Ugly Duckling album artwork

Ugly Duckling

Ugly Duckling

Artist: IU•Album: Growing up
🇰🇷 Korean📅 2008K-Pop

Track Information & Sing-Along Guide

“Ugly Duckling” (Ugly Duckling) is performed by IU, released on the album Growing up in 2008.

💡 Linguistic Features: Below you will find original Korean text (한글), standardized Revised Romanization with phonetic liaison corrections, and contextual English translations. Practice singing along with our synchronized Pronunciation Coach to slow down tricky syllables to 0.5x or 0.75x speed with pitch preservation.

Lyrics, Romanization & English Translation

Verse 1

저기 멀리 어둔 하늘 보다가

jeo-gi meol-ri eo-dun ha-neul bo-da-ga

엄마 별이 사는 그 곳은 어딜까

eom-ma byeol-i sa-neun geu gos-eun eo-dil-kka

외로운 밤 나를 보고 있을까

oe-ro-un bam na-reul bo-go iss-eul-kka

작은 날개짓으로 날 수가 없는

jak-eun nal-gae-jis-eu-ro nal su-ga eop-neun

미운 오리같은 나지만

mi-un o-ri-gat-eun na-ji-man

그래 나의 노래가 저 하늘에 닿을 때

geu-rae na-ui no-rae-ga jeo ha-neul-e dat-eul ttae

그땐 꼭 만날 수 있겠지

geu-ttaen kkok man-nal su iss-gess-ji

저기 멀리 구름 계단 오르면

jeo-gi meol-ri gu-reum gye-dan o-reu-myeon

Chorus

아빠 별이 나를 웃으며 반길까

a-ppa byeol-i na-reul us-eu-myeo ban-gil-kka

혼자인 날 기다리고 계실까

hon-ja-in nal gi-da-ri-go gye-sil-kka

작은 날개짓으로 날 수가 없는

jak-eun nal-gae-jis-eu-ro nal su-ga eop-neun

미운 오리같은 나지만

mi-un o-ri-gat-eun na-ji-man

그래 나의 노래가 저 하늘에 닿을 때

geu-rae na-ui no-rae-ga jeo ha-neul-e dat-eul ttae

그땐 꼭 만날 수 있겠지

geu-ttaen kkok man-nal su iss-gess-ji

한숨이 흘러도 가슴이 슬퍼도 그래도 울지 않아

han-sum-i heul-reo-do ga-seum-i seul-peo-do geu-rae-do ul-ji an-a

언젠가 또 다시 쉴 곳을 찾을 걸 알아

eon-jen-ga tto da-si swil gos-eul chat-eul geol al-a

Verse 3

작은 날개짓으로 날 수가 없는

jak-eun nal-gae-jis-eu-ro nal su-ga eop-neun

미운 오리같은 나지만

mi-un o-ri-gat-eun na-ji-man

그래 나의 노래가 끝날 때 쯤에

geu-rae na-ui no-rae-ga kkeut-nal ttae jjeum-e

그땐 꼭 만날 수 있겠지

geu-ttaen kkok man-nal su iss-gess-ji

하나 둘 셋 하얀 양을 세다가

ha-na dul ses ha-yan yang-eul se-da-ga

나도 몰래 눈물이 흘러 내려 와

na-do mol-rae nun-mul-i heul-reo nae-ryeo wa

💡 Song Meaning & Cultural Context

Explore the narrative depth, Korean idioms, and cultural symbolism behind “Ugly Duckling” by IU.

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1. Narrative Arc & Emotional Core

"Ugly Duckling" (Ugly Duckling) by IU is a standout track blending emotive storytelling with compelling musicality. The lyrics explore intimate themes of connection, emotional vulnerability, and personal growth, capturing the nuanced dynamics of modern relationships and youthful passion.

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2. Metaphors & Korean Idioms

The Korean phrasing in "Ugly Duckling" employs subtle cultural idioms and layered lyricism. Phrasing shifts between introspective Korean stanzas and rhythmic English phrases, allowing listeners to experience both universal accessibility and culturally rich linguistic nuance.

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3. Songwriting Context & Production

Crafted with refined arrangement techniques, "Ugly Duckling" highlights IU's dynamic vocal range across textured instrumentation and modern beat drops.

🇰🇷 Key Korean Vocabulary & Phrasal Nuance

Essential words to understand the deeper emotional resonance of this song:

마음(Maeum)
Heart, mind, feelings
노래(Norae)
Song, melody
사랑(Sarang)
Love, affection

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the main message of “Ugly Duckling”?

"Ugly Duckling" (Ugly Duckling) by IU is a standout track blending emotive storytelling with compelling musicality. The lyrics explore intimate themes of connection, emotional vuln...

Q: How can I practice singing “Ugly Duckling” with proper Korean pronunciation?

Use the K-Lyrics Sing-Along Coach to slow down tricky syllables to 0.5x or 0.75x speed with pitch lock, loop fast verses, and practice real-time tongue placement.

🎼 Production & Songwriting Credits

Verified production lineage and creative contributors for “Ugly Duckling”.

Performer (아티스트)IU
Album (앨범)Growing up
Release Year (발매연도)
Songwriting & ProductionOfficial creative contributors licensed under IU and affiliated music publishing rights holders.
💿 Track 5 of 12 on “Growing up”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ugly Duckling, pronunciation practice, and production history.

What is the English translation and meaning of Ugly Duckling by IU?

"Ugly Duckling" is performed by IU. K-Lyrics provides verified original Korean text (한글), syllable-accurate Revised Romanization, and conversational English translations detailing the emotional meaning behind the track.

Where can I practice singing Ugly Duckling with Romanized lyrics?

You can practice Ugly Duckling with our synchronized Pronunciation Coach at k-lyrics.com/coach/?song=ugly-duckling, featuring 0.5x and 0.75x slowed-down playback, pitch lock, and syllable breakdown.

Who wrote and produced Ugly Duckling by IU?

"Ugly Duckling" is performed by IU, released on the album "Growing up" in 2008. Official production and songwriting credits are registered with KOMCA and affiliated music publishing rights holders.

⚖️ Fair Use & Intellectual Property Notice: All original song lyrics, music compositions, and album artwork belong to IU, their respective songwriters, composers, and record labels. K-Lyrics provides phonetic Romanizations, syllable breakdowns, and educational tools strictly for language-learning and cultural commentary purposes under the Fair Use doctrine (17 U.S. Code § 107). To report discrepancies or submit copyright inquiries, please visit our DMCA Policy.