愚公移山 우공이산
Meaning
"No matter how impossible a task may seem, it can eventually be achieved through unwavering perseverance and steady effort."
Examples
An office worker starts learning a foreign language but feels discouraged by a lack of visible progress.
Spotlight on me, I don’t hide
나를 향한 스포트라이트, 숨지 않아
New sky when I step outside
밖으로 나서면 마주하는 새로운 하늘
They said wait, but I’m the sign
다들 기다리라 했지만, 내가 바로 그 신호야
I draw the line, I take what’s mine
선을 긋고, 내 몫을 쟁취하지
Too high, they say, too far to fly
너무 높대, 날기엔 너무 멀대
I just laugh and lift my eyes
난 그저 웃으며 시선을 높여
One stone, two stones, watch it stack
돌 하나, 돌 둘, 쌓이는 걸 봐
I don’t talk, I don’t look back
말은 아끼고, 뒤돌아보지 않아
If it’s heavy, let it be
무겁다면, 무거운 대로 둬
That’s the weight that made me me
그 무게가 지금의 나를 만들었으니까
Up, up, hear my name in the air
위로, 더 위로, 공중에 울려 퍼지는 내 이름
No luck, I was made to dare
행운은 없어, 난 도전하기 위해 태어났어
Every doubt turns small in my hands
모든 의구심은 내 손안에서 작아져
I don’t wish, I make my plans
바라기만 하지 않아, 난 계획을 세워
Close your eyes, feel that pull
눈을 감고 그 이끌림을 느껴봐
I’m in control
내가 주도하고 있어
I am, I am the move
내가 바로 그 움직임이야
I am, I am the proof
내가 바로 그 증거야
Move that mountain, watch me shine
저 산을 옮겨, 빛나는 나를 봐
Stone by stone, I change my life
돌 하나하나씩, 난 내 삶을 바꿔
I am, I am the spark
내가 바로 그 불꽃이야
Lighting up the whole dark
어둠 전체를 밝게 비추지
Say it’s crazy, I say true
미쳤다고 말해봐, 난 진실을 말할 테니
Hey, hey, I don’t break
헤이, 헤이, 난 굴복하지 않아
Hey, hey, I elevate
헤이, 헤이, 난 올라서지
One more step, I’m on my way
한 걸음 더, 난 내 길을 가
On my way, on my way
내 길을, 내 길을 가고 있어
Mirror talks and I talk back
거울 속 나와 대화해
Crown on tight, no missing track
왕관을 고쳐 써, 한 치의 오차도 없이
If you blink, then I’m gone
네가 눈을 깜빡이는 사이, 난 사라져
New peak by the break of dawn
동이 틀 때쯤이면 새로운 정상이겠지
Drop by drop, I wear the stone
방울방울 떨어지는 물이 바위를 뚫듯
Till the wall turns into road
벽이 길이 될 때까지
You can stare, you can judge
쳐다봐도 좋아, 판단해도 좋아
I don’t budge, I don’t budge
난 꿈쩍도 안 해, 절대 물러서지 않아
Up, up, feel the beat in my chest
위로, 더 위로, 가슴 속 비트를 느껴
No rush, I’m a long-time bet
서두르지 마, 난 장기적인 승부수니까
Every “no” turns into fuel
모든 거절은 내 연료가 돼
I stay gold, I stay cool
난 언제나 빛나고, 냉정함을 유지해
I’m beautiful
난 아름다워
I had days I couldn’t speak
말조차 할 수 없던 날들이 있었지
Still I climbed on shaking feet
여전히 떨리는 다리로 기어이 올라갔어
Every scar became a map
모든 흉터는 지도가 되었고
Every tear became a tap
모든 눈물은 두드림이 되었어
On the door I’m meant to own
내가 가져야 할 그 문 위로
Now I hear it, now I know
이제 들려, 이제 알겠어
I don’t need the world to choose
세상의 선택 따윈 필요 없어
I choose
내가 선택해
I am, I am the flame
내가 바로 그 불꽃이야
Put respect on my name
내 이름 앞에 예우를 갖춰
Now it’s my time, coming through
이제 내 시간이야, 뚫고 지나가
I don’t wait, I make my day
난 기다리지 않아, 내가 나의 하루를 만들지
Stone by stone, I’m coming through
돌 하나하나씩, 난 나아가고 있어
Summary
U-gong-i-san (愚公移山) literally means 'The Foolish Old Man moves the mountain.' It signifies that even if a goal seems foolishly ambitious to others, pushing forward with consistency will eventually lead to great success.
Key Lessons
Consistency is a formidable force that can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.
Trusting your own convictions and plans is more important than worrying about the skepticism or mockery of others.
Massive goals are achieved not all at once, but through the accumulation of small, daily actions.
Origin & Background
Modern Application Examples
Situation
An office worker starts learning a foreign language but feels discouraged by a lack of visible progress.
Action
They commit to memorizing just five words for 15 minutes during every commute for three years without skipping a single day.
Lesson
The repetition of small habits eventually moves the mountain of achieving native-level fluency.
Situation
A young entrepreneur starts a business with zero capital or brand recognition.
Action
Despite hundreds of rejections, they meticulously refine their product based on feedback and continue to pitch their vision to the market.
Lesson
The endurance to use failure as fuel becomes the key that eventually opens the door to success.
