過猶不及 과유불급
Meaning
"Too much of a good thing is as bad as not enough."
Examples
Starting a new fitness journey at the gym.
Too fast baby slow it down
조금 빨라 자기야 천천히 해
Look at me I figured out
나를 봐 이제 알 것 같아
One more step over the line
선을 넘는 그 한 걸음
Yeah I know this every time
그래 매번 깨닫곤 하지
Mirror talking back to me
거울 속의 내가 말해
Says you do too much lately
요즘 너무 과하다고
Calling love a luxury
사랑을 사치라 부르지만
When it feels like urgency
절박함처럼 느껴질 때
I want fire I want shine
불꽃을 원해 빛나길 원해
But I cross it every time
하지만 매번 선을 넘어버려
Every yes I overplay
모든 긍정이 지나쳐서
Till I fade the thrill away
결국 설렘마저 흐려져
Hold my breath feel the ground
숨을 참고 땅을 느껴봐
Quiet truth under sound
소음 아래 고요한 진실
In between the wrong and right
옳고 그름 그 사이에서
I see clearer in this light
이 빛 속에 더 선명해져
Too much love I lose control
넘치는 사랑에 통제력을 잃고
Too much fire in my soul
영혼엔 너무 뜨거운 불꽃
Say it sweet say it light
달콤하게 가볍게 말해줘
Too much is not right
지나친 건 옳지 않아
Not too close not too far
너무 가깝지도 멀지도 않게
That is where my limits are
거기가 바로 나의 한계선
When I push beyond the line
선을 넘어 밀어붙일 때
Too much is not right
지나친 건 옳지 않아
Slow it down yeah slow it down
천천히 해 그래 천천히
Feel it now yeah feel it now
지금 느껴봐 그래 지금
Too much no no not tonight
과한 건 안 돼 오늘 밤은
Too much is not right
지나친 건 옳지 않아
Soft lips words so clean
부드러운 입술 깨끗한 언어
I do less it feels so me
덜어내니 비로소 나다워
If you pull it way too tight
너무 꽉 잡아당기면
Even diamonds lose their light
다이아몬드조차 빛을 잃어
I do not chase I attract
난 쫓지 않아 끌어당길 뿐
That is just a simple fact
그건 그냥 단순한 사실
Less is more I let it breathe
적은 게 더 많은 것, 숨 쉬게 해
That is how I stay in me
그게 내가 나로 머무는 법
One step back then I glow
한 걸음 물러나니 빛이 나
Now I move in tempo
이제 템포에 맞춰 움직여
In the calm I finally see
고요함 속에 드디어 보여
Balance looks good on me
균형이 내게 잘 어울린다는 걸
Too much love I lose control
넘치는 사랑에 통제력을 잃고
Too much fire in my soul
영혼엔 너무 뜨거운 불꽃
Say it sweet say it light
달콤하게 가볍게 말해줘
Too much is not right
지나친 건 옳지 않아
Not too high not too low
너무 높지도 낮지도 않게
Now I know what I should know
이제야 알아야 할 걸 알았어
When I push beyond the line
선을 넘어 밀어붙일 때
Too much is not right
지나친 건 옳지 않아
I do not need the overflow
넘쳐흐를 필요는 없어
I do not need to steal the glow
빛을 독차지할 필요도 없지
Just enough to feel aligned
조화롭다고 느낄 정도면 돼
Yeah this balance is mine
그래 이 균형은 나의 것
Too much love I lose control
넘치는 사랑에 통제력을 잃고
Too much fire in my soul
영혼엔 너무 뜨거운 불꽃
Now I keep it soft and right
이제 부드럽고 적당하게
Too much kills the vibe
지나치면 분위기를 망쳐
Not too close not too far
너무 가깝지도 멀지도 않게
I know exactly who we are
우리가 누구인지 정확히 알아
Say it clean say it light
깔끔하게 가볍게 말해줘
Too much is not right
지나친 건 옳지 않아
I slow it down
속도를 늦춰
Now it feels right
이제야 기분이 좋아
Summary
The idiom Gwa-yu-bul-geup (過猶不及) teaches that excess is just as harmful as deficiency. It emphasizes the importance of the 'Middle Way,' warning that being overzealous can lead to negative consequences that are worse than being slightly unprepared.
Key Lessons
The best approach isn't always the maximum approach; true mastery lies in knowing where to draw the line.
When driven by intense emotion or greed, step back to regain an objective sense of balance.
In relationships and goal-setting, over-commitment often leads to burnout or counterproductive results.
Origin & Background
Modern Application Examples
Situation
Starting a new fitness journey at the gym.
Action
Driven by sudden motivation, the person ignored their physical limits and performed high-intensity workouts with heavy weights every single day.
Lesson
A severe muscle injury forced them to stop exercising for a month, teaching them that a sustainable pace is better than reckless intensity.
