가득해도(가득하다(be full)+~도(even if))
밤 [bam] night
ⒷⓉⓈ 오늘따라 훨씬 더 조용한 밤
o-neul-tta-ra hwol-ssin deo jo-yong-han bam
A night that’s much more quiet today
*오늘(today) + 따라(an auxiliary that means “for no particular reason and only in that case”) +
훨씬(much) + 더(more) +
조용한(조용하다(be quiet) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
밤(night)
(*ㄴ/은/는/을 is added to verbs and adjectives to allow them to function as noun modifiers.)
별 [byeol] star
ⒷⓉⓈ 네 맘을 밝혀주는 너의 작은 별
ne mam-eul bal-khyeo-ju-neun neo-ui ja-geun byeol
Your little star that brightens your heart
*네(너(you) + 의(of), =네) +
맘(heart) + 을(object particle) +
밝혀주는(밝혀주다(brighten) + 는(noun modifier)) +
너(you) + 의(of) +
작은(small) + 별(star)
(*Above 네 is a shortened form of 너의 and 맘 is a shortened form of 마음.
ㄴ/은/는/을 is added to verbs and adjectives to allow them to function as noun modifiers.)
별 [byeol] particular, special
ⒷⓉⓈ 별 거 없어
byeol geo eop-sseo
Nothing special
*별(particular) + 거(것(thing)+이(subject particle), =거) +
없어(there isn’t)
(*것 is the most common dependent noun in Korean and means thing.
거 is shortened form of 것 and 게 is a shortened form of 것이(것+이(subject marker)).
건 is a shortened form of 것은(것+은(topic marker)) and 걸 is a shortened form of 것을(것+을(object marker)).)
보다 [bo-da] to see, to watch
ⒷⓉⓈ 여기 봐, 도망가지 마
yeo-gi bwa do-mang-ga-ji ma
Look here, don’t run away
*여기(here) +
봐(look) +
도망가지 마(도망가다(run away) + ~지 마(don’t))
보다 [bo-da] more, than
ⒷⓉⓈ 넌 누구보다 밝게 빛나
neon nu-gu-bo-da balk-gge bit-na
You shine brighter than anyone else
*넌(너(you)+는(topic particle), =넌) +
누구(anyone, who) + 보다(more than) +
밝게(brightly) +
빛나(shine)
(*넌 is a shortened form of 너는.)
비 [bi] rain
ⒷⓉⓈ 오늘도 비가 내릴 것 같아
o-neul-do bi-ga nae-ril geot ga-ta
It looks like it’s going to rain again today
*오늘(today) + 도(too) +
비(rain) + 가(subject particle) +
내릴 것 같아(내리다(fall) + ~ㄹ 것 같아(it seems that))
(*~ㄹ 것 같다 can be translated as “it seems that” or “I think”, basically a guess or an uncertain statement.
~ㄹ 것 같다 can only be used to express something that the speaker has not yet experienced or happened.)
빛 [bit] light
ⒷⓉⓈ 저기 가느다란 빛
jeo-gi ga-neu-da-ran bit
There’s a thin light over there
*저기(over there) +
가느다란(가느다랗다(to be thin) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) +
빛(light)
Grammar Reference
*Noun + 보다 (더) : (comparison) than noun
ex)누구보다 : 누구(anyone, who) + 보다(more than)
더 means more, so ‘보다 더’ means ‘more than’, and 덜 means less, so ‘보다 덜’ means ‘less than’.
*Adjective[verb] stem + ㄴ/은/는/을 + noun : noun that adjective[verb]
ex)조용한 밤 : 조용한(조용하다(be quiet) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) + 밤(night)
밝혀주는 별 : 밝혀주는(밝혀주다(brighten) + 는(noun modifier)) + 별(star)
가느다란 빛 : 가느다란(가느다랗다(to be thin) + ㄴ(noun modifier)) + 빛(light)
ㄴ/은/는/을 is added to verbs and adjectives to allow them to function as noun modifiers.
*Verb stem + ~지 마 (informal)/ ~지 마요/마세요 (formal) : don’t + verb
ex)도망가지 마 : 도망가다(run away) + ~지 마(don’t))
*Noun + ~에 : at [on, in, to, into]
ex)발에 : 발(foot) + 에(on)
*Noun + ~만 : only
ex)상처만 : 상처(wound) + 만(only)
*Noun + ~도 : also, too
ex)오늘도 : 오늘(today) + 도(too)
*Noun + ~이/가 : noun + subject particle
ex)비가 : 비(rain) + 가(subject particle)
이 for nouns ending in a consonant, 가 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~은/는 : noun + topic particle
ex)넌 : 너(you) + 는(topic particle)
은 for nouns ending in a consonant, 는 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~을/를 : noun + object particle
ex)맘을 : 맘(heart) + 을(object particle)
을 for nouns ending in a consonant, 를 for nouns ending in a vowel.
*Noun + ~의 : of
ex)네 : 너(you)+의(of)
너의 : 너(you) + 의(of)
Quiz. Linking words to images
BTS music video to enjoy
Well done for making it this far.
Watch the Life Goes On music video above and see if you can hear “오늘도 비가 내릴 것 같아”, which you learned today.