Learn Korean with BTS Lyrics | '등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)' Korean Lyrics Explained
Updated: Sep 14
Let’s study Korean with BTS Lyrics! In this post, we’ll break down each lyric in BTS’ ‘등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)’ with detailed vocabulary and grammar notes to help you understand the meaning of the Korean used. Whether you’re a fan looking to deepen your connection to the music or a language learner studying through lyrics, this post is for you. Click the expand arrow beside each lyric to view the notes and explanations for that line.
Want to turn this into a study challenge? Try reading each line and testing your understanding before checking the notes. See how much you can recognize on your own—then expand the section to check your answers and learn something new. It’s a great way to strengthen your Korean comprehension while enjoying BTS’s lyrics.
To take your practice even further, I’ve also linked videos from my YouTube channel in this post—perfect for reviewing vocab, testing your lyric knowledge, and making your BTS Korean study sessions more fun and interactive.
자, 시작해 볼까? Let’s dive into the lyrics and learn Korean with BTS!
BTS (방탄소년단) - '등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)' Lyrics (With English Translation & Korean Grammar/Vocabulary Notes)
*Note: 등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”) is figurative slang meaning “someone who breaks their parents’ backs” (from overwork or expenses) — referring to kids who pressure their parents to buy expensive branded goods, causing financial strain. In “등골브레이커 (Spine Breaker)”, the puffer jacket (패딩) symbolizes consumer greed, obsession with image and status, and valuing possessions over people.
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 / costing in the tens [of an understood unit]
수십 (several tens; dozens) + -짜리 (worth/costing a specified amount; of a specified value)
신발에 또: shoes, plus / shoes, and on top of that
신발 (shoes) + -에 (particle with an additive/connecting function here) + 또 (also; additionally)
*Note: Here -에 and 또 work together to connect the next item to 신발 with an additive sense like “plus,” “and also,” or “on top of that.” This creates a piling-up effect as the speaker lists expensive items.
수백짜리: worth hundreds / costing hundreds [of an understood unit]
수백 (several hundred; hundreds) + -짜리 (of a specified value/amount; worth/costing)
패딩: padded jacket, puffer jacket (loanword from “padding”)
*Note: Korean 패딩 refers to the thick, insulated puffer-style jackets commonly worn in winter.
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) + 짜리 (suffix meaning “worth / costing / priced at”) → “something that costs tens (of thousands)” or “worth tens (of dollars, hundreds, etc.),” depending on context
시계에 또: (a) watch, plus / (a) watch, and on top of that
시계 (watch) + -에 (particle with an additive/connecting function here) + 또 (also; additionally; again)
*Note: Here -에 and 또 work together with an additive sense like “plus,” “and also,” or “on top of that,” continuing the piling-up effect of the surrounding lines.
으스대지: (you) show off / act smug / swagger
으스대다 (to swagger, brag, show off) + 지 (gives the statement an assertive, knowing tone, as though pointing out behavior that is obvious or recognizable: “[you] show off, you know.”)
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 (topic) / as for education
교육 (education) + 은 (topic particle meaning “as for / regarding”)
산으로: to 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 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 (topic)
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…)
*Note: 자 is a somewhat literary or formal word for “person/one,” as in “one who does X.”
*Note: 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 써서: by trying with all one’s might / by making every effort
기를 쓰다 (to strain oneself; exert oneself; try desperately; do everything one can) + -아서/어서 (connective ending meaning “by,” “and,” or “because,” depending on context)
얻는: who obtains [it] / who gets [it]
얻다 (to obtain, to get) + 는 (present attributive ending modifying 자)
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 (subject) / this thing
이것 (this; this thing) + -이 (subject marker) → 이것이 → 이게
*Note: 이게 is the common contracted form of 이것이.
뭔: what / what kind of
무엇 (what) + 이다 (to be) + -ㄴ (attributive ending): 무엇인 → 무언 → 뭔
Note: 뭔 comes before the noun 일 (thing; matter; situation), so 뭔 일 literally has the sense of “what matter/situation?” In everyday Korean, 뭔 일 is commonly used like 무슨 일: “what’s going on?” or “what happened?”
일이니: what is the situation? / what’s going on?
일 (thing; matter; situation) + 이다 (to be) + -니? (informal question ending)
→ 뭔 일이니: what’s going on? / what is this? / what happened?
유행에서: in/from the trend(s)
유행 (trend; fashion; what is popular) + -에서 (particle marking the context or sphere in which something occurs)
*Note: With 밀리다, this gives the sense of being pushed back or falling behind “in terms of trends.”
넌: as for you / you (topic)
너 (you) + 는 (topic particle) → 넌 (contracted form of 너는)
밀리니?: are [you] falling behind? / are [you] being left behind?
밀리다 (to be pushed back; be outdone; fall behind) + -니? (informal interrogative ending)
*Note: 밀리다 literally involves being “pushed back,” but figuratively it can mean losing ground or failing to keep up with others.
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...
