Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a Korean elementary school student? Today’s song takes us into the world of a fourth grader navigating the pressures of Korea’s education system. “고학년” (Fourth Grader) by 9와 숫자들 (9 and the Numbers) offers a witty, bittersweet commentary on childhood, expectations, and growing up too fast.
9와 숫자들 is a Korean indie rock band known for blending modern rock with nostalgic Korean pop sensibilities. This track, from their 2019 album “서울시 여러분” (Dear Seoul Citizens), is perfect for intermediate Korean learners. The lyrics are conversational and full of everyday vocabulary about school life, family, and social expectations. Plus, you’ll pick up some great grammar patterns for expressing speculation, quotations, and future plans!
Listen
Lyrics Preview
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 요즘 어린 녀석들은 | yo-jeum eo-rin nyeo-seok-deu-reun | Kids these days |
| 의지 부족인 것 같아 | ui-ji bu-jo-gin geot ga-ta | Seem to lack willpower |
| 나는 고만할 때부터 | na-neun go-man-hal ttae-bu-teo | Since I was that age |
| 학원 여섯 개는 기본 | ha-gwon yeo-seot gae-neun gi-bon | Six hagwons was the basic |
| 난 이제 4학년 | nan i-je sa-hang-nyeon | I’m now a fourth grader |
| 고학년이라고 해 | go-hang-nyeo-ni-ra-go hae | They call it upper grades |
| 난 높이 배워서 공무원이 될 거야 | nan no-pi bae-wo-seo gong-mu-wo-ni doel geo-ya | I’ll learn high and become a civil servant |
| 그게 요즘 트렌드래 | geu-ge yo-jeum teu-ren-deu-rae | They say that’s the trend these days |
Want to see the full lyrics? Check them out on Bugs!
Key Expressions
Here are the must-know expressions from this song!
의지 부족 ui-ji bu-jok
Lack of willpower or determination. This phrase is commonly used when talking about someone who doesn’t have enough motivation or persistence.
그는 의지 부족으로 다이어트에 실패했어요.
He failed his diet due to lack of willpower.
학원 ha-gwon
A private academy or cram school. In Korea, most students attend multiple hagwons after regular school for extra study in subjects like English, math, and music.
저는 영어 학원에 다녀요.
I go to an English academy.
방과 후 bang-gwa hu
After school. This expression refers to the time period after regular school classes end.
방과 후에 뭐 해요?
What do you do after school?
공무원 gong-mu-won
A civil servant or government employee. In Korea, becoming a civil servant is considered a stable and desirable career path.
많은 사람들이 공무원 시험을 준비해요.
Many people prepare for the civil service exam.
쓴맛을 모르다 sseun-ma-seul mol-la-da
To not know the bitter taste (of life). This idiom means someone hasn’t experienced hardship or difficulties yet.
아직 세상의 쓴맛을 몰라요.
You don’t know the harshness of the world yet.
Grammar Points
-는 것 같다 (Expressing Speculation or Guessing)
This pattern is used to express what you think or guess about something. It’s similar to saying “it seems like” or “I think” in English. Attach -는 것 같다 to verb stems for present tense observations or speculation.
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 의지 부족인 것 같아 | ui-ji bu-jo-gin geot ga-ta | It seems like a lack of willpower |
| 비가 오는 것 같아요 | bi-ga o-neun geot ga-ta-yo | It seems like it’s raining |
| 그 사람이 한국인인 것 같아요 | geu sa-ra-mi han-gu-gi-nin geot ga-ta-yo | I think that person is Korean |
-ㄹ/을 거야 (Expressing Future Plans or Intentions)
This casual future tense ending expresses what someone will do or what will happen. Use -ㄹ 거야 after vowel-ending stems and -을 거야 after consonant-ending stems. Add 요 for polite speech.
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 공무원이 될 거야 | gong-mu-wo-ni doel geo-ya | I will become a civil servant |
| 내일 학교에 갈 거야 | nae-il hak-gyo-e gal geo-ya | I will go to school tomorrow |
| 이제 그만 놀 거야 | i-je geu-man nol geo-ya | I will stop playing now |
Culture Note
This song perfectly captures the reality of Korea’s intense education culture. Korean children often attend multiple hagwons (private academies) after school, studying subjects like English, math, essay writing, and even learning instruments like piano (referenced in the song with “체르니 30번” – Czerny No. 30, a famous piano exercise book). The pressure to succeed academically starts young, and becoming a 공무원 (civil servant) is seen as one of the most stable career paths, which is why the child in the song says it’s “the trend” and “mom’s wish.”
The song also plays with the word 고학년 (upper grades). The child proudly breaks it down: 높을 ‘고’ (high) + 배울 ‘학’ (learn), interpreting it as “learning high things” rather than just meaning “upper elementary grades.” This clever wordplay adds humor while highlighting how children absorb adult expectations.
Fun fact! The band’s leader, Song Jae-kyung (who goes by the stage name “9”), has quite an unusual background. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Western History and even worked as a manager at a construction company’s strategic planning team! Beyond his indie music career, he has also written lyrics and composed songs for major K-pop groups including BTS and TXT. All band members use numbers as their stage names (9, 0, 3, 4), which matches their unique band name “9 and the Numbers.”
Add your first comment to this post