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BTS 'Tomorrow' Lyrics Explained – Learn Korean with BTS

  • Writer: BTS Lyric Translations
    BTS Lyric Translations
  • Sep 23
  • 23 min read

Updated: Oct 20




BTS (방탄소년단) - 'Tomorrow' Lyrics (With English Translation & Korean Grammar/Vocabulary Notes)

[Suga] : 같은 날, 같은Same day, same month


같은: same

  • 같다 (to be the same, identical) + -은 (adjective modifier) → 같은 (same)

: day (short form of “날짜” = date, day)


: same month (month; also means “moon,” but here it means “month”)

24/7 매번 반복되는 매 순간 24/7 every moment repeats itself


매번: every time

  • 매- (each, every) + 번 (time/occasion)


반복되는: being repeated

  • 반복 (repetition, repeat) + 되다 (to become, to be done) + -는 (present tense modifier) → 반복되는 (repeating / that repeats)


매 순간: every moment

  • 매- (each, every) + 순간 (moment)

어중간한 내 삶 My uncertain life


어중간한: halfway / mediocre / in-between (not one thing, not another)

  • 어중간하다 (to be halfway/incomplete/mediocre) + -한 (adjective modifier)


내 삶: my life

  • 내 (my) + 삶 (life, existence, living)

20 대의 백수는 내일이 두려워 참 A unemployed man in his 20s who's afraid of tomorrow


20대의: (of the) twenties

  • 20대 (someone in their twenties) + -의 (possessive “of”)


백수는: 백수 (unemployed person / jobless (slang, literally “white hand,” meaning empty-handed) + -는 (topic particle)


내일이: tomorrow (as the subject)

  • 내일 (tomorrow) + -이 (subject marker)


두려워: (I) fear, (it is) fearful

  • 두렵다 (to fear, to be afraid) → 두려워 (informal present form)


: really / indeed / so much

웃기지 어릴 땐 뭐든 가능할거라 믿었었는데 Funny, I used to believe anything was possible when I was a kid


웃기지: isn’t it funny / it’s funny

  • 웃기다 (to be funny, laughable) + -지 (sentence ending, adds nuance like “isn’t it?” or “you know”)


어릴 땐: when (I was) young

  • 어리다 (to be young) + -ㄹ (attributive modifier) → 어릴 (young [time/age]) + 때 (time, when) + -는 (topic marker contracted to -ㄴ/은/는 → -ㄴ = 땐)


뭐든: anything, whatever

  • 뭐 (what) + -든 (any, whichever)


가능할거라: (that it would be) possible

  • 가능하다 (to be possible) → 가능할 (possible, future attributive form) + 것 (thing) + -이라고 (reported speech) contracted → -거라 (that it would)


믿었었는데: (I) used to believe (but…)

  • 믿다 (to believe) + -었- (past) + -었- (past perfect, emphasizes used to) + -는데 (but / however / reminiscence contrast)

하루를 벌어 하루를 사는게 빠듯하단 걸 느꼈을 때 When I realized that it's hard to earn enough to live on


하루를: the day (object)

  • 하루 (one day) + -를 (object marker)


벌어: earn

  • 벌다 (to earn) → 벌어 (present informal)


사는 게: literally “the thing that is living” = “the fact of living” / “living itself”

  • 살다 (to live) → 사는 (modifier form) + 것 (thing, fact) + 이 (subject marker) → contracted to 게


빠듯하단 걸: that (it) is tight / barely enough

  • 빠듯하다 (to be tight, barely sufficient) + -단 (contraction of -다는, quotative descriptive ending used when reporting/describing something) + 것 (thing, fact) + -을 (object marker) → contracted to 걸


느꼈을 때: when (I) felt

  • 느끼다 (to feel) + -었- (past) → 느꼈- + -을 때 (when)


내내 기분은 컨트롤 비트, My mood is like Control beat,


내내: the whole time / all along


기분은: the mood (topic)

  • 기분 (feeling, mood) + -은 (topic marker)


컨트롤 비트: control beat (metaphor for being controlled, robotic)

계속해서 다운되네 It keeps going down


계속해서: continuously, over and over

  • 계속하다 (to continue) + + -해서 (as/and so)


다운되네: goes down / keeps going down

  • 다운되다 (to go down, to crash, to get depressed; from English “down”) + -네 (expressive ending)

매일매일이 Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V Everyday is like Ctrl + C, Ctrl +V

매일매일이: every single day (subject)

  • 매일 (every day) repeated twice for emphasis + -이 (subject particle)


CTRL + C, CTRL + V: copy and paste (metaphor for repetition)


반복 되네 It repeats

반복되네: repeats / is being repeated

  • 반복되다 (to be repeated) + -네 (sentence ending, often showing realization, surprise, or emphasis: “oh, it does / I see that it …”)

갈길은 먼데 There's a long way to go

갈 길은: the road to go / the path ahead (topic)

  • 가다 (to go) → 갈 (future attributive form “that will go”) + 길 (road, way, path) + -은 (topic marker)


먼데: (it is) far, but…

  • 멀다 (to be far) + -ㄴ데 (sentence ending particle, here = contrastive or background information: “but, though, it is that…”)

→ The -ㄴ데 ending (or -은데) softens the statement, trailing off with an implied contrast (e.g., “the road is far, but [I’m still here / I can’t move / etc.]”).

