BTS '등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)' Lyrics Explained - Learn Korean with BTS
- BTS Lyric Translations
- Oct 31
- 29 min read
BTS (방탄소년단) - '등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)' Lyrics (With English Translation)
왜 불러 Why do you call me
왜: why
불러: (you) call / are calling
부르다 (to call, to sing) + -어 (informal present tense ending, casual)
왜 불러 Why do you call me
왜: why
불러: (you) call / are calling
부르다 (to call, to sing) + -어 (informal present tense ending, casual)
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
(La la la la la la la la la)
(La la la la la la la la la)
[RM] : You know that BTS is back
[Suga] : 수십짜리 신발에 또 수백짜리 패딩 Shoes that cost tens (of dollars) and padded jackets that cost hundreds (of dollars)
수십짜리: worth tens (of) / costing tens (of …)
수십 (tens, several tens (like 20, 30, 40…) + -짜리 (suffix meaning “worth / costing / priced at”) → “something that costs tens (of thousands)” or “worth tens (of dollars, hundreds, etc.),” depending on context.
신발에: on/with shoes
신발 (shoes) + -에 (particle, here marking the “on/with” relation)
또: again / also / additionally
수백짜리: worth hundreds (of) / costing hundreds (of …)
수백 (hundreds, several hundreds (like 200, 300…) + -짜리 (suffix meaning “worth / costing / priced at”) → “something that costs hundreds (of thousands)” or “worth hundreds (of dollars, etc.),” depending on context.
패딩: padded jacket, puffer jacket (loanword from “padding”)
수십짜리 시계에 또 으스대지 괜히 Showing off your watch worth tens (of thousands) again for no reason
수십짜리: worth tens (of) / costing tens (of …)
수십 (tens, several tens — 20, 30, 40…) + 짜리 (suffix meaning “worth / costing / priced at”) → “something that costs tens (of thousands)” or “worth tens (of dollars, hundreds, etc.),” depending on context.
시계에: with a watch / on a watch
시계 (watch, clock) + 에 (particle marking relation “with” or “on”)
또: again / also / additionally
으스대지: put on airs / act boastful
으스대다 (to swagger, brag, show off) + 지 (here softens or connects the verb (casual tone))
괜히: in vain / uselessly / for no reason / pointlessly
교육은 산으로 가고 학생도 산으로 가 Education goes to the mountains, students go to the mountains too
교육은: education (as for education)
교육 (education) + 은 (topic particle meaning “as for / regarding”)
산으로: to the mountain / into the mountains
산 (mountain) + 으로 (particle meaning “toward / into / to”)
가고: go and / goes and
가다 (to go) + 고 (connective ending meaning “and / and then”)
학생도: students too / students also
학생 (student) + 도 (particle meaning “too / also”)
산으로: to the mountain / into the mountains
산 (mountain) + 으로 (toward / into / to)
가: go / goes
가다 (to go) → 가 (present tense casual)
Idiomatic meaning: “Education is going off track, and students are going off track too.”
21세기 계급은 반으로 딱 나눠져 In the 21st century, class is divided exactly in half
21세기: 21st century
21 (twenty-one) + 세기 (century)
계급은: class / social class (as for class)
계급 (class, rank) + 은 (topic particle meaning “as for / regarding”)
반으로: in half / into halves
반 (half) + 으로 (particle meaning “into / as / by means of”)
딱: exactly / sharply / cleanly / perfectly
나눠져: is divided / gets split
나눠지다 (to be divided) → 나눠져 (casual present tense)
있는 자와 없는 자 Those who have and those who don’t
있는: having / that exists / who has
있다 (to exist, to have) + 는 (attributive form, modifies the following noun → “the one who has / the one that exists”)
자와: the person and …
자 (person, individual — formal/literary) + 와 (particle meaning “and (with)”)
없는: not having / that does not exist / who doesn’t have
없다 (to not exist, to not have) + 는 (attributive form, modifies the following noun → “the one who does not have”)
자: person, individual (the one who…)
Figuratively: “the haves and the have-nots”
신은 자와 없는 자 Those who wear shoes and those who don’t
신은: wearing (on the feet) / (the one who) put on
신다 (to wear, put on — for shoes or socks) + 은 (attributive ending — past/perfective)
자와: the person and …
자 (person, individual — formal/literary) + 와 (particle meaning “and (with)”)
없는: not having / without
없다 (to not exist, to not have) + 는 (attributive form)
자: person, individual
입은 자와 벗는 자 Those who wear (clothes) and those who take them off
입은: wearing / (the one who) wears
입다 (to wear, put on (clothes)) + - 은 (attributive ending, modifies the next noun → “the one who has worn / is wearing”)
자와: the person and …
자 (person, individual (formal/literary “the one who…”) + -와 (particle meaning “and (with)”)
벗는: taking off / (the one who) takes off
벗다 (to take off (clothes, shoes, hats, etc.) + -는(attributive ending - present tense, “the one who is taking off”)
자: person, individual
또 기를 써서 얻는 자 And those who try hard to get them
또: again / also / furthermore
기를: energy / spirit / will
기 (energy, strength, will, spirit) + 를 (object particle)
써서: using / by expending / by putting forth
쓰다 (to use, to spend, to exert) + 어서 (connective ending meaning “by doing / so that”)
얻는: obtaining / (the one who) gains / gets
얻다 (to obtain, to get) + 는 (attributive form, present tense)
자: person, individual (literary/formal “the one who…”)
이게 뭔 일이니 유행에서 넌 밀리니? What's going on here? Are you falling behind the trend?