Situation
An individual feels powerless to make a difference in the face of the global climate crisis.
Action
They strictly reduce plastic use, practice thorough recycling, and inspire those around them to adopt sustainable habits.
Lesson
Individual changes, when accumulated, have the power to drive massive shifts in social systems.
English Vocabulary
draw the line
선을 긋다, 한계를 정하다
"You need to draw the line between work and your personal life."
stack
쌓다, 포개다
"He helped me stack the boxes in the garage."
dare
감히 ~하다, 도전하다
"Few people dare to climb this mountain in winter."
proof
증거, 증명
"Her success is proof that hard work pays off."
elevate
격상시키다, 높이다
"We need to find ways to elevate our brand image."
break of dawn
새벽녘, 동틀 녘
"The fishermen set out to sea at the break of dawn."
budge
약간 움직이다, 의견을 바꾸다
"The heavy door wouldn't budge no matter how hard I pushed."
fuel
연료, 에너지를 주는 것
"Criticism only served as fuel for her ambition."
scar
흉터, 상처
"He has a small scar on his forehead from a childhood accident."
coming through
지나가다, 통과하다
"Watch out! The delivery truck is coming through."
Learning Quiz
가사 중 'Stone by stone'이 의미하는 '우공이산'의 태도와 가장 가까운 것은?
돌을 하나씩 옮긴다는 표현은 비록 시간이 걸리더라도 포기하지 않고 꾸준히 노력하여 큰 일을 이룬다는 '우공이산'의 핵심 의미를 담고 있습니다.
'I don't budge'의 뜻으로 가장 적절한 것은?
'budge'는 약간 움직이거나 의견을 바꾼다는 뜻으로, 'don't budge'는 타인의 비난이나 어려움에도 흔들리지 않는 굳건함을 의미합니다.
가사 속에서 'Every “no” turns into fuel'이 상징하는 의미는?
남들의 거절(no)을 자신을 움직이게 하는 연료(fuel)로 바꾼다는 것은 역경을 딛고 일어서는 긍정적인 에너지를 의미합니다.
다음 중 'break of dawn'과 의미가 같은 표현은?
'break of dawn'은 해가 뜨는 시점인 '새벽'을 의미하므로 'sunrise'와 가장 가깝습니다.
가사 내용상 'Move that mountain'이 비유하는 바는?
'산을 옮긴다'는 것은 현실적으로 불가능해 보이는 거대한 목표나 난관을 자신의 의지로 이겨내는 것을 비유합니다.
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Mood
Tempo
Energy
Recommended For
,
About This Music
This cinematic K-Pop anthem delivers a surge of confidence, making you feel like the star of your own runway. It offers a modern reimagining of the 'Wugong Yishan' (The Foolish Old Man Who Moved the Mountains) spirit, using explosive band sounds and orchestral brass to represent the unyielding will to move mountains. The bright and exhilarating melody inspires listeners with the courage to overcome any adversity. With its dazzling vocal harmonies and powerful beats, the track provides an emotional experience akin to watching a coming-of-age movie.
Musical Composition
🎸 Instruments
, , Electric Guitar, , , ,
🎤 Vocals
The song features refreshing and powerful female vocals, characterized by cool, high-register belting and rich choral harmonies.
🎛️ Production
This is a modern production that emphasizes a stadium-style sense of space with added reverb for a grand soundscape and a strong sense of impact.
🌏 Cultural Elements
The track blends a Western pop-rock structure with the ornate vocal layering unique to K-Pop, while incorporating the spirit of the Eastern idiom 'Wugong Yishan,' which symbolizes persistence and the ability to achieve the impossible through steady effort.
📖 Music Glossary
A grand, song-like track designed for many people to sing along together.
💡 In this song: The structure is designed to induce a sing-along moment in the chorus, where all instruments burst forth simultaneously.
A technique where the individual notes of a chord are played in rapid succession rather than all at once.
💡 In this song: Sparkling synthesizer arpeggios run throughout the track, adding a sophisticated and modern atmosphere.
A technique of changing the key during a song to shift the mood or heighten the emotional climax.
💡 In this song: The key is raised in the final chorus to maximize emotion and highlight the vocalist's high notes.
A sound effect that gradually increases in pitch or volume to build tension.
💡 In this song: Used right before the transition from the pre-chorus to the chorus to bring the tension to its peak.
A singing technique where high notes are sung powerfully in a chest voice rather than a falsetto.
💡 In this song: Utilized in the final chorus where the female vocalist belts out the 'I am' message with clarity and power.
A technique where brass or synthesizer notes are played in short, sharp bursts to create a rhythmic pulse.
💡 In this song: Orchestral brass stabs are used during crucial parts of the chorus to double the song's grandeur and impact.
🎶 Similar Tracks
IVE - I AM
Shares a very similar confident vibe, featuring empowering lyrics and dazzling high-register vocals that make the listener feel like a protagonist.
Girls' Generation - Into The New World
Similar in the overwhelming sense of emotion created by combining bright, hopeful energy with grand string and pop sounds.
Katy Perry - Roar
An anthem-style pop-rock sound that conveys strong will and self-assurance, offering a similar motivational atmosphere.
LE SSERAFIM - UNFORGIVEN
Common ground is found in the bold attitude of walking one's own path, harmonized with intense beats and guitar sounds.
My Experience
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