왜 난 제자리니 Why am I standing in place?


: why


: I (as topic)

  • 나 (I) + -는 (topic particle) → 난


제자리니: in the same place

  • 제 (own, same) + 자리 (place/spot) → 제자리 (same spot) + -니 (ending, like asking/rhetorical: “am I?” / “why am I…?”)


답답해 소리쳐도 Even if I scream in frustration


답답해: it’s frustrating / suffocating

  • 답답하다 (to feel stifled/frustrated) → 답답해 (present informal)


소리쳐도: even if I shout / scream

  • 소리치다 (to shout) + -어도 (even if, although)

허공의 메아리 It only echoes in the air


허공의: of the empty air / void

  • 허공 (empty air, void, nothingness) + -의 (possessive “of”)


메아리: echo

내일은 오늘보다는 뭔가 다르길 I hope tomorrow will be something different than today


내일은: tomorrow (topic)

  • 내일 (tomorrow) + -은 (topic marker)


오늘보다는: than today / compared to today

  • 오늘 (today) + 보다 (than, comparative particle) + -는 (emphasis/topic particle) → 보다는 (at least more than, compared to)


뭔가: something

  • 무엇 (what, something) → contracted to 뭔 + -가 (subject marker)


다르길: (to be) different (wish/desire form)

  • 다르다 (to be different) + -길 = contraction of -기를 (nominalizer expressing hope/wish: “that it …”)


난 애원할 뿐야 That's all I beg for


: I (topic/subject)

  • 나 (I) + -는 (topic marker, contracted to 난)


애원할: will plead / to beg (attributive form)

  • 애원하다 (to plead, to beg, to implore earnestly) + -ㄹ (attributive future form, describing what comes next: “that I will plead / pleading”)


뿐야: only / nothing but

  • 뿐 (only, merely, nothing but) + -이야 (to be, informal ending) → contracted to 뿐야

[Vocal line] : 니 꿈을 따라가 like breaker Follow your dream like breaker


: your

  • 너의 → contracted to 니


꿈을: dream (object)

  • 꿈 (dream) + -을 (object marker)


따라가: follow, chase

  • 따라가다 (to follow after) → 따라가 (imperative/suggestion tone)


like breaker: (English insert; comparing chasing dreams to a breaker/surfer breaking waves)


부서진대도 oh better Even if you break, oh better


부서진대도: even if (it) breaks / shatters

  • 부서지다 (to break, to shatter, to be smashed) + -ㄴ대도 (ending meaning “even if / even though (it is said/it happens)”) → nuance of concession: “even if it breaks apart”

 

[Vocal line] : 니 꿈을 따라가 like breaker Follow your dream like breaker


: your

  • 너의 → contracted to 니


꿈을: dream (object)

  • 꿈 (dream) + -을 (object marker)


따라가: follow, chase

  • 따라가다 (to follow after) → 따라가 (imperative/suggestion tone)


like breaker: (English insert; comparing chasing dreams to a breaker/surfer breaking waves)


무너진대도 oh Even if you collapse oh


무너진대도: even if it collapses/falls apart

  • 무너지다 (to collapse, crumble) + -ㄴ대도 (even if/though it does)



뒤로 달아나지마 never Don't run back, never


뒤로: backward, to the back


달아나지마: don’t run away / don’t escape

  • 달아나다 (to run away, escape) + -지 마 (negative imperative “don’t”)

해가 뜨기 전 새벽이 가장 어두우니까 Because it's darkest before the dawn


해가: the sun (as subject)

  • 해 (sun) + -가 (subject particle)


뜨기 전: before rising

  • 뜨다 (to rise, come up – used for the sun) → 뜨기 (noun form “rising”) + 전 (before)


새벽이: dawn (subject)

  • 새벽 (dawn, early morning) + -이 (subject particle)


가장: the most / very


어두우니까: because it’s dark

  • 어둡다 (to be dark) → 어두우- (stem) + -니까 (since, because)


먼 훗날에 넌 지금의 널 절대로 잊지 마 In the distant future, never forget who you are now


: far-off / distant

  • 멀다 (to be far) → 먼 (adjective form)


훗날에: in the future / on a later day

  • 훗날 (later day, future day) + -에 (time/location particle “at / on / in”)


: you (topic/subject)

  • 너 (you) + -는 (topic marker, contracted)


지금의: of now / present (modifier)

  • 지금 (now, the present) + -의 (possessive/attributive particle)


: you (object)

  • 너 (you) + -를 (object marker, contracted to 널)


절대로: never / absolutely not


잊지 마: don’t forget

  • 잊다 (to forget) + -지 마 (negative imperative ending: “don’t”)

