JANNABI - For Lovers Who Hesitate Lyrics (Hangul / Romanized / English Translation) & Vocabulary Notes

JANNABI - For Lovers Who Hesitate

🎵 Album: Legend | 📅 Release: 2019-03-13

🇰🇷 Hangul 🗣️ Romanization 💬 English Translation 📚 Vocab Notes

🎬 Official Music Video / Audio Player — Press play to listen while learning the lyrics below!

About the Song

"For Lovers Who Hesitate" (주저하는 연인들을 위해) is the timeless retro-ballad masterpiece by indie rock band JANNABI (잔나비), featured as the lead single of their 2019 landmark album Legend (전설). Layered with whimsical acoustic nostalgia and poignant poetic introspection, the track serves as a gentle consoling hand to anyone standing on the precipice of romance—encouraging listeners to embrace the fleeting beauty of loving someone wholeheartedly, despite the lingering fear of farewell.

[Verse 1]

나는 읽기 쉬운 마음이야

Naneun ilgi swiun maeumiya

My heart is an open book, easy to read

당신도 스윽 훑고 가셔요

Dangsindo seueuk hulgo gasyeoyo

Feel free to just skim through and pass by

달랠 길 없는 외로운 마음 있지

Dallael gil eomneun oeroun maeum itji

There is a lonely heart with no way to soothe

머물다 가셔요 음

Meomulda gasyeoyo eum

Please stay a while before you leave, mmm

📚 Section Vocabulary & Notes:

* 스윽 (Seueuk): Onomatopoeic/mimetic word meaning smoothly, lightly, or effortlessly — describes casually glancing through pages without heavy commitment.
* 훑고 가셔요 (Hultgo gasyeoyo): Polite imperative form of '훑다' (to skim through, scan) combined with '가다' (to go) and honorific '-(으)셔요' — portrays a vintage, humble, and polite tone of voice.
* 달랠 길 없는 (Dallael gil eomneun): '달래다' (to soothe, comfort) + '길 없다' (there is no way/means) — expressing an inconsolable state of loneliness.

[Pre-Chorus]

내게 긴 여운을 남겨줘요

Naege gin yeouneul namgyeojwoyo

Please leave me with a lasting lingering feeling

사랑을 사랑을 해줘요

Sarangeul sarangeul haejwoyo

Give me love, please give me love

할 수 있다면 그럴 수만 있다면

Hal su itdamyeon geureol suman itdamyeon

If I can, if only I could do so

새하얀 빛으로 그댈 비춰 줄게요

Saehayan bicheuro geudael bichwo julgeyo

I will shine upon you with pure white light

📚 Section Vocabulary & Notes:

* 여운 (Yeo-un): Lingering imagery, resonance, or afterglow — the emotional echo that remains long after an encounter ends.
* 새하얀 (Sae-ha-yan): Pure white, snowy white — '새-' is an emphatic prefix meaning intensely or vividly.
* 비춰 줄게요 (Bi-chwo jul-ge-yo): '비추다' (to illuminate/shine upon) + '-어 주다' (to do for someone) + '-(으)ㄹ게요' (promissory future ending) — expressing an earnest promise of devotion.

[Chorus]

그러다 밤이 찾아오면

Geureoda bami chajaomyeon

And then when night arrives

우리 둘만의 비밀을 새겨요

Uri dulmanui bimireul saegyeoyo

Let's engrave secrets known only to the two of us

추억할 그 밤 위에 갈피를 꽂고 선

Chueokhal geu bam wie galpireul kkotgo seon

Placing a bookmark on that night we will reminisce

남몰래 펼쳐보아요

Nammollae pyeolchyeoboayo

Let's open it up secretly when nobody is looking

📚 Section Vocabulary & Notes:

* 갈피 (Gal-pi): The space between pages of a book, often extended to mean a bookmark ('갈피를 꽂다' means to place a bookmark).
* 새겨요 (Sae-gyeo-yo): From '새기다' (to engrave, carve, imprint) — evoking deep, indelible memories etched into the heart.
* 남몰래 (Nam-mol-lae): Secretly, covertly, without others noticing.