이게: this (thing) is / as for this
이 (this) + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject particle) → 이게 (contracted form of 이것이)
뭔: what / what kind of
일이니: is (a) matter / is happening?
일 (thing, matter, event) + 이니 (copula with a question-like or exclamatory tone)
유행에서: in fashion / from trends
유행 (trend, fashion) + 에서 (location or source particle)
넌: you (as for you)
너 (you) + 는 (topic particle) → 넌
밀리니?: are you pushed back? / are you falling behind?
밀리다 (to be pushed, to fall behind) + 니 (casual question ending)
떼를 쓰고 애를 써서 얻어냈지, 찔리지? You threw a tantrum and struggled hard to get it, don’t you feel guilty?
떼를 쓰고: throwing a tantrum and / making a fuss and...
떼 (tantrum, stubborn demand, insistence) + 를 (object particle) + 쓰다 (to use; in this idiom, it means “to throw (a tantrum)”) → 떼를 쓰다 (to throw a tantrum, to make a fuss, to insist stubbornly to get what you want) + 고 (connective ending “and / and then”)
애를: effort / trouble (object form)
애 (effort, trouble, hardship — from 애쓰다) + 를 (object particle) → 애를 쓰다 (to put in effort, to try hard, to strain yourself)
써서: using / by putting forth
쓰다 (to use, to exert) + 어서 (connective ending “by / so that”) → 애를 써서 = “by trying hard / with great effort / after struggling”
얻어냈지: obtained / managed to get (with nuance of persistence)
얻어내다 (to obtain, to get something through effort, to manage to get) + -었- (past tense) + -지 (informal declarative or confirming ending, often used when asserting something or seeking light agreement: “you know,” “right?”)
찔리지?: you feel guilty, don’t you? / doesn’t it prick you?
찔리다 (to be pricked; to feel guilty) + 지? (ending seeking confirmation)
가득 찬 패딩 마냥 욕심이 계속 차 Full of greed like your coat full of padding
가득: full / filled up / overflowing
찬: filled / packed with
차다 (to be full, to be filled) + -ㄴ (attributive ending, “the … that is full”) → 가득 찬 = “filled,” “full,” “stuffed,” used as a modifier.
패딩: padded jacket / puffer (loanword from “padding”)
마냥: just like / as if / as though
욕심이: greed / desire (as the subject)
욕심 (greed, desire) + -이 (subject particle)
계속: continuously / constantly
차: fills up / gets full
차다 (to be filled, to become full) → (present tense casual form)
휘어지는 부모 등골을 봐도 넌 매몰차 Even when you see your parents’ backs bending (under the burden), you’re heartless
휘어지는: bending / being bent
휘어지다 (to bend, to be bent, to curve) + -는 (attributive present tense ending, describing a currently ongoing action: “that is bending”)
부모: parents
등골을: backbone / spine (object form)
등골 (spine, backbone) + -을 (object particle)
봐도: even if (you) see / though (you) look
보다 (to see, to look at) + -아도 (connective ending meaning “even if / even though”)
넌: you (as for you)
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle, emphasizing contrast or topic)
매몰차: cold / heartless / ruthless
매몰차다 (to be cold, heartless, indifferent) → 매몰차 (adjective stem, truncated or poetic form of 매몰차다 - dropping -다 for rhythm or emphasis)
"부모 등골 휘다” is a common idiom about parents suffering financially to support their children.
친구는 다 있다고 졸라대니 안 사줄 수도 없다고 You complain that all your friends have them, so your parents can't help but buy you one
친구는: friends (as for friends)
친구 (friend) + -는 (topic particle, “as for …”)
다: all / everyone
있다고: (they) say (there) is / (they) have (quoted)
있다 (to exist, to have) + -다고 (quoted ending meaning “that …”)
졸라대니: since (they) keep pestering / because (they) keep begging
졸라대다 (to nag, to beg persistently, to pester) + -니 (ending meaning “because / since”)
안 사줄 수도 없다고: (saying) (they) couldn’t not buy it for you
안 (not, adverb of negation, placed before verbs) + 사주다 (to buy (something) for someone, 사다 (to buy) + -아주다 (to do something for someone’s benefit)) → 안 사주다 (to not buy (for someone)) + -ㄹ 수도 없다 (can’t even / can’t possibly) + -다고 (quoting that thought or statement → “(saying) I couldn’t not buy it”)
(Ayo baby)
철딱서니 없게 굴지 말어 Don’t act immaturely
철딱서니: sense / maturity / prudence (Colloquial noun meaning “foresight, proper judgment, or sense of responsibility.” Often used in the expression 철딱서니 없다 (“to be immature / thoughtless / irresponsible”).
없게: without / in a way that lacks
없다 (to not exist, to lack) + -게 (adverbial ending meaning “in a way that … / so that …”) So 철딱서니 없게 = “in a way that shows no sense / immaturely.”
