“Oppa Gangnam Style!”
With over 5 billion views on YouTube, “Gangnam Style” by PSY is the song that introduced K-Pop to the global masses.
Most people only know the chorus. But the verses are actually full of witty social commentary about the wealthy lifestyle in the Gangnam district of Seoul.
The rap is fast and percussive. Can you keep up? Let’s try!
Official Video: PSY – Gangnam Style
Pronunciation Guide: The “J” Sound
PSY emphasizes his consonants to sound punchy.
- “Jeom” / “Jeong”: Sounds like a sharp ‘J’ as in “Jump”.
- Tip: Rap is about rhythm. Don’t worry about pitch. Just hit the beat on the Bold syllables.
Gangnam Style: Phonetic Lyrics Breakdown
Verse 1: The “Day” Girl (Fast Rap)
| Korean (Hangul) | Easy Phonetic Lyrics | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 낮에는 따사로운 인간적인 여자 | Na-jeh-neun dda-sa-ro-oon in-gan-jo-gin yo-ja | A girl who is warm and human during the day |
| 커피 한잔의 여유를 아는 품격 있는 여자 | Ko-pee han-jan-eh yo-yu-reul ah-neun poom-gyok eet-neun yo-ja | A classy girl who knows how to enjoy a cup of coffee |
| 밤이 오면 심장이 뜨거워지는 여자 | Ba-mee oh-myon shim-jang-ee ddeu-go-wo-jee-neun yo-ja | A girl whose heart heats up when night comes |
| 그런 반전 있는 여자 | Geu-ron ban-jon eet-neun yo-ja | A girl with that kind of twist |
Verse 2: The “Day” Guy (PSY’s Part)
| Korean (Hangul) | Easy Phonetic Lyrics | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 나는 사나이 | Na-neun sa-na-ee | I am a man |
| 낮에는 너만큼 따사로운 그런 사나이 | Na-jeh-neun no-man-keum dda-sa-ro-oon geu-ron sa-na-ee | A man who is as warm as you during the day |
| 커피 식기도 전에 원샷 때리는 사나이 | Ko-pee shik-gee-doh jo-neh one-shot ddeh-ree-neun sa-na-ee | A man who downs his coffee in one shot before it cools |
| 밤이 오면 심장이 터져버리는 사나이 | Ba-mee oh-myon shim-jang-ee to-jyo-bo-ree-neun sa-na-ee | A man whose heart bursts when night comes |
| 그런 사나이 | Geu-ron sa-na-ee | That kind of man |
Chorus: The Anthem
| Korean (Hangul) | Easy Phonetic Lyrics | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아름다워 사랑스러워 | Ah-reum-da-wo sa-rang-seu-ro-wo | Beautiful, lovable |
| 그래 너 hey, 그래 바로 너 hey | Geu-reh no (hey), geu-reh ba-ro no (hey) | Yes you (hey), yes right there, you (hey) |
| 지금부터 갈 데까지 가볼까 | Jee-geum-boo-toh gal deh-kka-jee ga-bol-kka | Shall we go all the way starting now? |
| 오빤 강남스타일 | Op-pan Gangnam Style | Oppa is Gangnam Style |
Vocabulary Corner: Social Class Words
The lyrics mock the “Upper Class” wannabes.
1. Sanai (사나이)
- Meaning: Man / Manly man.
- Context: “Naneun sanai” (I am a [macho] man).
- Nuance: It sounds a bit old-school and rough, unlike the softer word Namja (man).
2. Poom-gyok (품격)
- Meaning: Class / Dignity.
- Context: “Poom-gyok eet-neun yoja” (A woman with class).
- Pop Culture: There is a famous K-Drama called A Gentleman’s Dignity (Shinsa-ui Poomgyok).
3. Ban-jon (반전)
- Meaning: Twist / Reversal.
- Context: “Ban-jon eet-neun yoja” (A girl with a twist). Meaning she looks innocent but goes wild at night.
Singing Tips: The Horse Dance Rhythm
You can’t sing this sitting down. The rhythm mimics a galloping horse.
- The Beat: Da-da-da-DA, Da-da-da-DA.
- Coffee Line: The hardest line is “Coffee shikgido jone one-shot ddaerineun…”.
- Practice saying: Coffee-shik-gido / jone / one-shot.
- Break it into 3 chunks.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You can now rap the fastest verses in K-Pop history. “Gangnam Style” is a party trick that never gets old.
This concludes our K-Pop series!
If you missed our earlier lessons, go back and check:
- The emotional ballad: Spring Day by BTS
- The easiest song ever: Love Scenario by iKON
- The girl group anthem: As If It’s Your Last by Blackpink
Now, go out there and show off your Gangnam Style!