지금 니가 어디 서 있든 No matter where you're standing right now,


지금: now / at this moment


니가: you (subject)

  • 너 (you) + -가 (subject marker) → colloquially 니가


어디: where, what place


서 있든: standing (wherever it may be)

  • 서다 (to stand) + -어 있다 (progressive/resultative form → “to be standing”) + -든 (ending meaning “whether / no matter …”)

잠시 쉬어가는 것일 뿐 It’s only a brief rest along the way


잠시: for a moment / briefly

  • 잠시 (a short while, a moment)


쉬어가는: resting (as you go)

  • 쉬다 (to rest) + -어 가다 (to go/do while → nuance of “pause along the way”) + -는 (adjective modifier, describing the following noun)


것일: thing / act (it is)

  • 것 (thing, fact, act) + -이- (to be) + -ㄹ (attributive/future form) → 것일 (“the thing that is / will be”)


: only / nothing more

  • 뿐 (only, just, merely)

포기하지 마 알잖아 Don't give up, you know


포기하지 마: don’t give up

  • 포기하다 (to give up) + -지 마 (don’t)


알잖아: you know (don’t you know?)

  • 알다 (to know) + -잖아 (ending meaning “you know, after all”)


너무 멀어지진 마 tomorrow Don't get too far away, tomorrow


너무: too / too much

  • 너무 (excessively, overly)


멀어지진: don’t become too distant / drift away (emphatic form)

  • 멀어지다 (to become distant, drift away) + -지 (negative marker used with 마 → “don’t”) + -는 → contracted with -지 to -진 (adds emphasis: “don’t (really)”)


: don’t (imperative)

  • 말다 (to stop, to not do) → 마 (imperative “don’t”)

멀어지진 마 tomorrow Don't get far away, tomorrow


너무: too / too much


멀어지진 마: don’t become too distant / don’t drift away (emphatic negative imperative)

  • 멀어지다 (to become distant, to drift away) + -지 마 (“don’t”) + -는 → contracted with -지 to -진


너무 멀어지진 마 tomorrow Don't get too far away, tomorrow


너무: too / too much

  • 너무 (excessively, overly)


멀어지진: don’t become too distant / drift away (emphatic form)

  • 멀어지다 (to become distant, drift away) + -지 (negative marker used with 마 → “don’t”) + -는 → contracted with -지 to -진 (adds emphasis: “don’t (really)”)


: don’t (imperative)

  • 말다 (to stop, to not do) → 마 (imperative “don’t”)

 

[RM] : 우리가 그토록 기다린 내일도 어느새 Even the tomorrow we’ve waited so much for, before we know it,


우리가: we (as subject)

  • 우리 (we) + -가 (subject particle)


그토록: so much, to that extent

  • 그 (that) + 토록 (to the degree/extent)


기다린: (that we) waited-for

  • 기다리다 (to wait) + -ㄴ (attributive ending for past) → 기다린


내일도: tomorrow too

  • 내일 (tomorrow) + -도 (also, even)


어느새: before one knows it / all of a sudden / in no time


눈을 떠보면 When I open my eyes


눈을: eyes (object)

  • 눈 (eye) + -을 (object marker)


떠보면: if (I) open / when (I) open

  • 뜨다 (to open (one’s eyes)) → 떠 + -보다 (try doing, here softens the action) + -면 (if/when)

어제의 이름이 돼 It becomes the name of yesterday


어제의: of yesterday

  • 어제 (yesterday) + -의 (possessive “of”)


이름이: name (subject)

  • 이름 (name) + -이 (subject particle)


: becomes

  • 되다 (to become) → 돼 (present informal)


내일은 오늘이 되고 Tomorrow becomes today


내일은: tomorrow (topic)

  • 내일 (tomorrow) + -은 (topic marker)


오늘이: today (subject)

  • 오늘 (today) + -이 (subject marker)


되고: becomes / turns into

되다 (to become) + -고 (connective ending, “and / and then”)


오늘은 어제가 되고 Today becomes yesterday


오늘은: today (topic)

  • 오늘 (today) + -은 (topic marker)


어제가: yesterday (subject)

  • 어제 (yesterday) + -가 (subject marker)


되고: becomes / turns into

  • 되다 (to become) + -고 (connective ending, “and / and then”)


내일은 어제가 되어 Tomorrow becomes yesterday


내일은: tomorrow (topic)

  • 내일 (tomorrow) + -은 (topic marker)


어제가: yesterday (subject)

  • 어제 (yesterday) + -가 (subject marker)


되어: becomes / turns into

  • 되다 (to become) + -어 (connective ending, linking to the next part of the sentence)

내 등 뒤에 서있네 Standing behind my back


: my

  • 나 (I / me) + 의 (possessive particle, often shortened in speech/writing)


: back, spine


뒤에: behind

  • 뒤 (back/behind) + -에 (location particle, “at / in / on”)


서있네: is standing

  • 서다 (to stand) + -어 있다 (progressive/resultative form → “to be standing”) + -네 (sentence ending, expressing realization or emphasis)


삶은 살아지는게 아니라 살아내는 것, Life is not about living, but surviving


삶은: life (topic)

  • 삶 (life) + -은 (topic marker)


살아지는게: being lived (subject)

  • 살아지다 (to be lived, to come to be lived — passive nuance, as if life just “happens to you”) + -는 (adjective modifier / turns verb into descriptive clause) + 게 (것이 → 게: nominalizer “thing” + subject marker (이), contracted to 게.)