굴지 말어: Don’t act (like that) / Don’t behave that way
굴다 (to behave, to act, to conduct oneself) + -지 말다 (Don’t (verb)) → 말어 (casual, softer / dialectal version of 말아)
그깟 패딩 안 입는다고 얼어 죽진 않어 Not wearing that trivial padded jacket won’t actually make you freeze to death
그깟: that trivial / that petty / such a small (thing) → 그깟 패딩 = “that measly padded jacket” / “that stupid coat”
패딩: padded jacket / puffer (loanword from “padding”)
안 입는다고: just because you don’t wear (it)
안 입다 (to not wear, 안 (not verb) + 입다 (to wear)) + -는다고 (saying / thinking that (someone) does …, reports, mocks, or gives cause (“just because …”))
얼어 죽진 않어: (you) won’t freeze to death / it’s not like you’ll actually freeze to death
얼어 죽다 (to freeze to death (얼다 = to freeze, 죽다 = to die)) + -지는 않다 (emphatic negative: “not really / not at all / won’t actually”)
패딩 안에 거위털을 채우기 전에 Before you fill the padded jacket with goose down
패딩: padded jacket / puffer (loanword from “padding”)
안에: inside / within
안 (inside) + -에 (location particle meaning “in / at / on”)
거위털을: goose feathers (object form)
거위 (goose) + 털 (feather, down, fur, hair) + -을 (object particle)
채우기 전에: before (you) fill it up / before filling up
채우다 (to fill, to stuff) + -기 전에 (before doing (verb))
니 머릿속 개념을 채우길, 늦기 전에 I hope you fill your head with ideas, before it's too late
니: your (casual, from 너의)
머릿속: inside (your) head / in the mind
머리 (head) + -속 (inside, within) → together meaning “inside the head / in the mind”
개념을: concept / understanding (object form)
개념 (concept, idea, sense) + -을 (object particle)
채우길: to fill / may (you) fill (hopeful or wishing nuance)
채우다 (to fill) + -길 (contraction of -기를, nominalizing form used to express desire or hope — “that you fill / may you fill”)
늦기 전에: before it’s too late / before being late
늦다 (to be late) + -기 전에 (before doing (verb))
[V] : Wow 기분 좋아 걸쳐보는 너의 dirty clothes Wow, I feel good, trying on your dirty clothes
기분: feeling / mood
좋아: good / (I) feel good
좋다 (to be good) + -아 (casual present ending → used for statements like “it’s good” or “I feel good”)
걸쳐보는: trying on / putting on (to see)
걸치다 (to put on, to drape, to wear) + -어보다 (to try doing something) → 걸쳐보다 = “to try wearing / to try putting on" + -는 (present-tense attributive ending, used to describe a noun — like adding “-ing” or “who/that [verb-s]” in English)
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”)
넌 뭔가 다른 You're somewhat different
넌: you (as for you)
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle, marking “as for you”)
뭔가: something / somewhat / kind of
다른: different / another
다르다 (to be different) + -ㄴ (attributive ending forming “different (thing/person)”)
Rockin, rollin, swaggin, swagger, wrong!
[Jungkook] : 도대체 왜 이래 미쳤어 baby What on earth is wrong with you? You’re crazy, baby
도대체: on earth / what the heck / how in the world
Intensifier used in questions or exclamations to express frustration, disbelief, or emphasis (“what on earth / how in the world”).
왜: why
이래: like this / acting this way
이렇다 (to be like this) → 이래 (casual spoken form, meaning “be like this / act like this”) → 왜 이래 = “why are you like this?” / “what’s wrong with you?”
미쳤어: (you) are crazy / went crazy
미치다 (to go crazy, to lose one’s mind) + -었어 (past tense casual ending → “went crazy / have gone crazy") → 미쳤어 = “You’re crazy / You’ve lost it.”
[V] : 그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야, dirty clothes That (thing) will tighten your heart, dirty clothes
그게: that (thing) / that is
그 (that) + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject particle) → contracted form 그것이 → 그게 (“that thing / that is”).
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”).
맘을: heart / mind (object form)
맘 (colloquial contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle).
조여버릴: it will squeeze / will tighten completely
조이다 (to tighten, to squeeze, to press) + -어버리다 (auxiliary verb meaning “completely / entirely,” often implying finality or negativity) + ㄹ 거야 (future tense ending, casual)
*A puffer coat (패딩) is big, heavy, and full — and when zipped up, it literally presses around your body. This lyric works on two levels. Physically, it recalls the way a puffer jacket hugs and restricts the body; emotionally, it implies inner constriction — losing warmth, becoming cold, defensive, and hardened. “It’ll tighten your heart” can subtly suggest: “It’ll make your heart harden, close off, lose feeling.”
In “등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)”, the puffer jacket (패딩) symbolizes consumer greed, obsession with image and status, and valuing possessions over people. So when the lyric says “그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야,” it’s as if that very jacket — the one meant to keep you warm — has turned against you. “That jacket, that greed, will squeeze your heart until there’s no warmth left.” “Your obsession will make you cold inside.”
Ultimately, the line conveys the emotional weight of materialism — your heart being squeezed by desire, vanity, and guilt.
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jungkook] : 니가 바로 등골브레이커 You are exactly the spine-breaker
니가: you (subject)
너 (you) + -가 (subject particle)
바로: exactly / just / precisely / right (at that moment or place).
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”). Figurative slang meaning “someone who breaks their parents’ backs” — referring to kids who pressure their parents to buy expensive branded goods, causing financial strain.
*Figurative: “You’re the one who breaks your parents’ back with your demands."
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jin] : 부모님의 등골브레이커 Your parents’ backbreaker
부모님의: parents’ / of the parents
부모 (parents) + -님 (honorific suffix meaning “respected”) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”) → 부모님의 = “of the parents” / “parents’.”