[Verse 2]

나의 자라나는 마음을

Naui jarananeun maeumeul

My ever-growing feelings

못 본채 꺾어 버릴 수는 없네

Mot bonchae kkeokkeo beoril suneun eomne

I cannot just turn a blind eye and snap them off

미련 남길바엔 그리워 아픈 게 나아

Miryeon namgilba-en geuriwo apeun ge naa

Rather than leaving regrets, it's better to ache longing for you

서둘러 안겨본 그 품은 따스할 테니

Seodulleo angyeobon geu pumeun ttaseuhal teni

For the embrace I rushed into will surely be warm

📚 Section Vocabulary & Notes:

* 꺾어 버릴 (Kkeok-keo beo-ril): '꺾다' (to snap, break off a branch/flower) + '-어 버리다' (to do completely/throw away) — metaphorically comparing rising romantic feelings to a blooming flower stem that one cannot bear to sever.
* 미련 (Mi-ryeon): Lingering attachment, unfulfilled regret, clinging to past sentiment.
* -(으)ㄹ 바엔 (-(eu)l ba-en): Grammatical pattern meaning "rather than doing [X]", indicating a conscious choice between two painful outcomes.

[Chorus]

그러다 밤이 찾아오면

Geureoda bami chajaomyeon

And then when night arrives

우리 둘만의 비밀을 새겨요

Uri dulmanui bimireul saegyeoyo

Let's engrave secrets known only to the two of us

추억할 그 밤 위에 갈피를 꽂고 선

Chueokhal geu bam wie galpireul kkotgo seon

Placing a bookmark on that night we will reminisce

남몰래 펼쳐보아요

Nammollae pyeolchyeoboayo

Let's open it up secretly when nobody is looking

📚 Section Vocabulary & Notes:

* 둘만의 (Dul-man-ui): '둘' (two / couple) + '-만' (only) + '-의' (possessive particle 'of') — exclusively belonging to the two of us.
* 추억할 (Chu-eok-hal): Future adnominal form of '추억하다' (to recall, remember fondly, reminisce).

[Bridge & Outro]

언젠가 또 그날이 온대도

Eonjenga tto geunari ondaedo

Even if that day comes again someday

우린 서둘러 뒤돌지 말아요

Urin seodulleo dwidolji marayo

Let's not hastily turn our backs

마주보던 그대로 뒷걸음치면서

Maju bodeon geudaero dwitgeoreumchimyeonseo

While stepping backwards, still facing each other

서로의 안녕을 보아요

Seoroui annyeongeul boayo

Let's watch over each other's peace and farewell

피고 지는 마음을 알아요 다시 돌아온 계절도

Pigo jineun maeumeul arayo dasi doraon gyejeoldo

I understand the heart that blooms and fades, as well as the recurring seasons

난 한 동안 새 활짝 피었다 질래 또 한번 영원히

Nan han dongan sae hwaljjak pieotda jillae tto hanbeon yeongwonhi

For a while, I want to bloom anew in full blossom and wither, once more forever

그럼에도 내 사랑은 또 같은 꿈을 꾸고

Geureomedo nae sarangeun tto gateun kkumeul kkugo

Even so, my love dreams the very same dream again

그럼에도 꾸던 꿈을 난 또 미루진 않을거야

Geureomedo kkudeon kkumeul nan tto mirujin aneulgeoya

Even so, I will never postpone the dream I once dreamed

📚 Section Vocabulary & Notes:

* 뒷걸음치면서 (Dwit-geor-eum-chi-myeon-seo): '뒷걸음치다' (to walk backwards / step back) + '-면서' (while) — poignantly depicting partners backing away from each other without turning around, maintaining eye contact until the end.
* 안녕 (An-nyeong): Dual-meaning word carrying both "farewell/goodbye" and "wellbeing/peace". Seeing each other's '안녕' means bidding farewell while wishing for each other's safety and peace.
* 그럼에도 (Geu-reom-e-do): Despite that, nonetheless, even so — reinforces the song's ultimate message of loving courageously in the face of impermanence.
* 미루진 않을거야 (Mi-ru-jin aneul-geo-ya): '미루다' (to postpone, delay) + '-지 않다' (negation) + '-(으)ㄹ 거야' (resolute future) — expressing an unwavering resolve not to delay loving again.

Search This Blog

Kpop Lyrics Lab