떼를 쓰다 (to throw a tantrum; stubbornly demand something; insist on getting one’s way) + -고 (connective ending meaning “and”)
*Note: 떼를 쓰다 is a fixed expression. It describes persistently demanding something, often in a childish or unreasonable way.
애를 써서: by making an effort / by trying hard
애를 쓰다 (to make an effort; try hard; struggle) + -아서/어서 (connective ending meaning “by,” “because,” or “and,” depending on context)
얻어냈지: obtained / managed to get (with nuance of persistence)
얻어내다 (to obtain; get; manage to acquire) + -었- (past tense) + -지 (informal ending expressing assertion, confirmation, or shared understanding)
*Note: 얻어내다 is stronger than simply 얻다 (“to get”). -어 내다 adds the sense of accomplishing something through effort or difficulty: “to manage to get,” “to succeed in obtaining.”
찔리지?: you feel guilty, don’t you? / doesn’t it prick you?
찔리다 (to be pricked; be stabbed; figuratively, to feel guilty or personally targeted because something applies to you) + -지? (informal ending seeking confirmation: “right?” / “doesn’t it?”)
*Note: Here 찔리다 is figurative. The speaker is essentially asking whether the listener feels uncomfortable or guilty because the criticism describes them.
가득 찬 패딩 마냥 욕심이 계속 차 Full of greed like your coat full of padding
가득 찬: completely full / filled to capacity
가득 (fully; completely; to the brim) + 차다 (to be full; be filled) + -ㄴ (attributive ending)
*Note: 차다 → 찬 before a noun, so 가득 찬 modifies 패딩: “a puffer jacket that is completely full/stuffed.”
패딩: padded jacket / puffer (loanword from “padding”)
마냥: like; as if; just like
욕심이: greed / desire (as the subject)
욕심 (greed, desire) + -이 (subject particle)
계속: continuously; continually
차: fills up / gets full
차다 (to be filled, to become full) → (present tense casual form)
*Note: There is wordplay around 차다. First, 가득 찬 describes a 패딩 that is “fully filled/stuffed” with insulation. Then 차다 is repeated for 욕심이 계속 차, portraying his 욕심 as similarly continuing to fill or swell up. The image is essentially: “Like a stuffed puffer jacket, your greed/desire just keeps filling up.”
휘어지는 부모 등골을 봐도 넌 매몰차 Even when you see your parents’ backs bending (under the burden), you’re heartless
휘어지는: bending / becoming bent
휘어지다 (to bend; become bent; curve) + -는 (attributive present tense ending, describing a currently ongoing action: “that is bending”)
*Note: 휘어지는 modifies 부모 등골: “parents’ backs that are bending.” It creates an image of the parents being physically worn down under a burden, especially the financial burden of supporting their child.
부모: parents
등골을: backbone / spine (object)
등골 (spine, backbone) + -을 (object particle)
*Note: 등골 literally refers to the spine/backbone, but it has an important figurative association here. Korean uses expressions such as 부모 등골을 빼먹다 / 등골이 휘다 for parents being financially drained or burdened by their children.
봐도: even if (you) see / though (you) look
보다 (to see, to look at) + -아도 (connective ending meaning “even if / even though”)
넌: you (topic) / as for you
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle, emphasizing contrast or topic)
매몰차: (you’re) cold-hearted / harsh / unfeeling
매몰차다 (to be cold, heartless, indifferent) → 매몰차 (informal present tense)
*Note: The line criticizes someone for continuing to pursue expensive status items despite seeing the financial strain this places on their parents. 휘어지는 부모 등골 evokes parents’ backs bending under that burden, while 봐도 … 매몰차 emphasizes the lack of concern: “Even seeing your parents being worn down by it, you’re still cold-hearted.”
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 (topic) / 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”)
*Note: 조르다 (to pester; beg persistently; nag for something) + -아/어 대다 (to keep doing something repeatedly or excessively). -아/어 대다 adds the sense that the action is being done persistently or repeatedly, often with an annoyed or negative nuance.
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 없게: immaturely / without any sense or maturity
철딱서니 (sense; maturity; good judgment) + 없다 (to not have; lack) + -게 (adverbial ending meaning “in a ... manner”) → 철딱서니 없게 (“in an immature/senseless way”)
*Note: 철딱서니 is a colloquial word referring to the maturity, awareness, or good sense someone is expected to develop as they grow up. 철딱서니 없다 describes someone who is immature, thoughtless, or lacking good sense.
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 (colloquial casual present tense)
*Note: 말어 is a colloquial/nonstandard form of 말아, giving the lyric a casual spoken quality.
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”
*Note: 그깟 is dismissive and belittles the importance or value of something: “that mere...,” “something as trivial as...” Here it dismisses the expensive 패딩 as something that is not actually necessary or worth making such a fuss over.
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 …”))
*Note: -다고 can develop a causal sense in constructions like X-다고 Y, especially when rejecting an assumed consequence: “just because X, that doesn’t mean Y.”
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”) → 얼어 죽지는 않아 (casual present tense) → 얼어 죽진 않아 (contracted)
*Note: -지는 않다 emphasizes the negation and contrasts it with an implied assumption: “it’s not as though you’ll freeze to death.” -지는 is commonly contracted to -진.