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”). Slang meaning: a child who financially burdens their parents by constantly demanding expensive or luxury items, as if “breaking their parents’ backs.”
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jimin] : 언젠가는 후회하게 될 걸 Someday you’ll regret it
언젠가는: someday / at some point (for sure)
언젠가 (“someday / sometime”) + -는 (topic particle adding emphasis: “as for someday / someday at least”).
후회하게 될 걸: (It’s) the thing that you will end up regretting / You’ll regret it
후회하다 (to regret) + -게 되다 (“to end up doing / come to do”) → 후회하게 되다 (“to end up regretting”) + -ㄹ 걸 (soft warning or foretelling tone, “probably / I bet …” / "you’ll see") (-ㄹ (attributive future ending) + 것을 (thing + object particle) → 될 걸
“the thing that will (become / happen)”)
*Grammar note: 것을 takes the object particle -을 (contracted to 걸) because it’s the object of an implied verb (like “see,” “know,” or “realize”) that’s dropped from the sentence for stylistic, emotional, or predictive effect. 언젠가는 후회하게 될 걸 =
literally: “(It’s) the thing that you will come to regret someday,” but feels like “You’ll regret it someday — you’ll see.”
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
빌어먹을 등골브레이커 Damn spine-breaker
빌어먹을: Damn / Freaking
빌어먹다 (literally “to beg and eat (off someone else).” Idiomatic, used as a curse or insult similar to “damn,” “freaking,” etc. It literally evokes the image of “someone so pitiful they have to beg for food,” but in modern use it’s just an intensifier expressing frustration or contempt.)
등골브레이커: Spine breaker
등골 (spine) + 브레이커 (breaker). Refers to a kid who burdens their parents financially—“breaking their parents’ backs” (from overwork or expenses). Often used for teens demanding expensive clothes or luxury items.
[RM] : 왜 불러 kid? 너넨 요즘 참 배불렀지 Why are you calling me, kid? You guys have been really spoiled these days, haven’t you?
왜: why
불러: (you) call / are calling
부르다 (to call, to sing) + -어 (casual present tense ending → “you call / you’re calling”).
너넨: you guys (as for you)
너네 (you plural, “you guys”) + -는 (topic particle → “as for you guys”).
요즘: these days / recently
참: really / truly / quite (adds nuance of mild sarcasm or emphasis depending on tone).
배불렀지: (you) were full / have been full (figuratively: “you’ve had it good,” “you’ve been spoiled / complacent”)
배부르다 (to be full, literally “full from eating”) + -었- (past tense marker) + -지 (casual sentence ending, softening or adding nuance like “you know / weren’t you”).
남의 인생 참견이 좀 주제넘지 It's a bit presumptuous to meddle in other people's lives, isn’t it?
남의: others’ / someone else’s
남 (another person, others) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”) → “of another person / someone else’s.”
인생: life
참견이: interference / meddling (as the subject)
참견 (interference, nosiness, butting in) + -이 (subject particle).
좀: a bit / kind of / rather (softening or moderating adverb).
주제넘지: presumptuous / out of line, isn’t it
주제넘다 (to overstep, to be presumptuous, to go beyond one’s place) + -지 (sentence-ending particle adding a tone of mildness, confirmation, or rhetorical emphasis — “isn’t it / you know”).
속 빈 강정뿐인 말들을 왜 계속해 Why do you keep saying empty words?
속: inside / interior
빈: empty
비다 (to be empty) + -ㄴ (attributive ending → “empty (thing)”).
강정: gangjeong (traditional Korean puffed rice snack) Often hollow inside → used figuratively to describe something empty or lacking substance, like “empty words.”
뿐인: only / nothing but
뿐 (only, merely) + -인 (attributive form of 이다, “to be”) → “that is only … / that is nothing but ….”
말들을: words (object form)
말 (word, speech) + -들 (plural marker) + -을 (object particle).
왜: why
계속해: keep doing / continue
계속하다 (to continue) + -해 (casual present tense ending → “keep doing / you continue”).
"Why do you keep saying words that are nothing but empty (like hollow rice snacks)?”
내가 받은 돈 내가 쓰겠다는데 I said I'd use the money I received
내가: I (as subject)
나 (I, me) + -가 (subject particle marking the subject of the verb).
받은: received / the one I got
받다 (to receive) + -은 (attributive past tense ending → “that I received / received …”).
돈: money
쓰겠다는데: (I) say I will spend / (I) intend to use (but…)
쓰겠다 ((I) will use / intend to use / want to use) + -는데 (connective ending often used to add contrast, background, or frustration — here implying “I’m saying I’ll spend it (but…)”).
5천만의 취향을 다 니들처럼 맞춰야 만족할 사람들이지 You’re the kind of people who’ll only be satisfied if all 50 million people’s tastes match yours
5천만의: of fifty million
5천만 (fifty million) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”) → “of fifty million.”
취향을: tastes / preferences (object form)
취향 (taste, preference) + -을 (object particle).
다: all / completely / entirely.
니들처럼: like you guys
니들 (you, plural / you guys, casual) + -처럼 (particle meaning “like / as”).
맞춰야: have to match / adjust / conform (to)
맞추다 (to match, to adjust, to tailor) + -어야 (obligation or necessity ending meaning “must / should”).
만족할: (that) would be satisfied
만족하다 (to be satisfied / to satisfy) + -ㄹ (attributive future ending → “that will …” → describes “people who would be satisfied”).