Situation
Expressing affection and staying in touch with a partner.
Action
In the name of love, one person constantly checked their partner's location and sent a non-stop stream of messages all day long.
Lesson
The partner felt suffocated and ended the relationship, proving that even love requires personal space and respectful boundaries.
Situation
Preparing a presentation for a high-stakes project.
Action
To achieve perfection, the presenter packed every slide with excessive data, complex charts, and flashy animations.
Lesson
The audience became overwhelmed and missed the core message, highlighting that 'less is often more' when communicating ideas.
Situation
A young professional getting into high-risk investing.
Action
They invested their entire savings and even took out loans to buy highly volatile stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Lesson
Constant anxiety disrupted their daily life and work performance, leading them to realize the value of managing assets within one's emotional and financial capacity.
English Vocabulary
figure out
이해하다, 알아내다
"I finally figured out how to solve the problem."
lately
최근에
"I haven't seen her around much lately."
urgency
긴급함, 절박함
"There was a sense of urgency in his voice."
fade
희미해지다, 사라지다
"The color of the curtains will fade in the sun."
beyond
~을 넘어서, ~ 이상의
"The beauty of the scenery was beyond words."
attract
끌어당기다, 매혹시키다
"The new museum will attract many visitors."
tempo
속도, 템포
"The music had a fast and upbeat tempo."
balance
균형, 조화
"It is important to keep a balance between work and life."
overflow
넘침, 범람
"The trash can is about to overflow."
vibe
분위기, 느낌
"I really like the chill vibe of this cafe."
Learning Quiz
'I figured out'의 뜻으로 가장 적절한 것은?
'figure out'은 무언가를 이해하거나 알아내다라는 뜻입니다.
가사 중 'Less is more'가 의미하는 바와 가장 가까운 사자성어는?
'Less is more'는 적은 것이 더 낫다는 의미로, 지나친 것은 모자람만 못하다는 '과유불급'과 일맥상통합니다.
'I cross it every time'에서 'cross'의 의미는?
맥락상 '선을 넘다(cross the line)'라는 의미로 사용되었습니다.
'Too much kills the vibe'를 한국어로 옳게 번역한 것은?
'kill the vibe'는 분위기를 깨다, 망치다라는 의미의 관용 표현입니다.
다음 중 '최근에'라는 뜻을 가진 단어는?
'lately'는 '최근에'라는 뜻의 부사입니다.
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Mood
Tempo
Energy
Recommended For
,
About This Music
This sophisticated girl group pop track reinterprets the message of the idiom 'Gwa-yu-bul-geup' (too much is as bad as too little) with a modern flair. It opens with a minimalist sound reminiscent of a cold city atmosphere, then instantly captivates listeners with a bright, powerful melody that explodes in the chorus. The addictive hook is impactful without being over-the-top, making it the perfect anthem for moments when you want to express your confident self. Throughout the song, a smooth and luxurious texture prevails, creating an irresistible charm that invites endless replays.
Musical Composition
🎸 Instruments
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🎤 Vocals
The vocals are smooth yet confident, featuring a contrasting structure of whispering-style verses and vibrant, bouncy choruses.
🎛️ Production
A high-gloss modern production that highlights the harmony between minimalist verses and lush, full-bodied choruses.
🌏 Cultural Elements
The track blends contemporary Western pop sounds with the intricate, performance-oriented structural elements characteristic of Korean girl groups.
📖 Music Glossary
A unit used to measure the tempo of music, representing the number of beats occurring in one minute.
💡 In this song: Set at a medium tempo of 102-108 BPM, it creates an ideal groove that feels neither too fast nor too slow, embodying the 'balance' theme of the song title.
An electronic instrument sound characterized by a smooth, polished, and shiny texture.
💡 In this song: This adds a layer of sophistication to the entire track, emphasizing a modern and trendy sonic texture.
A vocal technique that sits between rapping and singing, delivering lyrics in a conversational manner.
💡 In this song: Used effectively in the verses to project a chic, nonchalant sense of confidence.
A section near the end of the song with a new melody that shifts the mood and leads into the final chorus.
💡 In this song: It builds tension and serves as a vital link that maximizes the catharsis of the final chorus.
A technique of stacking multiple vocal tracks to create a rich and full harmonic sound.
💡 In this song: Richly stacked group vocals in the chorus and final chorus amplify the energy of the track.
🎶 Similar Tracks
IVE - I AM
Shares a confident attitude, sophisticated synth sounds, and the high-energy impact of an addictive chorus.
LE SSERAFIM - ANTIFRAGILE
Features a similar combination of stylish minimalism and a tight, performance-focused drum beat.
NewJeans - Ditto
Displays a similar use of restrained, minimalist verses combined with atmospheric airy pad sounds.
BLACKPINK - Shut Down
Aligns with the chic vocal delivery and the overall theme of self-assured confidence.
My Experience
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