아니라: not … but rather

  • 아니다 (to not be) + -라 (connective ending meaning “not A but B” / “not … but rather…”)


살아내는 것: enduring / pushing through and living

  • 살아내다 (to live through, to survive, to endure difficulties) + -는 (adjective modifier, describing “것”) + 것 (thing / fact / matter) → Here, 살아내는 것 = “the act of enduring life / living it through.”


Nuance: “Life is not something that just gets lived (passive) but rather something you must live out with effort (active).”


그렇게 살아내다가 Living like that


그렇게: like that / in that way

  • 그렇다 (to be so, to be like that) + -게 (adverbial ending → “in such a way”)


살아내다가: while enduring / as (one) lives through

  • 살아내다 (to endure and live through, to push through difficulties) + -다가 (connective ending meaning “while doing,” “as doing,” or “and then”)


언젠간 사라지는 것 Disappearing one day


언젠간: someday / eventually

  • 언젠가 (someday, at some point) + -는 (topic particle, contracted with 가 → 언젠간, emphasizing “someday”)


사라지는 것: disappearing / the act of disappearing.

  • 사라지다 (to disappear, vanish) + -는 (adjective modifier, turns verb into descriptive form) + 것 (thing / fact, nominalizer → turns the verb phrase into a noun phrase)


멍 때리다간 너, 쓸려가 If you space out, you'll be swept away


: blankness / daze (slangy noun meaning “spaced-out state,” “blank stare,” “daze”)


때리다간: if you do (and keep doing) / if you space out

  • 때리다 (literally “to hit,” but in slang + 멍 = “to space out / zone out”) + -간 = contraction of -다가(는) → conditional nuance, “if you do that (habitually / continuously), then …”


: you (informal pronoun)


쓸려가: get swept away / be carried off

  • 쓸리다 (to be swept, to be carried away — passive verb) + -어 가 (to go in that state / get carried off)


If you ain’t no got the guts, trust

어차피 다 어제가 되고 말 텐데 It all ends up becoming yesterday


어차피: anyway / after all (adverb meaning “in any case,” “after all,” “since it’s bound to be so”)


: all / everything


어제가: yesterday (subject)

  • 어제 (yesterday) + -가 (subject marker)


되고 말 텐데: (It) will end up becoming … anyway (I expect / though …)

  • 되다 (to become) + -고 말다 (to end up (doing) / to eventually (do) despite intention) → 되고 말다 (end up becoming) + -ㄹ 텐데 (it will probably … but … / inevitably … though …)


→ “After all, everything will just end up becoming yesterday.”

→ Nuance: “In the end, everything is bound to turn into the past.”


하루하루가 뭔 의미 겠어 So what does each day mean?


하루하루가: each day / day by day (subject)

  • 하루 (one day) × 2 → 하루하루 (day after day, each and every day) + -가 (subject marker)


: what / what kind of


의미: meaning / significance


겠어: would / could / what would (rhetorical)

  • -겠- (modal ending → indicates assumption, speculation, or rhetorical questioning) + -어 (informal ending)


행복해지고, 독해지고 싶었는데 I wanted to be happy and strong


행복해지고: to become happy and...

  • 행복하다 (to be happy) + -아/어지다 (to become, turn into) → 행복해지다 (to become happy) + -고 (connective ending “and”)

    • Grammar Note: The -고 here connects to the -고 싶다 (to want to …) form used in the lyric.


독해지고 싶었는데: I wanted to become strong/tough, but …

  • 독하다 (to be strong, fierce, tough, relentless) + -아/어지다 (to become) → 독해지다 (to become tough, resilient) + -고 싶다 (to want to …) → attached to the verb stem: 독해지고 싶다 = “to want to become strong” + -었- (past tense marker) → 싶었- = “wanted to” + -는데 (contrastive connective ending = “but / although …”)

왜 자꾸 약해지기만 하지 계속 Why do I keep becoming weaker?


: why


자꾸: repeatedly / constantly / over and over


약해지기만 하지: (You) only become weak / (You) just get weaker

  • 약하다 (to be weak) + -아/어지다 (to become) → 약해지다 (to become weak) + -기만 하다 (to only do X (and nothing else)) + -지 (sentence-ending particle, adds a soft or rhetorical tone)


계속: continuously / constantly


나 어디로 가, Where am I going?