사람들이지: they’re people who … / the kind of people who …, aren’t they?
사람들 (people, plural) + -이 (the copula “to be”) + -지 (sentence-ending particle adding an asserting or explanatory tone, often “you know / after all”).
제발 너나 잘 사셔 니 인생 말이여, Please take care of yourself and live your own life
제발: please
너나: you yourself / you at least
너 (you) + -나 (particle meaning “at least / for your part” → implies “you of all people” or “you, at least, should…” (often with a sarcastic or pointed tone). Used to tell someone to focus on themselves or take responsibility.)
잘: well / properly / nicely
사셔: live (honorific imperative or suggestion form)
살다 (to live) + -시- (honorific infix) + -어 (casual informal ending, softening the tone) → 사셔 means “(please) live well” or “go live your own life,” often used with a mix of sarcasm and politeness depending on context.
니: your (casual, from 너의).
인생: life.
말이여: (I’m) saying / I mean
말 (word, saying) + -이여 (dialectal or old-fashioned copula ending, roughly “is / I’m saying / you know.”) → 말이여 = “말이야” said in a dialectal or emphatic way, meaning “I’m saying,” “You know what I mean,” or “Exactly! / That’s what I’m saying!” depending on tone. (말이야 / 말이여 = “(It) is (my) words / I’m saying (that)...”)
니가 나면 말 안 하겠어 If I were you, I wouldn't say anything
니가: you (as the subject)
너 (you, casual form) + -가 (subject particle marking the subject of the verb).
나면: if (you) were me
나 (I / me, casual) + -면 (if / when)
말 안 하겠어: “I won’t say (anything)” or “I’m not going to tell (you)”
말 (speech / words / what one says) + 안 (negation particle, “not”) + 하겠어 (from 하다 (to do) + -겠어 (future or volitional ending, “will / would”) → “will do” → with 안, it becomes “won’t do.”)
그래 내 패딩 더럽게 비싸고 더럽게 안 예뻐 Yeah, my padded jacket is ridiculously expensive and ridiculously not pretty
그래: yeah / that’s right / I admit it (Used to show agreement, acknowledgment, or resignation (“yeah / that’s right / fine”).)
내: my
패딩: padded jacket / puffer (loanword from “padding”).
더럽게: terribly / awfully / ridiculously (slang intensifier, literally “dirtily”) — emphasizes a negative or exaggerated quality.
비싸고: expensive (and)
비싸다 (to be expensive) + -고 (connective ending meaning “and”).
안: not (negation adverb).
예뻐: pretty / good-looking (casual present)
예쁘다 (to be pretty) + -어 (casual informal ending → “is pretty / looks good”).
(But I say)
너무 갖고 싶은데 어떡해 I really want it, what do I do?
너무: too / very / so much
갖고 싶은데: I want to have it, but… / I’d like to have it, though…
갖다 (to have, to possess) + -고 싶다 (want to) → 갖고 싶다 = “to want to have.” + –(으)ㄴ데 (connective ending that means “but,” “though,” or “you see.” It links two ideas, adds contrast, or sets background context.)
어떡해: what to do / how to do (it)
Contraction of 어떻게 해 (“how do (I) do it?” or “what should I do?”), expressing worry, confusion, or helplessness depending on tone.
나보다 못 사는 친구들도 다 가졌는데 Even my friends who live worse than me all have it
나보다: than me / compared to me
나 (I, me) + -보다 (particle meaning “than / compared to”).
못 사는: (who) live poorer / can’t live as well
못 (cannot / poorly) + 살다 (to live) + -는 (attributive present ending → “the ones who live [poorly / less well]”).
친구들도: even friends / friends too
친구들 (friends) + -도 (particle meaning “too / also / even”).
다: all / everyone / everything.
가졌는데: have had / possessed (but / and yet)
가지다 (to have, to own) + -었- (past tense marker) + -는데 (connective ending adding contrast, background, or surprise → “but / though / and yet / even though”).
(And I say)
은따 되기 싫음 살 수밖에 If I don't want to become an outcast, I have no choice but to buy it
은따: eun-tta (slang) = “class outcast / someone excluded”
Shortened from 은근한 따돌림 (“subtle ostracism”). Refers to someone quietly left out or socially isolated by their peers.
되기: becoming / to become (noun form)
되다 (to become) + -기 (nominalizer that turns the verb into a noun → “becoming”).
싫음: if (I) dislike / if (I) don’t want
싫다 (to dislike, to hate) + -으면 (if / when) → casual contracted form 싫음 (“if I don’t want / if I hate”).
살 수밖에: I have no choice but to buy (it). / I can’t help but buy it.
사다 (to buy) + –(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (There’s no choice but to… / Can’t help but… / Have to…) (even if the 없다 is omitted in casual speech, it’s understood)
이 나이 때쯤이면 원래 다들 좀 그러잖니 At this age, everyone’s usually kind of like that, you know
이: this
나이: age
때쯤이면: around this time / at this age
때 (time, moment) + -쯤 (about, around) + -이면 (conditional form of “이다,” meaning “if it is / when it is”) → “when it’s about this time / around this age.”
원래: originally / by nature / normally / usually.
다들: everyone / all of them
다 (all) + -들 (plural marker).
좀: a bit / somewhat / kind of (softens tone).
그러잖니: (aren’t they) like that / you know they are
그러다 (to act like that, to be so) + -잖- (soft assertion meaning “you know / as you know”) + -니 (casual question ending meaning “right? / isn’t it?”) → “You know they’re like that, right?”