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”)
*Note: With 채우다, -에 marks where something is being put: “into the puffer jacket.”
거위털을: goose feathers (object)
거위 (goose) + 털 (feather, down, fur, hair) + -을 (object particle)
*Note: 거위털 refers to goose feathers/down used as insulation in padded jackets.
채우기 전에: before (you) fill it up / before filling it
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
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle) → 네 (your) → 니 (colloquial pronunciation/spelling used to avoid confusion with 내, “my”)
머릿속: inside (your) head / in (your) mind
머리 (head) + -속 (inside, within)
개념을: concept / understanding (object)
개념 (concept, idea, sense) + -을 (object particle)
*Note: 개념 literally refers to a “concept” or “notion,” so 머릿속 개념을 채우다 can evoke the image of filling one’s head with concepts, ideas, or understanding. At the same time, 개념 can colloquially mean “sense” or “proper awareness,” so the line may also carry the sharper implication of “get some sense into your head.” The wording allows both the literal image of filling the mind with ideas/understanding and the critical sense that the person currently lacks proper sense.
채우길: (I) hope (you) 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: (it's) good / (I) feel good
좋다 (to be good) + -아 (casual present ending)
걸쳐보는: trying on / putting on (to see)
걸치다 (to put on, to drape, to wear) + -어 보다 (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)
넌 뭔가 다른 You're somewhat different
넌: you (topic) / as for you
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle)
뭔가: something / somewhat / kind of
다른: different
다르다 (to be different) + -ㄴ (attributive ending forming “different (thing/person)”)
Rockin, rollin, swaggin, swagger, wrong!
[Jungkook] : 도대체 왜 이래 미쳤어 baby Why on earth are you like this? You’re crazy, baby
도대체: (why) on earth / just (why)
*Note: 도대체 is an adverb used in questions to add strong frustration, disbelief, or exasperation. Here it intensifies 왜: “why on earth?”
왜: why
이래: [are you] like this
이렇다 (to be like this) + -어 (casual present-tense ending) → 이래
*Note: 왜 이래? = Why are you like this? / What’s with you? / Why are you acting like this?
미쳤어: (you) went crazy / (you) are crazy / (are you) crazy? / (have you) lost it?
미치다 (to go crazy / lose one’s mind) + -었어 (past-form casual ending)
*Note: Depending on intonation and context, 미쳤어 can be a statement (“You’re crazy”) or a question (“Are you crazy?”).
[V] : 그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야, dirty clothes That (thing) will tighten your heart, dirty clothes
그게: that (thing) / that (subject)
그 (that) + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject particle) → 그것이 → 그게
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle)
맘을: heart / mind (object)
맘 (colloquial contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle)
조여버릴 거야: it will squeeze / will tighten completely
조이다 (to tighten; constrict; squeeze) + -어 버리다 (to do something completely/decisively, often adding a sense of finality or intensity) + -(으)ㄹ 거야 (will / be going to; casual future/intention)
*Note: 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, colloquial spelling)
너 (you) + -가 (subject marker) → 네가 ("you") (standard subject form) → 니가 (common nonstandard spelling that reflects the usual pronunciation of 네가)
바로: exactly / precisely / none other than / the very
*Note: Here 바로 emphasizes the identification of 니가 (“you”) as the 등골 브레이커, with the sense of “you’re the very one” or “you’re exactly the person.”
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”)
*Note: 등골 브레이커 (literally, “spine/back breaker”) is slang for a child who places a heavy financial burden on their parents, particularly through expensive purchases. The expression draws on the image of a person’s back bending under the strain of hard work or a heavy burden; figuratively, the parents are working and sacrificing so much financially for their child that their backs are being “broken.”
[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)
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”)
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jimin] : 언젠가는 후회하게 될 걸 Someday you’ll regret it
언젠가는: someday / one day / eventually (topic)
언젠가 (sometime; someday) + -는 (topic/contrast particle)
*Note: The added -는 gives 언젠가 a slight contrastive emphasis, suggesting that even if it does not happen now, there will eventually come a time when it does.
후회하게 될 걸: (you) will come to regret it / (you) will end up regretting it
후회하다 (to regret) + -게 되다 (to come to; end up) → 후회하게 되다 (to come to regret / end up regretting) + -(으)ㄹ걸 (sentence ending expressing an expectation, supposition, or prediction)
*Note: Here, 후회하게 되다 presents regretting something as a state or outcome the person will eventually arrive at. So rather than simply 후회할 거야 (“you’ll regret it”), 후회하게 될 거야 has more of an “you’ll come to regret it / you’ll end up regretting it” nuance.
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
빌어먹을 등골브레이커 Damn spine-breaker
빌어먹을: damn / freaking
*Note: 빌어먹을 is commonly used before a noun as a strong expression of irritation, contempt, or frustration, similar to “damn,” “damned,” or, more strongly, “f-ing.”