: I / me (informal pronoun)


어디로: to where

  • 어디 (where) + -로 (directional particle “toward / to”)


: go

  • 가다 (to go) + -아/어 (informal present tense ending, here used almost like a trailing question or cry)



여기로 가고 저기로 가도 Even if I go here, even if I go there


여기로: to here

  • 여기 (here) + -로 (directional particle “toward / to”)


가고: go and / even if (I) go

  • 가다 (to go) + -고 (connective ending, “and / even if”)


저기로: to there (over there)

  • 저기 (there, far from both speaker and listener) + -로 (toward / to)


가도: even if (I) go

  • 가다 (to go) + -도 (even if, concessive particle)


Nuance: 가고 … 가도 = “whether I go here or there, even if I try both directions…”


난 항상 여기로 와 I always come back here


: I (topic/subject)

  • 나 (I) + -는 (topic marker, contracted to 난)


항상: always


여기로: to here

  • 여기 (here) + -로 (directional particle “toward / to”)


: come

  • 오다 (to come) → 와 (informal present tense)


Nuance: “No matter where I go, I always end up back here.”

→ 항상 여기로 와 stresses inevitability: the speaker always returns to the same place.


그리 흘러가긴 하겠지 어디론가, I'll flow somewhere


그리: like that / that way

  • 그렇다 (to be so) + -이 (adverbial form) → 그리 (in that way, like that)


흘러가긴 하겠지: it will flow / pass by (I guess)

  • 흘러가다 (to flow, to pass by → time, water, life) + -긴 하다 (it does (verb), indeed, often used when admitting something) + -겠지 (I guess it will / it probably will)


어디론가: to somewhere / someplace

  • 어디 (where) + -로 (toward) + -ㄴ가 (indefinite marker “some”) → “somewhere, to some place”


끝이 있긴 할까 이 미로가 Will there be an end to this maze?


끝이: an end (subject)

  • 끝 (end, finish) + -이 (subject marker)


있긴 할까: will it really exist? / could there really be?

  • 있다 (to exist, to be) + -긴 할까 (will it really…? / could it really…?)

    • -긴 (contraction of -기는, concessive/emphatic ending: “really, indeed”)

    • 하다 (support verb: “does/will”)

    • -ㄹ/을까 (interrogative ending expressing wondering or doubt: “will …? / could …?”)


: this (modifier)


미로가: maze (subject)

  • 미로 (maze, labyrinth) + -가 (subject marker)


갈길은 먼데 There's a long way to go

갈 길은: the road to go / the path ahead (topic)

  • 가다 (to go) → 갈 (future attributive form “that will go”) + 길 (road, way, path) + -은 (topic marker)


먼데: (it is) far, but…

  • 멀다 (to be far) + -ㄴ데 (sentence ending particle, here = contrastive or background information: “but, though, it is that…”)

→ The -ㄴ데 ending (or -은데) softens the statement, trailing off with an implied contrast (e.g., “the road is far, but [I’m still here / I can’t move / etc.]”).

 

왜 난 제자리니 Why am I standing in place?


: why


: I (as topic)

  • 나 (I) + -는 (topic particle) → 난


제자리니: in the same place

  • 제 (own, same) + 자리 (place/spot) → 제자리 (same spot) + -니 (ending, like asking/rhetorical: “am I?” / “why am I…?”)


답답해 소리쳐도 Even if I scream in frustration


답답해: it’s frustrating / suffocating

  • 답답하다 (to feel stifled/frustrated) → 답답해 (present informal)


소리쳐도: even if I shout / scream

  • 소리치다 (to shout) + -어도 (even if, although)

 

허공의 메아리 It only echoes in the air


허공의: of the empty air / void

  • 허공 (empty air, void, nothingness) + -의 (possessive “of”)


메아리: echo

 

내일은 오늘보다는 뭔가 다르길 I hope tomorrow will be something different than today


내일은: tomorrow (topic)

  • 내일 (tomorrow) + -은 (topic marker)


오늘보다는: than today / compared to today

  • 오늘 (today) + 보다 (than, comparative particle) + -는 (emphasis/topic particle) → 보다는 (at least more than, compared to)


뭔가: something

  • 무엇 (what, something) → contracted to 뭔 + -가 (subject marker)


다르길: (to be) different (wish/desire form)

  • 다르다 (to be different) + -길 = contraction of -기를 (nominalizer expressing hope/wish: “that it …”)


 

난 애원할 뿐야 That's all I beg for


: I (topic/subject)

  • 나 (I) + -는 (topic marker, contracted to 난)


애원할: will plead / to beg (attributive form)

  • 애원하다 (to plead, to beg, to implore earnestly) + -ㄹ (attributive future form, describing what comes next: “that I will plead / pleading”)


뿐야: only / nothing but

  • 뿐 (only, merely, nothing but) + -이야 (to be, informal ending) → contracted to 뿐야

 

[Vocal line] : 니 꿈을 따라가 like breaker Follow your dream like breaker


: your

  • 너의 → contracted to 니


꿈을: dream (object)

  • 꿈 (dream) + -을 (object marker)


