IU "Through the Night" Explained: Key Themes, Expressions & Hidden Meanings

🎥 IU “Through the Night” Music Video

[Source] YouTube, 1theK

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. 반딧불 (Firefly)

A tiny, glowing insect that emits light at night, often symbolizing fleeting beauty or nostalgia.

 

📌 Example Usage

"한 여름 밤에 반딧불이 반짝이는 걸 봤어."

"I saw fireflies glowing on a midsummer night."

 

🎨 Expressions

반딧불이 날다 (Fireflies Flying) – Describes fireflies gently flickering in the air.

 

📌 Example Usage

"반딧불이 하늘을 날며 은은한 빛을 냈다."

"The fireflies flew in the sky, glowing softly."

 

2. 창 (Window)

 

📌 Example Usage (Window)

"창 너머로 바다가 보인다."

"I can see the ocean beyond the window."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

창문 (Windowpane) – More specific for windows in buildings.

 

📌 Example Usage

"창문을 열어 신선한 공기를 들였다."

"I opened the window to let in fresh air."

 

3. 사랑한다 (I Love You)

 

📌 Example Usage

"널 사랑한다."

"I love you."

 

🎨 Expressions

사랑해 (I Love You - Casual) – More commonly used in everyday speech.

 

📌 Example Usage

"매일 사랑한다고 말해 줄게."

"I'll tell you I love you every day."

 

4. 입맞춤 (Kiss)

 

📌 Example Usage

"별빛 아래에서 입맞춤을 나눴다."

"We shared a kiss under the starlight."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

키스 (Kiss - Borrowed from English) – A more modern and casual expression.

 

📌 Example Usage

"첫 키스는 영화처럼 로맨틱했다."

"My first kiss was as romantic as a movie."

 

5. 언제든 (Anytime, Whenever)

 

📌 Example Usage

"필요하면 언제든 연락해."

"Call me anytime if you need me."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

언제나 (Always, Anytime) – Slightly different in nuance, meaning "all the time."

 

📌 Example Usage

"언제나 네 편이 되어 줄게."

"I'll always be on your side."

 

6. 눈을 감다 / 눈을 뜨다 (Close One's Eyes / Open One's Eyes)

 

📌 Example Usage (Literal)

"눈을 감고 음악을 들었다."

"I closed my eyes and listened to the music."

 

"아침이 되자 눈을 떴다."

"I opened my eyes as morning came."

 

7. 파도가 머물다 / 파도가 치다 (The Wave Stays / The Wave Crashes)

 

📌 Example Usage

"그곳에 파도가 머무는 듯했다."

"It felt as if the waves stayed there."

 

"거센 바람 때문에 파도가 세게 친다."

"Because of the strong wind, the waves are crashing hard."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

파도가 밀려오다 (The Wave Rolls In) – Often used in literature to symbolize change or emotion.

 

📌 Example Usage

"조용했던 바다에 갑자기 파도가 밀려왔다."

"The once-calm sea suddenly had waves rolling in."

 

8. 모래 (Sand)

 

📌 Example Usage

"바닷가에서 맨발로 모래를 밟았다."

"I walked barefoot on the sand at the beach."

 

🎨 Expressions

모래알 (Grain of Sand) – Emphasizing a single tiny piece of sand.

 

📌 Example Usage

"모래알처럼 작은 것도 소중하다."

"Even something as small as a grain of sand is precious."

 

9. 글씨 (Handwriting, Letters)

 

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람의 글씨는 정말 예뻐."

"Their handwriting is beautiful."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

필체 (Handwriting Style) – More formal and used when analyzing someone’s handwriting.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그의 필체는 단정하고 깔끔하다."

"His handwriting style is neat and clean."

 

10. 사라지다 (Disappear, Vanish)

 

📌 Example Usage

"구름이 바람에 사라졌다."

"The clouds disappeared with the wind."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

없어지다 (Be Gone, Disappear) – A simpler, more common alternative.

 

📌 Example Usage

"지갑이 갑자기 없어졌다."

"My wallet suddenly disappeared."

 

11. 그립다 (Miss, Long For)

 

📌 Example Usage

"고향이 그립다."

"I miss my hometown."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

보고 싶다 (I Miss You) – Specifically used for missing people.

 

📌 Example Usage

"오래 못 봐서 너무 보고 싶어."

"I haven’t seen you in a long time, and I really miss you."

 

12. 말을 꺼내다 (Bring Up a Topic, Start a Conversation)

 

📌 Example Usage

"어떻게 말을 꺼내야 할지 모르겠어."

"I don’t know how to bring it up."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

이야기를 시작하다 (Start a Conversation) – A more neutral way to say it.

 

📌 Example Usage

"오랜만에 만나서 이야기를 시작했다."

"We started a conversation after meeting for the first time in a while."

13. 행운이 오다 / 행운이 찾아오다 (Luck Comes / Luck Finds You)

 

📌 Example Usage

"이번에는 행운이 찾아올 거야!"

"Luck will find you this time!"

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

운이 좋다 (Be Lucky) – A simpler way to express being fortunate.

 

📌 Example Usage

"오늘따라 운이 정말 좋네!"

"I’m really lucky today!"

 

14. 멀리 (Far, Distantly)

 

📌 Example Usage

"멀리 여행을 떠나고 싶어."

"I want to go on a trip far away."

 

🎨 Expressions

먼 곳 (A Far Place) – A noun phrase with a similar meaning.

 

📌 Example Usage

"먼 곳에서 온 손님을 맞이했다."

"We welcomed a guest from a far place."

 

15. 일기장 (Diary, Journal)

 

📌 Example Usage

"일기장에 하루를 기록했다."

"I wrote about my day in my diary."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

다이어리 (Diary - Borrowed from English) – More commonly used for planners or daily logs.

 

📌 Example Usage

"새 다이어리를 샀어."

"I bought a new diary."

 

16. 꿈 (Dream)

 

📌 Example Usage

"어젯밤에 이상한 꿈을 꿨어."

"I had a weird dream last night."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

소망 (Wish, Hope) – More about aspirations than sleep-related dreams.

 

📌 Example Usage

"소망이 이루어지길 바란다."

"I hope my wish comes true."

 

🎶 IU “Through the Night” Lyrics Summary & Meaning

The lyrics of IU’s “Through the Night” are copyrighted, so I cannot provide the full lyrics. However, I can summarize part of the lyrics and explain the song's meaning.

"Through the Night" conveys a deep longing for a loved one, wrapped in a soft and warm atmosphere—like a letter quietly written at night. The lyrics express affectionate feelings toward someone dearly missed, nostalgic memories of moments shared, and the warmth of holding onto those emotions while falling asleep.

 

🎶 Key Themes in IU's “Through the Night”

- The longing for a loved one that becomes more vivid at night

- Heartwarming emotions from reminiscing about shared moments

- A feeling as if hearing a lover’s voice under the starlight

- A calm and tender expression of growing affectionate emotions as the night deepens

 

🎶 Additional Information about IU “Through the Night”

- Release Date: March 24, 2017

- Album: Palette

- Genre: Emotional Ballad

- Lyrics & Composition: IU, Kim Je-hwi & Kim Hee-won

🌍 If you’d like to read the full lyrics, please visit official music platforms such as Melon, Genie Music, Apple Music, or Spotify!

 

❗"All rights to the lyrics belong to Edam Entertainment and the original creators."

 

❗"This analysis is intended for educational and language-learning purposes and does not replace the official lyrics."