등골브레이커: spine breaker
등골 (spine) + 브레이커 (breaker)
[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 (topic) / as for you guys
너네 (you guys; you all) + -는 (topic particle → “as for you guys”)
요즘: these days / recently
참: really / truly / quite
배불렀지: (you) 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 (ending expressing assertion/shared understanding)
*Note: Literally, 배부르다 means “to be full” after eating, but figuratively it can describe someone as comfortable, well-off, spoiled, or having things too easy. Here it suggests that these “kids” have been privileged or comfortable enough to complain or behave as they do. -지 presents this as something the speaker takes to be evident or established, giving a tone like “you’ve had it pretty good, haven’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)
인생: life
참견이: interference / meddling (subject)
참견 (interference, nosiness, butting in) + -이 (subject particle)
좀: a bit / kind of / rather
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 빈 강정뿐인: nothing but empty / hollow and without substance
속 (inside; interior) + 비다 (to be empty) + -(으)ㄴ (attributive ending) → 속 빈 (“empty inside,” modifies the following noun 강정) + 강정 (a traditional Korean puffed-rice confection) + 뿐이다 (to be only; nothing but) + -(으)ㄴ (attributive modifier) → 뿐인 (attributive form, “that is nothing but”)
*Note: 속 빈 강정 (“a gangjeong that is empty inside”) is used here as a metaphor for 말들 (“words”). The image is of something that may look substantial on the outside but has little inside. By comparing the person’s words to 속 빈 강정, the speaker is saying that they may sound meaningful or important, but they lack real substance or value—hence “hollow” or “empty words.”
*Note: 뿐이다 means “to be only / be nothing but.” To modify the following noun 말들 (“words”), it becomes 뿐인: 뿐이다 → 뿐인 (“that is nothing but”). Therefore, 속 빈 강정뿐인 말들 is literally something like “words that are nothing but empty shells,” and naturally means “nothing but hollow/empty words.”
말들을: words (object)
말 (word, speech) + -들 (plural marker) + -을 (object particle)
왜: why
계속해: keep doing / continue
계속하다 (to continue) + -해 (casual present tense ending)
*Note: Line meaning: "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 (subject)
나 (I, me) + -가 (subject particle)
받은: hat I received / received
받다 (to receive) + -은 (attributive past tense ending)
*Note: -(으)ㄴ turns 받다 into an attributive form that modifies the following noun 돈. 내가 받은 돈 = “the money [that] I received.”
돈: money
쓰겠다는데: (I) say I will spend / (I’m) saying I’ll use (it)
쓰다 (to use; spend) + -겠- (ending expressing intention/will, “will / intend to”) + -다는데 (ending that presents what someone says or a situation as background, often with an implied reaction)
*Note: -다는데 is contracted from -다고 하는데. It combines quotation -다고 (“saying that…”) with -는데, which presents that statement as background for what follows. It can leave the resulting reaction unstated when it is clear from context. Here, 쓰겠다는데 is roughly “I’m saying I’ll spend it, so…,” with an implied challenging response like “what’s the problem?” / “why do you care?”
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 / fifty million's
5천만 (fifty million) + -의 (possessive particle)
취향을: tastes / preferences (object)
취향 (taste, preference) + -을 (object particle)
다: all / completely / entirely
니들처럼: like you guys
니들 (you guys / you all, casual form of 너희들) + -처럼 (particle meaning “like / as”)
맞춰야: have to match / adjust / conform (to)
맞추다 (to match / adjust / make something conform) + -아/어야 (only if / must; marks a necessary condition)
만족할: (that) would be satisfied
만족하다 (to be satisfied / to satisfy) + -ㄹ (attributive future ending → “that will …” → describes “people who will/would be satisfied”)
사람들이지: they’re people who … / the kind of people who …, aren’t they?
사람들 (people) + 이다 (to be) + -지 (assertive/confirmatory ending)
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)
*Note: 너나 is formed from 너 (you) + the particle -나. When -나 attaches directly to a noun or pronoun in a construction like this, it can single that noun out as the appropriate or preferable choice, often with the implication of “rather than someone/something else” or “at least.” With 너, this creates a contrast between you and the other people the listener is concerning themselves with: 너나 ≈ “you, rather than others” / “you yourself, at least.” In 너나 잘 사셔, the implied contrast is essentially “instead of worrying about how other people live, focus on how you live.” This use of -나 can therefore take on a dismissive or admonishing nuance in expressions like 너나, which is why the phrase naturally becomes “worry about yourself” or “focus on your own life” rather than simply “you.”
잘: well / properly / nicely
사셔: live (honorific imperative)
살다 (to live) + -(으)시- (honorific marker) + -어 (casual ending)
*Note: Literally “live,” with honorific marking, but the honorific is used sarcastically here rather than as genuine respect.