따라가: follow, chase

  • 따라가다 (to follow after) → 따라가 (imperative/suggestion tone)


like breaker: (English insert; comparing chasing dreams to a breaker/surfer breaking waves)


부서진대도 oh better Even if you break, oh better 


부서진대도: even if (it) breaks / shatters

  • 부서지다 (to break, to shatter, to be smashed) + -ㄴ대도 (ending meaning “even if / even though (it is said/it happens)”) → nuance of concession: “even if it breaks apart”

 

[Vocal line] : 니 꿈을 따라가 like breaker Follow your dream like breaker


: your

  • 너의 → contracted to 니


꿈을: dream (object)

  • 꿈 (dream) + -을 (object marker)


따라가: follow, chase

  • 따라가다 (to follow after) → 따라가 (imperative/suggestion tone)


like breaker: (English insert; comparing chasing dreams to a breaker/surfer breaking waves)


무너진대도 oh Even if you collapse oh


무너진대도: even if it collapses/falls apart

  • 무너지다 (to collapse, crumble) + -ㄴ대도 (even if/though it does)



뒤로 달아나지마 never Don't run back, never


뒤로: backward, to the back


달아나지마: don’t run away / don’t escape

  • 달아나다 (to run away, escape) + -지 마 (negative imperative “don’t”)

 

해가 뜨기 전 새벽이 가장 어두우니까 Because it's darkest before the dawn


해가: the sun (as subject)

  • 해 (sun) + -가 (subject particle)


뜨기 전: before rising

  • 뜨다 (to rise, come up – used for the sun) → 뜨기 (noun form “rising”) + 전 (before)


새벽이: dawn (subject)

  • 새벽 (dawn, early morning) + -이 (subject particle)


가장: the most / very


어두우니까: because it’s dark

  • 어둡다 (to be dark) → 어두우- (stem) + -니까 (since, because)


먼 훗날에 넌 지금의 널 절대로 잊지 마 In the distant future, never forget who you are now


: far-off / distant

  • 멀다 (to be far) → 먼 (adjective form)


훗날에: in the future / on a later day

  • 훗날 (later day, future day) + -에 (time/location particle “at / on / in”)


: you (topic/subject)

  • 너 (you) + -는 (topic marker, contracted)


지금의: of now / present (modifier)

  • 지금 (now, the present) + -의 (possessive/attributive particle)


: you (object)

  • 너 (you) + -를 (object marker, contracted to 널)


절대로: never / absolutely not


잊지 마: don’t forget

  • 잊다 (to forget) + -지 마 (negative imperative ending: “don’t”)

 

지금 니가 어디 서 있든 No matter where you're standing right now,


지금: now / at this moment


니가: you (subject)

  • 너 (you) + -가 (subject marker) → colloquially 니가


어디: where, what place


서 있든: standing (wherever it may be)

  • 서다 (to stand) + -어 있다 (progressive/resultative form → “to be standing”) + -든 (ending meaning “whether / no matter …”)

 

잠시 쉬어가는 것일 뿐 It’s only a brief rest along the way


잠시: for a moment / briefly

  • 잠시 (a short while, a moment)


쉬어가는: resting (as you go)

  • 쉬다 (to rest) + -어 가다 (to go/do while → nuance of “pause along the way”) + -는 (adjective modifier, describing the following noun)


것일: thing / act (it is)

  • 것 (thing, fact, act) + -이- (to be) + -ㄹ (attributive/future form) → 것일 (“the thing that is / will be”)


: only / nothing more

  • 뿐 (only, just, merely)

 

포기하지 마 알잖아 Don't give up, you know


포기하지 마: don’t give up

  • 포기하다 (to give up) + -지 마 (don’t)


알잖아: you know (don’t you know?)

  • 알다 (to know) + -잖아 (ending meaning “you know, after all”)


너무 멀어지진 마 tomorrow Don't get too far away, tomorrow


너무: too / too much

  • 너무 (excessively, overly)


멀어지진: don’t become too distant / drift away (emphatic form)

  • 멀어지다 (to become distant, drift away) + -지 (negative marker used with 마 → “don’t”) + -는 → contracted with -지 to -진 (adds emphasis: “don’t (really)”)


: don’t (imperative)

  • 말다 (to stop, to not do) → 마 (imperative “don’t”)

 

[j-hope] : Tomorrow, 계속 걸어 Tomorrow, keep walking


계속: continuously / keep on / without stopping


걸어: walk

  • 걷다 (to walk) → 걸어 (informal present tense, imperative nuance)


멈추기엔 우린 아직 너무 어려 We're still too young to stop


멈추기엔: to stop (is too …)

  • 멈추다 (to stop, to halt) + -기 (nominalizer, “the act of stopping”) + -에 (to / for) + -는 (contracted to -엔, meaning “for …, to …”) → 멈추기엔 = “for stopping / to stop”


우린: we (topic)

  • 우리 (we) + -는 (topic marker, contracted to 우린)


아직: still / yet


너무: too / too much


어려: young

  • 어리다 (to be young) → 어려 (present informal form)


