Dictionary — Entry No. 0733
노래
nolae · noun
노래
nolae
[NOH-lay]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Nolae (노래) means song — a piece of music with vocals meant to be sung. It can refer to any song from traditional folk ballads to K-pop chart-toppers, and the verb form ‘노래 부르다’ means ‘to sing a song.’ It is one of the most frequently used words in Korean music culture.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Singing is central to Korean social bonding, anchored by the beloved institution of 노래방 (noraebang), private karaoke rooms where friends and coworkers connect through song. IU, celebrated as Korea’s ‘Nation’s Little Sister,’ has built a catalog of 노래 that are considered modern Korean classics. Stray Kids’ Bang Chan has spoken openly about how writing 노래 is his way of communicating directly with fans worldwide.
Example Sentences
이 노래 정말 좋아해요!
I nolae jeongmal joahaeyo!
I really love this song! (The most natural way to express your love for a K-pop track — use it freely)
노래 한 곡 불러줄 수 있어요?
Nolae han gok bulleojul su isseoyo?
Can you sing one song for me? (A request you’ll hear in noraebang scenes throughout K-drama — 한 곡 means ‘one song’)
BTS 노래는 항상 힘이 나요.
BTS nolaeneun hangsang himi nayo.
BTS songs always give me strength. (Expressing emotional connection to music — 힘이 나다 means ‘to feel energized/empowered’)
⚠️ Don’t use nolae when…
Don’t confuse 노래 (nolae, song with vocals) with 음악 (eumak, music broadly) — 노래 specifically implies singing. Also, ‘노래방’ is always spelled and romanized as one word (nolae + bang = room); calling it ‘nolae bar’ or ‘nolae club’ marks you immediately as unfamiliar with Korean culture.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988) — friends gather in the alley for spontaneous 노래 sessions that capture how songs define shared memory; the drama is essentially a love letter to the power of Korean song
- K-Pop: IU — Good Day (좋은 날)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.