니: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive marker, "of") → 너의 ("your") → 네 (contracted form) → 니 (common spoken pronunciation, often written this way in lyrics and dialogue)
인생: life
말이여: (I’m) saying / I mean
말이다 (to mean / be talking about) → 말이여 (dialectal/stylized form)
*Note: 말이여 = “말이야” said in a dialectal or emphatic way (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 (subject, colloquial spelling)
너 (you) + -가 (subject marker) → 네가 ("you") (standard subject form) → 니가 (common nonstandard spelling that reflects the usual pronunciation of 네가)
나면: if I / me
나 (I / me, casual) + -면 (if / when)
말 안 하겠어: I won’t say anything / I’m not going to say anything
말하다 (to speak / to say) → 말 안 하다 (to not speak / not say anything) + -겠- (expresses the speaker’s intention or determination to do something) + -어 (casual sentence ending)
그래 내 패딩 더럽게 비싸고 더럽게 안 예뻐 Yeah, my padded jacket is ridiculously expensive and ridiculously not pretty
그래: yeah / that’s right
내: my
나 (I / me) + -의 (possessive marker) → 나의 ("my") → 내 (common contraction of 나의 used in everyday speech)
패딩: padded jacket / puffer (loanword from “padding”)
더럽게: damn / ridiculously / extremely
더럽다 (to be dirty / filthy) + -게 (adverb-forming ending) → 더럽게 (literally “dirtily,” but colloquially used as an intensifier meaning “damn / ridiculously / extremely”)
*Note: Here, it intensifies 비싸다 and 안 예쁘다 rather than literally referring to something being dirty.
비싸고: is expensive and
비싸다 (to be expensive) + -고 (connective ending meaning “and,” linking one description/action to another)
안 예뻐: isn’t pretty / not pretty
안 (not) + 예쁘다 (to be pretty)
(But I say)
너무 갖고 싶은데 어떡해 I really want it, what do I do?
너무: too / so / very — here, it intensifies 갖고 싶다, giving the sense of “want [it] so badly”
갖고 싶은데: I want to have it, but… / I’d like to have it, though…
갖다 (to have / possess) + -고 싶다 (to want to do something) → 갖고 싶다 (to want to have [something]) + -(으)ㄴ데 (connective ending that provides background or sets up a contrasting/following thought) → 갖고 싶은데 (“I want [it], but…” / “I want [it], though…”)
어떡해: what am I supposed to do? / what can I do?
어떻게 해 (“how do [I] do [this]?” / “what should [I] do?”) → 어떡해 (contracted expression, “what do I do?” / “what am I supposed to do?”)
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: less well-off / poorer
못살다 (to be poor / live in difficult financial circumstances) + -는 (present attributive ending; modifies the following noun) → 못 사는 (“who are less well-off” / “who are poorer”)
친구들도: even [my] friends / [my] friends too
친구들 (friends) + -도 (also / too / even)
다: all / everyone — here, “all [of them]”
가졌는데: have [it], but / have [it], though
가지다 (to have / possess) → 가졌다 (had / came to have) + -(으)ㄴ데 (provides background or sets up a contrast, explanation, or following thought) → 가졌는데 (“have [it], though” / “but [they] have [it]”)
*Note: Although 가졌- is morphologically past-marked, with a possession verb it can describe the resulting present state of having/owning something.
(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: outcast / someone who is subtly or indirectly excluded by a group
되기 싫음: if [I] don’t want to become [one]
되다 (to become) + -기 싫다 (to not want to do something / to dislike doing something) → 되기 싫다 (to not want to become) + -(으)면 (conditional ending meaning “if / when”)
*Note: 싫다 literally expresses dislike, so 되기 싫다 is literally closer to “becoming [one] is undesirable [to me],” but naturally means “I don’t want to become [one].”
살 수밖에: have no choice but to buy [it]
사다 (to buy) + -(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (to have no choice but to / there is no other option but to)
*Note: Here, 없다 is omitted but understood from the construction, so 살 수밖에 retains the sense of “have no choice but to buy [it].”
이 나이 때쯤이면 원래 다들 좀 그러잖니 At this age, everyone’s usually kind of like that, you know
이 나이 때쯤이면: when [you’re] around this age
이 (this) + 나이 (age) + 때 (time / point in time) + -쯤 (approximately / around; indicates an approximate point or degree) + 이다 (to be) + -(으)면 (if / when; conditional ending)
원래: originally / normally / by nature — here, it suggests that what follows is normal or to be expected for people around this age
다들: everyone
다 (all) + -들 (plural marker)
좀: a little / somewhat / kind of — here, it softens 그러다, giving the sense of “be a little like that” or “kind of be that way”
그러잖니: you know [they’re] like that / aren’t [they] like that?
그러다 (to be/do like that) + -잖다 (indicates something the speaker assumes is already known, obvious, or mutually understood; “you know…” / “as you know…”) + -니 (intimate/casual ending, often used when addressing someone younger or someone the speaker is close to) → 그러잖니 (“you know [people] are like that” / “isn’t that how [people] are?”)