Yeah I dunno, yes I’m loco, is it no-no?
I know they ain’t cheap but they got mojos
But 난 내 할 일은 잘해 부모님 등골 안 부셔 But I do my part well — I don’t break my parents’ back
난: I (as for me)
나 (I, me) + -는 (topic particle) → contracted to 난, meaning “as for me.”
내: my
할 일은: the things (I) have to do (as for…)
하다 (to do) + 일 (thing, task, work) → 할 일 (“things to do / what I have to do”) + -은 (topic particle → “as for the things I have to do”).
잘해: do well / do properly
잘 (well) + 하다 (to do) → 해 (casual present tense form, “do”) → “do well / do it properly.”
부모님: parents (honorific)
부모 (parents) + -님 (honorific suffix expressing respect).
등골 안 부셔: (Their) spine won’t break. / (I) don't break (their) back.
등골 (spine / backbone, often used figuratively in Korean to mean one’s financial or physical endurance — e.g. “등골이 휜다” = “my back breaks” = I’m overworked or financially drained) + 안 (not / don't, negation adverb, placed before verbs) + 부셔 (break / smash, non-standard colloquial contraction of 부수어, present tense informal from 부수다 — “to break,” “to smash,” “to destroy.”)
*Figurative: “I don’t burden my parents financially.”
진짜 브레이커는 나이 먹고 아직도 방구석인 너 The real breaker is you, growing older and still in your room
진짜: real / true / genuine
Used both literally (“real”) and colloquially for emphasis (“really / seriously”).
브레이커는: breaker (as for the breaker)
브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”) + -는 (topic particle → “as for the breaker”).
나이 먹고: growing old / aging (and)
나이 (age) + 먹다 (literally “to eat,” idiomatic meaning “to get older”) + -고 (connective ending meaning “and / while / after”).
아직도: still / even now / yet
방구석인: (who is) in the corner of a room / stuck at home
방 (room) + 구석 (corner) + -인 (attributive form of “이다,” meaning “being …”) → “the one who is in the corner of the room.”
너: you.
[V] : Wow 기분 좋아 걸쳐보는 너의 dirty clothes Wow, I feel good, trying on your dirty clothes
기분: feeling / mood
좋아: good / (I) feel good
좋다 (to be good) + -아 (casual present ending → used for statements like “it’s good” or “I feel good”)
걸쳐보는: trying on / putting on (to see)
걸치다 (to put on, to drape, to wear) + -어보다 (to try doing something) → 걸쳐보다 = “to try wearing / to try putting on" + -는 (present-tense attributive ending, used to describe a noun — like adding “-ing” or “who/that [verb-s]” in English)
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”)
넌 뭔가 다른 You're somewhat different
넌: you (as for you)
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle, marking “as for you”)
뭔가: something / somewhat / kind of
다른: different / another
다르다 (to be different) + -ㄴ (attributive ending forming “different (thing/person)”)
Rockin, rollin, swaggin, swagger, wrong!
[Jungkook] : 도대체 왜 이래 미쳤어 baby What on earth is wrong with you? You’re crazy, baby
도대체: on earth / what the heck / how in the world
Intensifier used in questions or exclamations to express frustration, disbelief, or emphasis (“what on earth / how in the world”).
왜: why
이래: like this / acting this way
이렇다 (to be like this) → 이래 (casual spoken form, meaning “be like this / act like this”) → 왜 이래 = “why are you like this?” / “what’s wrong with you?”
미쳤어: (you) are crazy / went crazy
미치다 (to go crazy, to lose one’s mind) + -었어 (past tense casual ending → “went crazy / have gone crazy") → 미쳤어 = “You’re crazy / You’ve lost it.”
[V] : 그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야, dirty clothes That (thing) will tighten your heart, dirty clothes
그게: that (thing) / that is
그 (that) + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject particle) → contracted form 그것이 → 그게 (“that thing / that is”).
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”).
맘을: heart / mind (object form)
맘 (colloquial contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle).
조여버릴: it will squeeze / will tighten completely
조이다 (to tighten, to squeeze, to press) + -어버리다 (auxiliary verb meaning “completely / entirely,” often implying finality or negativity) + ㄹ 거야 (future tense ending, casual)
*A puffer coat (패딩) is big, heavy, and full — and when zipped up, it literally presses around your body. This lyric works on two levels. Physically, it recalls the way a puffer jacket hugs and restricts the body; emotionally, it implies inner constriction — losing warmth, becoming cold, defensive, and hardened. “It’ll tighten your heart” can subtly suggest: “It’ll make your heart harden, close off, lose feeling.”
In “등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)”, the puffer jacket (패딩) symbolizes consumer greed, obsession with image and status, and valuing possessions over people. So when the lyric says “그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야,” it’s as if that very jacket — the one meant to keep you warm — has turned against you. “That jacket, that greed, will squeeze your heart until there’s no warmth left.” “Your obsession will make you cold inside.”
Ultimately, the line conveys the emotional weight of materialism — your heart being squeezed by desire, vanity, and guilt.
[j-hope] : 너도 dirty clothes 나도 dirty clothes You wear dirty clothes too, I wear dirty clothes too
너도: you too / you also
너 (you) + -도 (particle meaning “also / too / even”).
나도: I too / me also
나 (I, me) + -도 (particle meaning “also / too / even”).
