作心三日 작심삼일
Meaning
"A firm resolution that fails to last even three days; a short-lived intention that quickly fizzles out due to a lack of willpower."
Examples
An office worker who purchases a one-year gym membership as a New Year's resolution to get fit.
Alarm rings loud like a battle cry
알람이 전투의 함성처럼 울려
New notebook, new me, oh my my
새 노트, 새로운 나, 오 이런
Big dreams stacked way too high
거창한 꿈들을 너무 높이 쌓았나 봐
Day one hero, touching the sky
첫날의 영웅, 하늘에 닿을 듯해
Day one, I’m running fast
첫째 날, 난 빠르게 달려
Day two, still trying to last
둘째 날, 여전히 버티려 애쓰지
By day three my plan’s a mess
셋째 날이 되니 계획은 엉망진창
Pizza box and a little stress
피자 박스와 약간의 스트레스뿐
I wrote it down in neon ink
네온색 잉크로 적어 내려갔어
Swore I wouldn’t even blink
눈 하나 깜빡이지 않겠다고 맹세했지
But Netflix whispered call my name
하지만 넷플릭스가 내 이름을 속삭여
Oops… guess I lost that game
어머나... 게임에서 진 것 같아
I laugh at myself in the mirror
거울 속 내 모습을 보며 웃어
Falling down couldn’t be clearer
무너지는 게 너무나 선명하니까
But something sparks inside my chest
하지만 가슴 속에서 뭔가 불꽃이 튀어
Like hey, maybe this ain’t the end
이봐, 이게 끝이 아닐지도 몰라
Three days again, I fell apart
또다시 삼일천하, 난 무너졌지만
But I’m taping dreams with a brand new heart
새로운 마음으로 꿈들을 다시 붙여봐
Three days again, yeah here I stand
또다시 삼일천하, 그래 여기 서 있어
Same silly girl, new master plan
바보 같은 소녀지만, 새로운 대계획을 세워
I trip, I slide, I start again
발을 헛디디고 미끄러져도 다시 시작해
Tomorrow sounds like my best friend
내일은 나의 가장 친한 친구 같아
Three days again, I’m not afraid
또다시 삼일천하, 두렵지 않아
I’ll push replay, yeah, I’ll push replay
다시 시작할 거야, 그래 다시 시작할 거야
Gym card crying in my bag
가방 속 헬스장 카드가 울고 있어
Motivation starting to lag
동기부여는 점점 떨어지네
Sticky notes on every wall
벽마다 붙여놓은 포스트잇들
Most of them ignored the call
대부분 외면당해 버렸지
Friends say girl just take it slow
친구들은 말해, 얘야 천천히 해
Rome fell down before it grew
로마도 자라기 전에 먼저 무너졌잖아
If I fail a thousand times
내가 천 번을 실패한다면
That’s a thousand starting lines
그건 천 개의 시작점이 생기는 거야
I’m not broken, just learning
난 망가진 게 아냐, 배우는 중이지
Every crash keeps my heart burning
모든 충돌은 내 심장을 계속 뜨겁게 해
If I laugh and try once more
한 번 더 웃고 다시 시도한다면
I’m already winning the score
난 이미 승점을 따고 있는 거야
Three days again, I fell apart
또다시 삼일천하, 난 무너졌지만
But I’m taping dreams with a brand new heart
새로운 마음으로 꿈들을 다시 붙여봐
Three days again, yeah here I stand
또다시 삼일천하, 그래 여기 서 있어
Same silly girl, new master plan
바보 같은 소녀지만, 새로운 대계획을 세워
I trip, I slide, I start again
발을 헛디디고 미끄러져도 다시 시작해
Tomorrow sounds like my best friend
내일은 나의 가장 친한 친구 같아
Three days again, I’m not afraid
또다시 삼일천하, 두렵지 않아
I’ll push replay, yeah, I’ll push replay
다시 시작할 거야, 그래 다시 시작할 거야
Maybe I’m not late, I’m just on my way
어쩌면 늦은 게 아니라 가는 중일지도 몰라
Taking the long road day by day
하루하루 먼 길을 돌아가고 있어
Even if I’m slow, even if I bend
조금 느리더라도, 조금 굽어지더라도
I still believe in the try again
다시 시작하는 힘을 난 여전히 믿어
Three days again, so what it’s fine
또다시 삼일천하, 뭐 어때 괜찮아
Dreams don’t break from wasting time
시간을 좀 버린다고 꿈이 깨지진 않아
Three days again, hands up high
또다시 삼일천하, 두 손을 높이 들어
I’ll chase the sun across the sky
하늘을 가로질러 태양을 쫓을 거야
I fall, I fail, I start again
넘어지고 실패해도 다시 시작해
That’s how all the stories begin
모든 이야기는 그렇게 시작되는 법이니까
Three days again, I shout and say
또다시 삼일천하, 크게 외칠게
Watch me restart, yeah watch me restart today
내가 다시 시작하는 걸 봐, 오늘 다시 시작하는 걸 봐
Day one… here we go again
첫째 날... 자, 다시 시작이야
And honestly?
그런데 솔직히 말이야?
I kinda like it this way
난 이런 식인 게 꽤 마음에 들어
Summary
Jaksim-samil (作心三日) literally means 'a mind made up for three days,' describing a situation where a strong resolution loses steam almost immediately. It captures the universal human tendency to start with grand ambitions but struggle with the consistency needed to follow through.
Key Lessons
Let go of perfectionism and accept that setbacks are a natural part of any journey toward change.
True persistence isn't about never failing; it's about having the courage to begin again after every stumble.