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 (topic)
나 (I / me) + -는 (topic marker) → 나는 ("as for me" / "I") → 난 (common contraction of 나는 used in everyday speech)
내: my
나 (I / me) + -의 (possessive marker) → 나의 ("my") → 내 (common contraction of 나의 used in everyday speech)
할 일은: the things (I) have to do (topic)
하다 (to do) + -(으)ㄹ (prospective attributive ending; modifies the following noun) → 할 (“to do” / “that [I] have to do”) + 일 (work / task / thing to do) → 할 일 (“something to do” / “what one has to do”) + -은 (topic/contrast particle) → 할 일은 (“as for what [I] have to do”)
잘해: (I) do well / do properly
잘 (well) + 하다 (to do) → 잘하다 (to do well) → 잘해 (casual present tense form)
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) + 안 (not / don't, negation adverb, placed before verbs) + 부수다 (to break / smash / destroy) → 부셔 (colloquial/nonstandard form of 부숴, present tense informal)
*Note: 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
브레이커는: breaker (topic)
브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”) + -는 (topic particle → “as for the breaker”)
나이 먹고: growing old and / aging and
나이 먹다 (“to get older / age”) + -고 (connective ending, linking to what follows)
*Note: 나이를 먹다 literally means “to eat age,” but is a common expression meaning “to get older.” The object particle -를 is omitted here.
아직도: still / even now
아직 (still / yet) + -도 (also / even)
방구석인: (who is) in the corner of a room / stuck at home
방 (room) + 구석 (corner) + + 이다 (to be) + -(으)ㄴ (attributive form of 이다, modifying the following noun) → 방구석인 (“who is [still] in their room / stuck at home”)
*Note: 방구석 is often used figuratively or disparagingly for staying shut away at home/in one’s room rather than literally referring to the corner of a room.
*Note: Here, 방구석인 directly modifies 너.
너: you
[V] : Wow 기분 좋아 걸쳐보는 너의 dirty clothes Wow, I feel good, trying on your dirty clothes
기분: feeling / mood
좋아: (it's) good / (I) feel good
좋다 (to be good) + -아 (casual present ending)
걸쳐보는: trying on / putting on (to see)
걸치다 (to put on, to drape, to wear) + -어 보다 (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)
넌 뭔가 다른 You're somewhat different
넌: you (topic) / as for you
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle)
뭔가: something / somewhat / kind of
다른: different
다르다 (to be different) + -ㄴ (attributive ending forming “different (thing/person)”)
Rockin, rollin, swaggin, swagger, wrong!
[Jungkook] : 도대체 왜 이래 미쳤어 baby Why on earth are you like this? You’re crazy, baby
도대체: (why) on earth / just (why)
*Note: 도대체 is an adverb used in questions to add strong frustration, disbelief, or exasperation. Here it intensifies 왜: “why on earth?”
왜: why
이래: [are you] like this
이렇다 (to be like this) + -어 (casual present-tense ending) → 이래
*Note: 왜 이래? = Why are you like this? / What’s with you? / Why are you acting like this?
미쳤어: (you) went crazy / (you) are crazy / (are you) crazy? / (have you) lost it?
미치다 (to go crazy / lose one’s mind) + -었어 (past-form casual ending)
*Note: Depending on intonation and context, 미쳤어 can be a statement (“You’re crazy”) or a question (“Are you crazy?”).
[V] : 그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야, dirty clothes That (thing) will tighten your heart, dirty clothes
그게: that (thing) / that (subject)
그 (that) + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject particle) → 그것이 → 그게
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle)
맘을: heart / mind (object)
맘 (colloquial contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle)
조여버릴 거야: it will squeeze / will tighten completely
조이다 (to tighten; constrict; squeeze) + -어 버리다 (to do something completely/decisively, often adding a sense of finality or intensity) + -(으)ㄹ 거야 (will / be going to; casual future/intention)
*Note: 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”)
누구나 겪어봤겠지 Everybody's been through it
누구나: anyone / everyone
*Note: Here, 누구나 has the inclusive sense of “everyone” or “anyone [at some point].”
겪어봤겠지: must have experienced / probably went through
겪다 (to experience / go through) + -아/어 보다 (to try doing / have the experience of doing) → 겪어보다 (“to experience / have gone through [something]”) + -았/었- (past marker) → 겪어봤다 (“experienced / has been through”) + -겠- (expresses the speaker’s assumption or supposition here, “probably / must have”) + -지 (ending expressing an assumption as something the speaker expects or regards as reasonable) → 겪어봤겠지 (“[they] must have experienced it” / “[they’ve] probably been through it”)
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) + (particle indicating direction or movement toward somewhere, “to / toward / into”) → 거리로 (“to the street” / “out into the streets”)
나가보면: if/when [you] go out and see / once [you] go out
나가다 (to go out) + -아/어 보다 (to try doing / do something and experience the result) → 나가보다 (“to try going out / go out and see”) + -(으)면 (if / when)
어깨 힘 빡 들어가고: [your] shoulders puff up with pride / [you] square your shoulders with pride, and
어깨 (shoulder[s]) + 힘 (strength / force / tension) + 빡 (strongly / firmly; emphatic adverb emphasizing the force or intensity) + 들어가다 (to enter / go in) + -고 (connective ending meaning “and,” linking to what follows) → 어깨 힘 빡 들어가고 (literally, “strength/tension goes firmly into [your] shoulders, and…”; figuratively, “[you] puff/square your shoulders with pride, and…”)
*Note: This comes from the expression 어깨에 힘이 들어가다, literally “strength/tension goes into one’s shoulders,” which figuratively describes becoming proud, self-important, or showing off with confidence. The particles -에 and -이 are omitted here: 어깨(에) 힘(이) 빡 들어가고.