[j-hope, Jungkook] : Tomorrow, 문을 열어 Tomorrow, open the door


문을: the door (object)

  • 문 (door) + -을 (object marker)


열어: open

  • 열다 (to open) → 열어 (informal present/imperative form, “open”)


닫기엔 많은 것들이 눈에 보여 We see too many things to close it


닫기엔: to close (is too …)

  • 닫다 (to close, shut) + -기 (nominalizer, “the act of closing”) + -에 (for / to) + -는 (contracted to -엔) → “for closing / to close”


많은: many

  • 많다 (to be many, plentiful) + -은 (adjective modifier, describing what comes next)


것들이: things (subject)

  • 것 (thing, matter, abstraction) + -들 (plural marker) → 것들 (things) + -이 (subject marker)


눈에: in (my) eyes / visible

  • 눈 (eye) + -에 (in / at / on → location particle)


보여: are seen / appear

  • 보이다 (to be seen, to appear, to be visible) 보여 (informal present tense)


[j-hope] : 어두운 밤이 지나면 When the dark night passes


어두운: dark (adjective)

  • 어둡다 (to be dark) + -운 (adjective modifier form) → 어두운 (dark, describing “night”)


밤이: night (subject)

  • 밤 (night) + -이 (subject marker)


지나면: if/when … passes

  • 지나가다 / 지나(다) (to pass, go by) + -면 (conditional ending, “if/when”)


밝은 아침도 있듯이, Just as there is a bright morning too


밝은: bright (adjective)

  • 밝다 (to be bright, light) + -은 (adjective modifier form) → 밝은 (bright, describing “morning”)


아침도: morning too / also a morning

  • 아침 (morning) + -도 (also, too)


있듯이: just as there is / just like there is

  • 있다 (to exist, to be) + -듯이 (as if, just like)


알아서 내일이 오면 When tomorrow naturally comes


알아서: by itself / on its own

  • 알다 (to know → but in grammar, 알- + -아서 can mean “naturally / automatically / by itself”) → Nuance: without anyone forcing it, it just happens naturally


내일이: tomorrow (subject)

  • 내일 (tomorrow) + -이 (subject marker)


오면: if/when … comes

  • 오다 (to come) + -면 (conditional ending “if / when”)


빛이 비추니, As the light shines


빛이: light (subject)

  • 빛 (light) + -이 (subject marker)


비추니: shines / because it shines

  • 비추다 (to shine, to illuminate) + -니 (ending used for explanation, reason, or softer statement → “because / as / since”)


걱정은 하지 말아줘 Please don't worry


걱정은 하지 말아줘: please don’t worry

  • 걱정 (worry, concern) + -은 (topic marker, highlighting “as for worries…”) + 하지 말아 (don’t do (worry)) + -줘 (shortened from -주다, used in requests: “please / do it for me,” makes the request softer and more personal)


이건 정지가 아닌 This is not a stop


이건: this is (topic)

  • 이 (this) + -것 (thing) → 이것 (this thing) + -은/는 (topic marker, contracted) → 이건 (“as for this / this is”)


정지가: a stop / stopping (subject)

  • 정지 (a stop, halt, standstill) + -가 (subject marker)


아닌: not (modifier form)

  • 아니다 (to not be) → 아닌 (attributive form, modifying what comes next: “not …”)


니 삶을 쉬어가는 잠시 동안의 일시 정지 But a brief pause in your life to take a rest


: your

  • 네 (your, informal pronoun) → often pronounced/written 니


삶을: life (object)

  • 삶 (life) + -을 (object marker)


쉬어가는: resting / pausing while going

  • 쉬다 (to rest, to take a break) + -어 가다 (to go on while doing, progressive nuance “resting as you go”) + -는 (adjective modifier, describing “정지”)


잠시: for a moment / briefly (a short while, moment, brief time)


동안의: of the time / during

  • 동안 (period, duration of time) + -의 (possessive particle “of”)


일시 정지: temporary pause

  • 일시 (temporary, momentary) + 정지 (stop, pause) → “a temporary stop / pause”


엄지를 올리며 Raise your thumb


엄지를: thumb (object)

  • 엄지 (thumb) + -를 (object marker)


올리며: raising / as (you) raise

  • 올리다 (to raise, lift up) + -며 (connective ending, meaning “while / as / and”)


니 자신을 재생해 and restart yourself


: your / yourself

  • 네 (your, you) → colloquially pronounced/written 니


자신을: yourself (object)

  • 자신 (oneself, self) + -을 (object marker)


재생해: restart / play again / regenerate

  • 재생하다 (to replay, to regenerate, to bring back to life, to start again) + 해 (imperative informal form: “do / go ahead and”)


→ “Restart yourself.” / “Replay yourself.” / “Regenerate yourself.”

→ Nuance: an imperative to refresh or reset yourself, like pressing the “play again” button.


모두 보란 듯이 So everyone can see


모두: everyone / all


보란 듯이: as if to say “look!”