Instead of fixating on long-term grandiosity, break goals into 'three-day sprints' to build sustainable momentum through repetition.
Origin & Background
Modern Application Examples
Situation
An office worker who purchases a one-year gym membership as a New Year's resolution to get fit.
Action
After working out diligently for the first three days, they use overtime and fatigue as an excuse to stay in bed and watch Netflix on the fourth day.
Lesson
Instead of quitting because of one missed day, it's vital to lace up those sneakers the next morning with a 'Day 1' mindset.
Situation
A college student who signs up for daily morning English sessions to improve their conversation skills.
Action
They wake up to their alarm for a few days, but after oversleeping during the weekend, the routine breaks and they fall into a spiral of self-blame.
Lesson
Rather than obsessing over the broken streak, use it as an opportunity to recalibrate your system and start fresh.
Situation
An eco-conscious coffee lover who vows to stop using disposables and only use a reusable tumbler.
Action
The day they forget their tumbler at home, they feel like their entire mission has failed after being forced to use a plastic cup.
Lesson
One slip-up does not define the whole effort; the most important thing is simply bringing the tumbler again for the next order.
English Vocabulary
battle cry
전투의 함성, 구호
"The team gave a loud battle cry before the match started."
stacked
쌓인, 포개진
"There are books stacked all over my desk."
swore
맹세했다 (swear의 과거형)
"I swore that I would finish my project by tonight."
whisper
속삭이다
"She had to whisper because the baby was sleeping."
fall apart
무너지다, 허물어지다
"The old house started to fall apart after the heavy rain."
motivation
동기부여
"Winning the competition gave me the motivation to practice harder."
lag
뒤처지다, 줄어들다
"The runner's pace began to lag during the final lap."
ignore
무시하다, 외면하다
"It's hard to ignore the bright light in my eyes."
trip
발을 헛디디다, 넘어지다
"Be careful not to trip over the loose rug."
chase
쫓다, 추격하다
"Dogs love to chase squirrels in the park."
Learning Quiz
가사에서 'motivation starting to lag'는 어떤 의미인가요?
lag는 '뒤처지다' 혹은 '지연되다'라는 뜻으로, 여기서는 의욕이나 동기부여가 약해지고 있음을 나타냅니다.
노래의 주제인 '작심삼일'과 가장 관련 있는 구절은 무엇인가요?
'Three days again, I fell apart'는 3일 만에 계획이 무너졌다는 뜻으로 작심삼일의 상황을 잘 표현합니다.
문맥상 'I’ll push replay'가 의미하는 행동은?
가사 전반에서 실패해도 다시 시작하겠다는 의지를 보이고 있으므로, replay는 재시작을 의미합니다.
'Swore'의 원형(Present tense)은 무엇인가요?
Swore는 '맹세하다'라는 뜻의 동사 Swear의 과거형입니다.
'That’s a thousand starting lines'에서 화자의 태도는 어떠한가요?
실패를 단순한 끝이 아니라 새로운 '시작선'으로 보고 있으므로 매우 긍정적이고 희망적인 태도입니다.
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Mood
Tempo
Energy
Recommended For
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About This Music
This pop-rock track takes the common Korean idiom 'Jak-sim-sam-il'—the tendency to give up on a resolution after just three days—and transforms it into a cheerful and empowering anthem. The fast tempo and bouncy guitar riffs instantly lift the mood, delivering a supportive message that it is perfectly okay to start over even if you fail. The combination of cute, youthful vocals and a powerful band sound makes listeners feel like the protagonist of a hit anime. It is the perfect energetic pick-me-up for when you feel exhausted or need a fresh boost of motivation for your goals.
Musical Composition
🎸 Instruments
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🎤 Vocals
Features a clear, youthful female vocal with precise pronunciation, characterized by a charming yet powerful delivery and engaging group sing-along sections.
🎛️ Production
A high-energy live band sound reminiscent of an anime opening theme, blending clean and modern mixing with driving rock instrumentation.
🌏 Cultural Elements
A fusion of subculture aesthetics, combining the high-octane influence of Japanese anime band music (J-Rock) with the Korean idiom 'Jak-sim-sam-il' (giving up after three days) to create a relatable, lighthearted narrative.
📖 Music Glossary
A genre that combines the raw energy of punk rock with the catchy, infectious melodies of pop music.
💡 In this song: It drives the overall atmosphere of the track through fast-paced drum beats and bright, major-key melodic lines.
A technique where the individual notes of a chord are played in sequence rather than simultaneously.
💡 In this song: Clean-toned guitars play arpeggios during the verses to help focus the listener's attention on the vocal delivery and lyrics.
An effect that overloads an audio signal to create a gritty, fuzzy, and aggressive guitar sound.
💡 In this song: Strong distortion is applied to the electric guitars during the chorus to create an explosive burst of energy.
A contrasting section of a song with a new melody, usually inserted toward the middle to provide a transition.
💡 In this song: Appearing after the second chorus, it creates emotional contrast before building up to the final climatic chorus.
A vocal technique where multiple people shout or sing a phrase together in unison, like a chant.
💡 In this song: The group vocals during the chorus maximize the song's sense of unity and collective energy.
🎶 Similar Tracks
QWER - Discord
Shares a very similar energetic pop-rock sound with a girl band configuration and bright, catchy melodies.
Kessoku Band - Seishun Complex
Features a similar high-speed, anime-style band sound and a comparable vocal delivery style.
SCANDAL - Shunkan Sentimental
Resembles the track's blend of powerful electric guitar riffs and high-energy female vocals.
YUI - Rolling Star
Commonalities include positive messaging and refreshing pop-punk elements that create an uplifting vibe.
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