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
작다 (to be small) + -아/어 보이다 (to look / appear / seem [a certain way]) → 작아 보이다 (“to look small / appear small”) + -지 (ending that presents the statement with an assertive or knowing tone, often like “you know / right”)
*Note: N보다 + adjective is a common Korean comparative structure used to express “more/less [adjective] than N.” The particle -보다 marks the noun that serves as the point of comparison and can be understood as “than” or “compared to.” Korean does not need to change the adjective itself into a comparative form like English does with “small” → “smaller.” Instead, the comparative meaning comes from -보다. Here, 나보다 means “than me,” while 작아 보이다 means “to look/seem small,” so 나보다 작아 보이지 means “[you/they] look smaller than me.”
걸리버: Gulliver
*걸리버 (Gulliver) refers to Lemuel Gulliver, the main character of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. In the best-known part of the story, Gulliver arrives in Lilliput, where the inhabitants are extremely tiny compared with him, making Gulliver appear like a giant. Here, like 걸리버 draws on that image: the speaker feels bigger and more imposing in the bulky puffer jacket, making other people seem small by comparison. So the reference reinforces 나보다 작아 보이지 (“[you] look smaller than me”) by comparing the speaker to Gulliver surrounded by the tiny Lilliputians.
뭘 입어도 이해해, Whatever you wear, I understand
뭘 입어도: whatever [you] wear / no matter what [you] wear
뭐 (what) + -를 (object particle) → 뭐를 → 뭘 (“what”) + 입다 (to wear) + -아/어도 (even if / even though; indicates that the following result holds regardless of the condition) → 뭘 입어도 (literally, “even if [you] wear what,” naturally “whatever [you] wear / no matter what [you] wear”)
이해해: (I) understand
이해하다 (to understand) → 이해해 (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 / though / however
넌: you (topic, contracted)
너 (you) + -는 (topic marker) → 너는 ("as for you" / "you") → 넌 (common contraction of 너는 used in everyday speech)
너무: too / overly / very
배가 부른 상태: a state of being too comfortable / a state of having it too good
배 (stomach/belly) + -가 (subject particle) + 부르다 (to be full) → 배가 부르다 (literally, “one’s stomach is full”) + -(으)ㄴ (attributive ending for descriptive verbs; modifies the following noun) → 배가 부른 (“being full” / “who/that is full”) + 상태 (state / condition) → 배가 부른 상태 (“a state of being full”)
*Note: 배가 부르다 literally means “to have a full stomach,” but it can figuratively describe someone who is so comfortable or well-provided-for that they have become spoiled, complacent, or unappreciative of what they have.
체해, 후회해 You’ll get indigestion and regret it
체해: [you’ll] get indigestion
체하다 (to have indigestion / get an upset stomach, especially from eating too much or too quickly) → 체해 (casual present tense)
*Note: Here, it follows the previous 배가 부른 상태 (“a state of being too full”), continuing the imagery of someone who has had too much / has it too good. Figuratively, it warns that being so overly comfortable or indulged will eventually have negative consequences.
후회해: [you’ll] regret it
후회하다 (to regret) → 후회해 (casual present tense)
넌 계속 swag해, 허나 부모 맘은 배제해? You keep swagging, but are you leaving out your parents’ feelings?
넌: you (topic, contracted)
너 (you) + -는 (topic marker) → 너는 ("as for you" / "you") → 넌 (common contraction of 너는 used in everyday speech)
계속: continuously / constantly / keep on
swag해: 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
*Note: A somewhat literary or old-fashioned connective compared with everyday 하지만 or 근데, creating a stylistic contrast with the English swag.
부모: parents
맘은: heart / feelings (topic)
맘 (casual contraction of 마음, meaning heart, feelings, mind) + -은 (topic particle → “as for the heart / as for the feelings”)
배제해: (you) exclude? / (do you) leave out?
배제하다 (to exclude / leave out / disregard) → 배제해? (casual present tense) → “[you] exclude/disregard [them]?”)
그래 말리진 않을게 Yeah, I won't stop you
그래: okay / fine / yeah
말리진 않을게: I won’t stop you / I won’t hold you back
말리다 (to stop / dissuade someone) + -지는 않다 (contrastive negation; “not do X,” often with the nuance of “at least/as for X, not…”) → 말리지는 않다 (“to not stop/dissuade [someone]”) → 말리진 않다 (contracted form) + -(으)ㄹ게 (expresses the speaker’s intention, decision, or promise about their own future action) → 말리진 않을게 (“I won’t try to stop [you]” / “I won’t stop [you], at least”)
*Note: Here, -지는 않다 is formed from -지 않다 (the standard long-form negation, “to not do”) with the topic/contrast particle -는 attached to -지, giving -지는 않다. This adds a contrastive nuance compared with simply 말리지 않을게 (“I won’t stop you”). 말리진 않을게 can imply “I won’t stop you, at least”—the speaker may still criticize, disagree, or have something to say about it, but actually stopping the person is something they will not do. -지는 is commonly contracted to -진 in speech, so 말리지는 않을게 → 말리진 않을게.