  • 보다 (to see) + -라 (imperative ending “see!”) + -ㄴ/은 (attributive form, modifying what comes next) + 듯이 (as if / like )→ 보란 = “as if to show (them),” “for them to see”


[Vocal line] : 니 꿈을 따라가 like breaker Follow your dream like breaker


: your

  • 너의 → contracted to 니


꿈을: dream (object)

  • 꿈 (dream) + -을 (object marker)


따라가: follow, chase

  • 따라가다 (to follow after) → 따라가 (imperative/suggestion tone)


like breaker: (English insert; comparing chasing dreams to a breaker/surfer breaking waves)


무너진대도 oh Even if you collapse oh


무너진대도: even if it collapses/falls apart

  • 무너지다 (to collapse, crumble) + -ㄴ대도 (even if/though it does)



뒤로 달아나지마 never Don't run back, never


뒤로: backward, to the back


달아나지마: don’t run away / don’t escape

  • 달아나다 (to run away, escape) + -지 마 (negative imperative “don’t”)

 

해가 뜨기 전 새벽이 가장 어두우니까 Because it's darkest before the dawn


해가: the sun (as subject)

  • 해 (sun) + -가 (subject particle)


뜨기 전: before rising

  • 뜨다 (to rise, come up – used for the sun) → 뜨기 (noun form “rising”) + 전 (before)


새벽이: dawn (subject)

  • 새벽 (dawn, early morning) + -이 (subject particle)


가장: the most / very


어두우니까: because it’s dark

  • 어둡다 (to be dark) → 어두우- (stem) + -니까 (since, because)


먼 훗날에 넌 지금의 널 절대로 잊지 마 In the distant future, never forget who you are now


: far-off / distant

  • 멀다 (to be far) → 먼 (adjective form)


훗날에: in the future / on a later day

  • 훗날 (later day, future day) + -에 (time/location particle “at / on / in”)


: you (topic/subject)

  • 너 (you) + -는 (topic marker, contracted)


지금의: of now / present (modifier)

  • 지금 (now, the present) + -의 (possessive/attributive particle)


: you (object)

  • 너 (you) + -를 (object marker, contracted to 널)


절대로: never / absolutely not


잊지 마: don’t forget

  • 잊다 (to forget) + -지 마 (negative imperative ending: “don’t”)

 

지금 니가 어디 서 있든 No matter where you're standing right now,


지금: now / at this moment


니가: you (subject)

  • 너 (you) + -가 (subject marker) → colloquially 니가


어디: where, what place


서 있든: standing (wherever it may be)

  • 서다 (to stand) + -어 있다 (progressive/resultative form → “to be standing”) + -든 (ending meaning “whether / no matter …”)

 

잠시 쉬어가는 것일 뿐 It’s only a brief rest along the way


잠시: for a moment / briefly

  • 잠시 (a short while, a moment)


쉬어가는: resting (as you go)

  • 쉬다 (to rest) + -어 가다 (to go/do while → nuance of “pause along the way”) + -는 (adjective modifier, describing the following noun)


것일: thing / act (it is)

  • 것 (thing, fact, act) + -이- (to be) + -ㄹ (attributive/future form) → 것일 (“the thing that is / will be”)


: only / nothing more

  • 뿐 (only, just, merely)

 

포기하지 마 알잖아 Don't give up, you know


포기하지 마: don’t give up

  • 포기하다 (to give up) + -지 마 (don’t)


알잖아: you know (don’t you know?)

  • 알다 (to know) + -잖아 (ending meaning “you know, after all”)


너무 멀어지진 마 tomorrow Don't get too far away, tomorrow


너무: too / too much

  • 너무 (excessively, overly)


멀어지진: don’t become too distant / drift away (emphatic form)

  • 멀어지다 (to become distant, drift away) + -지 (negative marker used with 마 → “don’t”) + -는 → contracted with -지 to -진 (adds emphasis: “don’t (really)”)


: don’t (imperative)

  • 말다 (to stop, to not do) → 마 (imperative “don’t”)

 

멀어지진 마 tomorrow Don't get far away, tomorrow


너무: too / too much


멀어지진 마: don’t become too distant / don’t drift away (emphatic negative imperative)

  • 멀어지다 (to become distant, to drift away) + -지 마 (“don’t”) + -는 → contracted with -지 to -진


너무 멀어지진 마 tomorrow Don't get too far away, tomorrow


너무: too / too much

  • 너무 (excessively, overly)


멀어지진: don’t become too distant / drift away (emphatic form)

  • 멀어지다 (to become distant, drift away) + -지 (negative marker used with 마 → “don’t”) + -는 → contracted with -지 to -진 (adds emphasis: “don’t (really)”)


: don’t (imperative)

  • 말다 (to stop, to not do) → 마 (imperative “don’t”)

 


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Performers in black outfits dance on stage with text overlay: "Tomorrow" by BTS. Play button and striped shirts visible. Energetic mood.
BTS (방탄소년단) - 'Tomorrow' Lyric Video

 
 
 

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