"Both you and I are wearing/covered in dirty clothes.” → leveling statement: “we’re no different.”
누구나 겪어봤겠지 Everybody's been through it
누구나: everyone / anybody
겪어봤겠지: must have experienced / probably went through
겪다 (to go through, to experience) + -어보다 (to try doing / to have experienced) → 겪어보다 (“to experience”) + -었- (past marker) + -겠- (assumption or conjecture, “must have / probably”) + -지 (sentence-ending particle adding a soft, confirming nuance → “right? / you know”).
입고 거리로 나가보면 어깨 힘 빡 들어가고 When you go out to the street wearing it, your shoulders tense up (with confidence)
입고: wearing (and)
입다 (to wear, to put on clothes) + -고 (connective ending meaning “and / while”).
거리로: to the street / onto the street
거리 (street, road) + -로 (particle meaning “to / toward / into / as”).
나가보면: if (you) go out and see / when (you) go out
나가보다 (to go out and see/try going out) + -면 (if / when)
어깨 힘 빡 들어가고: Literally: “the strength goes firmly into my shoulders.” → Natural meaning: “my shoulders tense up / I square my shoulders / I puff up with confidence.”
어깨 (shoulders) + 힘 (strength, tension, force) + 빡 (slang adverb: firmly, tightly, strongly, suddenly) + 들어가고 (from 들어가다 (to go in / tense up / get stiff) + -고 (connective ending meaning “and / while”))
The expression “어깨에 힘이 들어가다” is idiomatic — it means to act confident, proud, or slightly cocky, like physically straightening your back and lifting your shoulders when feeling cool or showing off. Adding 빡 makes it stronger and slangier, implying a noticeable or exaggerated confidence (“my shoulders go bam! tense”).
나보다 작아 보이지 like 걸리버 And everyone looks smaller than me, like (I’m) Gulliver
나보다: than me / compared to me
나 (I, me) + -보다 (particle meaning “than / compared to”).
작아 보이지: looks small, doesn’t it? / looks small
작다 (to be small) + -아 보이다 (to look / seem …) + -지 (sentence-ending particle, often for emphasis or rhetorical tone)
걸리버: Gulliver
Loanword from “Gulliver” — the character from Gulliver’s Travels. So: “like Gulliver” → implying others look small the way Gulliver saw tiny people. It’s a confident, slightly boastful line — he feels big, dominant, or powerful, comparing himself to Gulliver towering over the Lilliputians.
뭘 입어도 이해해, Whatever you wear, I understand
뭘: whatever / no matter what
Contraction of 무엇을 (what + object marker -을) → “what / whatever (thing)”
입어도: even if (you) wear / no matter what (you) wear
입다 (to wear) + -어도 (connective ending meaning “even if / though / no matter …”).
이해해: (I) understand
이해하다 (to understand) + -해 (casual present tense ending → “I understand / I get it”).
근데 넌 너무 배가 부른 상태 But you’re in a state of being way too full
근데: but / however / by the way (Casual connective used to contrast or shift topics; can mean “but,” “however,” or “by the way,” depending on context.)
넌: you (as for you)
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle) → contracted to 넌, meaning “as for you.”
너무: too / overly / very
배가 부른 상태: (in) a full state / being full / a state of fullness
배 (belly, stomach) + -가 (subject particle) + 부르다 (to be full, as in after eating) + -ㄴ (attributive ending → “that is full / full (state)”) + 상태 (state / condition / situation)
*Figurative: “You’re too satisfied / complacent.”
체해, 후회해 You’ll get indigestion and regret it
체해: get indigestion / feel sick from overeating
체하다 (to have indigestion, to suffer from stomach trouble) -해: casual present ending
후회해: regret / feel regret
후회하다 (to regret) + -해 (casual present ending)
넌 계속 swag해, 허나 부모 맘은 배제해? You keep swagging, but are you leaving out your parents’ feelings?
넌: you (as for you)
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle meaning “as for you”) → contracted to 넌
계속: continuously / constantly / keep on.
swag해: act swag / keep swagging
“swag” (English word used directly in Korean to mean style, confidence, or attitude) + 하다 (to do) → 해 (casual present tense form) → “do swag / act with swag.”
허나: but / however
Formal or rhetorical equivalent of “하지만” or “그러나,” often used for contrast or emphasis in lyrics or speeches.
부모: parents.
맘은: heart / feelings (as for)
맘 (casual contraction of 마음, meaning heart, feelings, mind) + -은 (topic particle → “as for the heart / as for the feelings”).
배제해: exclude / leave out
배제하다 (to exclude, to leave out) + -해 (casual present tense form) → “Do you exclude? / Are you leaving out?”).
그래 말리진 않을게 Yeah, I won't stop you
그래: fine / okay / alright (Used to agree, concede, or show acceptance — depending on tone, it can sound calm, resigned, or dismissive.)
말리진 않을게: I won’t stop you / I won’t hold you back
말리다 (to stop, to dissuade, to hold someone back) + -지는 않다 (emphatic negative) + -을게 (I’ll / I won’t — promise)
이제 맘을 정해 Now make up your mind
이제: now / from now on / at this point.
맘을: heart / mind (object form)
맘 (casual contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle).
정해: decide / set / fix
정하다 (to decide, to set, to determine) + -해 (casual present or imperative ending → “decide / set it / make up (your mind)”).