이제 맘을 정해 Now make up your mind
이제: now
맘을: mind / heart (object)
맘 (casual contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle)
정해: decide / make up [your mind]
정하다 (to decide, to set, to determine) → 정해 (casual present or imperative form)
*Note: 맘을 정하다 is a common expression meaning “to make up one’s mind / make a decision.”
[V] : Wow 기분 좋아 걸쳐보는 너의 dirty clothes Wow, I feel good, trying on your dirty clothes
기분: feeling / mood
좋아: (it's) good / (I) feel good
좋다 (to be good) + -아 (casual present ending)
걸쳐보는: trying on / putting on (to see)
걸치다 (to put on, to drape, to wear) + -어 보다 (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)
넌 뭔가 다른 You're somewhat different
넌: you (topic) / as for you
너 (you) + -는 (topic particle)
뭔가: something / somewhat / kind of
다른: different
다르다 (to be different) + -ㄴ (attributive ending forming “different (thing/person)”)
Rockin, rollin, swaggin, swagger, wrong!
[Jungkook] : 도대체 왜 이래 미쳤어 baby Why on earth are you like this? You’re crazy, baby
도대체: (why) on earth / just (why)
*Note: 도대체 is an adverb used in questions to add strong frustration, disbelief, or exasperation. Here it intensifies 왜: “why on earth?”
왜: why
이래: [are you] like this
이렇다 (to be like this) + -어 (casual present-tense ending) → 이래
*Note: 왜 이래? = Why are you like this? / What’s with you? / Why are you acting like this?
미쳤어: (you) went crazy / (you) are crazy / (are you) crazy? / (have you) lost it?
미치다 (to go crazy / lose one’s mind) + -었어 (past-form casual ending)
*Note: Depending on intonation and context, 미쳤어 can be a statement (“You’re crazy”) or a question (“Are you crazy?”).
[V] : 그게 너의 맘을 조여버릴 거야, dirty clothes That (thing) will tighten your heart, dirty clothes
그게: that (thing) / that (subject)
그 (that) + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject particle) → 그것이 → 그게
너의: your
너 (you) + -의 (possessive particle)
맘을: heart / mind (object)
맘 (colloquial contraction of 마음, meaning heart, mind, feelings) + -을 (object particle)
조여버릴 거야: it will squeeze / will tighten completely
조이다 (to tighten; constrict; squeeze) + -어 버리다 (to do something completely/decisively, often adding a sense of finality or intensity) + -(으)ㄹ 거야 (will / be going to; casual future/intention)
*Note: 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, colloquial spelling)
너 (you) + -가 (subject marker) → 네가 ("you") (standard subject form) → 니가 (common nonstandard spelling that reflects the usual pronunciation of 네가)
바로: exactly / precisely / none other than / the very
*Note: Here 바로 emphasizes the identification of 니가 (“you”) as the 등골 브레이커, with the sense of “you’re the very one” or “you’re exactly the person.”
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”)
*Note: 등골 브레이커 (literally, “spine/back breaker”) is slang for a child who places a heavy financial burden on their parents, particularly through expensive purchases. The expression draws on the image of a person’s back bending under the strain of hard work or a heavy burden; figuratively, the parents are working and sacrificing so much financially for their child that their backs are being “broken.”
[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)
등골브레이커: spine-breaker
등골 (spine, backbone) + 브레이커 (breaker, loanword from English “breaker”)
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
[Jimin] : 언젠가는 후회하게 될 걸 Someday you’ll regret it
언젠가는: someday / one day / eventually (topic)
언젠가 (sometime; someday) + -는 (topic/contrast particle)
*Note: The added -는 gives 언젠가 a slight contrastive emphasis, suggesting that even if it does not happen now, there will eventually come a time when it does.
후회하게 될 걸: (you) will come to regret it / (you) will end up regretting it
후회하다 (to regret) + -게 되다 (to come to; end up) → 후회하게 되다 (to come to regret / end up regretting) + -(으)ㄹ걸 (sentence ending expressing an expectation, supposition, or prediction)
[All] : (La la la la la la la la la)
빌어먹을 등골브레이커 Damn spine-breaker
빌어먹을: damn / freaking
*Note: 빌어먹을 is commonly used before a noun as a strong expression of irritation, contempt, or frustration, similar to “damn,” “damned,” or, more strongly, “f-ing.”
등골브레이커: spine breaker
등골 (spine) + 브레이커 (breaker)
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BTS Lyric Translations (@btslyrictranslations)
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