[V] : Wow 기분 좋아 걸쳐보는 너의 dirty clothes Wow, I feel good, trying on your dirty clothes
기분: feeling / mood
좋아: good / (I) feel good
좋다 (to be good) + -아 (casual present ending → used for statements like “it’s good” or “I feel good”)
걸쳐보는: trying on / putting on (to see)
걸치다 (to put on, to drape, to wear) + -어보다 (to try doing something) → 걸쳐보다 = “to try wearing / to try putting on" + -는 (present-tense attributive ending, used to describe a noun — like adding “-ing” or “who/that [verb-s]” in English)
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”)
넌 뭔가 다른 You're somewhat different
넌: you (as for you)
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle, marking “as for you”)
뭔가: something / somewhat / kind of
다른: different / another
다르다 (to be different) + -ㄴ (attributive ending forming “different (thing/person)”)
Rockin, rollin, swaggin, swagger, wrong!
[Jungkook] : 도대체 왜 이래 미쳤어 baby What on earth is wrong with you? You’re crazy, baby
도대체: on earth / what the heck / how in the world
Intensifier used in questions or exclamations to express frustration, disbelief, or emphasis (“what on earth / how in the world”).
왜: why
이래: like this / acting this way
이렇다 (to be like this) → 이래 (casual spoken form, meaning “be like this / act like this”) → 왜 이래 = “why are you like this?” / “what’s wrong with you?”
미쳤어: (you) are crazy / went crazy
미치다 (to go crazy, to lose one’s mind) + -었어 (past tense casual ending → “went crazy / have gone crazy") → 미쳤어 = “You’re crazy / You’ve lost it.”
[V] : 그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야, dirty clothes That (thing) will tighten your heart, dirty clothes
그게: that (thing) / that is
그 (that) + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject particle) → contracted form 그것이 → 그게 (“that thing / that is”).
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”).
맘을: heart / mind (object form)
맘 (colloquial contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle).
조여버릴: it will squeeze / will tighten completely
조이다 (to tighten, to squeeze, to press) + -어버리다 (auxiliary verb meaning “completely / entirely,” often implying finality or negativity) + ㄹ 거야 (future tense ending, casual)
*A puffer coat (패딩) is big, heavy, and full — and when zipped up, it literally presses around your body. This lyric works on two levels. Physically, it recalls the way a puffer jacket hugs and restricts the body; emotionally, it implies inner constriction — losing warmth, becoming cold, defensive, and hardened. “It’ll tighten your heart” can subtly suggest: “It’ll make your heart harden, close off, lose feeling.”
In “등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)”, the puffer jacket (패딩) symbolizes consumer greed, obsession with image and status, and valuing possessions over people. So when the lyric says “그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야,” it’s as if that very jacket — the one meant to keep you warm — has turned against you. “That jacket, that greed, will squeeze your heart until there’s no warmth left.” “Your obsession will make you cold inside.”
Ultimately, the line conveys the emotional weight of materialism — your heart being squeezed by desire, vanity, and guilt.
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jungkook] : 니가 바로 등골브레이커 You are exactly the spine-breaker
니가: you (subject)
너 (you) + -가 (subject particle)
바로: exactly / just / precisely / right (at that moment or place).
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”). Figurative slang meaning “someone who breaks their parents’ backs” — referring to kids who pressure their parents to buy expensive branded goods, causing financial strain.
*Figurative: “You’re the one who breaks your parents’ back with your demands."
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jin] : 부모님의 등골브레이커 Your parents’ backbreaker
부모님의: parents’ / of the parents
부모 (parents) + -님 (honorific suffix meaning “respected”) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of”) → 부모님의 = “of the parents” / “parents’.”
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”). Slang meaning: a child who financially burdens their parents by constantly demanding expensive or luxury items, as if “breaking their parents’ backs.”
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jimin] : 언젠가는 후회하게 될 걸 Someday you’ll regret it
언젠가는: someday / at some point (for sure)
언젠가 (“someday / sometime”) + -는 (topic particle adding emphasis: “as for someday / someday at least”).
후회하게 될 걸: (It’s) the thing that you will end up regretting / You’ll regret it
후회하다 (to regret) + -게 되다 (“to end up doing / come to do”) → 후회하게 되다 (“to end up regretting”) + -ㄹ 걸 (soft warning or foretelling tone, “probably / I bet …” / "you’ll see") (-ㄹ (attributive future ending) + 것을 (thing + object particle) → 될 걸
“the thing that will (become / happen)”)
*Grammar note: 것을 takes the object particle -을 (contracted to 걸) because it’s the object of an implied verb (like “see,” “know,” or “realize”) that’s dropped from the sentence for stylistic, emotional, or predictive effect. 언젠가는 후회하게 될 걸 =
literally: “(It’s) the thing that you will come to regret someday,” but feels like “You’ll regret it someday — you’ll see.”
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
빌어먹을 등골브레이커 Damn spine-breaker
빌어먹을: Damn / Freaking
빌어먹다 (literally “to beg and eat (off someone else).” Idiomatic, used as a curse or insult similar to “damn,” “freaking,” etc. It literally evokes the image of “someone so pitiful they have to beg for food,” but in modern use it’s just an intensifier expressing frustration or contempt.)
등골브레이커: Spine breaker
등골 (spine) + 브레이커 (breaker). Refers to a kid who burdens their parents financially—“breaking their parents’ backs” (from overwork or expenses). Often used for teens demanding expensive clothes or luxury items.
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