Learn Korean with BTS Lyrics | 'Coffee' Korean Lyrics Explained

Learn Korean with BTS Lyrics | ‘Coffee’ Vocabulary in Context

Let’s study Korean with BTS Lyrics! In this post, we’ll break down each lyric in BTS’ ‘Coffee’ 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) - 'Coffee' Lyrics (With English Translation & Korean Grammar/Vocabulary Notes)

[Jungkook] : Baby baby 그대는 Caramel Macchiato Baby baby you’re Caramel Macchiato

그대는: as for you / you are

• 그대 (you — poetic/formal) + -는 (topic marker)

*그대 is a poetic, formal word for “you,” often used in lyrics and literature.

-는 marks it as the topic (“as for you”). In lyrics, the verb 이다 (“to be”) is often omitted but implied, so 그대는 can function like “you are…” in English.

여전히 내 입가엔 그대 향기 달콤해 Your scent is still sweet around my lips

여전히: still / as always

내: my

입가엔: by / on my lips / at the corners of my mouth

• 입 (mouth) + 가 (edge / area) → 입가 (area around the mouth) + -에 (location marker: “at / on / in”) + -는 (topic marker) → 입가에는 → contracted to 입가엔

그대: you (formal/poetic)

향기: fragrance / scent

달콤해: is sweet

• 달콤하다 (to be sweet) + -해 (informal present tense)

Baby baby tonight

Yeah

[RM] : Girl 나 데뷔했어, 이 말 한 마디면 되겠지? Girl, I debuted, that’s all I need to say, right?

나: I / me (informal pronoun)

데뷔했어: (I) debuted

• 데뷔하다 (to debut) + -었- (past marker) + -어 (informal casual ending) = 데뷔했어

이 말: this word / these words / this thing I’m saying

• 이 (this) + 말 (word / speech / statement)

한 마디면: if it’s one phrase / if one word is enough

• 한 (one, attributive form used before nouns) + 마디 (counter unit for speech: “a phrase / a word”) + -면 (conditional “if”)

  
  

되겠지?: it should be enough, right? / I guess this will do

• 되다 (to become / to work / to be enough) + -겠- (supposition / assumption “probably / should”) + -지? (soft questioning tag)

* Full nuance: “It should work, right?” / “This should be enough, don’t you think?”

얼마나 성공할지 세상이랑 내기했어 I made a bet with the world on how successful I would be

얼마나: how / how much / to what extent

성공할지: whether (I) will succeed

• 성공하다 (to succeed) + -ㄹ (future/attributive marker: “will / going to”) + -지 (uncertainty / indirect question marker: “whether / if”)

세상이랑: with the world

• 세상 (world) + -이랑 (casual comitative “with”)

내기했어: (I) made a bet / (I) bet

• 내기하다 (to bet, to make a wager) + -었어 (casual past tense)

네게만 보여주던 내 반달 눈웃음, My smile with half moon eyes that I only showed you

네게만: only to you

• 너 (you, informal pronoun) + -에게 (dative particle: marks the recipient, “to / toward”) → 네게 (colloquial contraction) + -만 (exclusive particle: “only”)

보여주던: (that I) used to show / would show

• 보여주다 (to show) + -던 (retrospective attributive ending)

*Grammar note: -던 is a retrospective modifier that looks back on a past, incomplete, habitual, or repeated action. It connects the verb to a following noun (adnominal form). -던 implies an ongoing or repeated state at that time, not fully concluded. In this lyric, it describes “the smile that I used to show,” not “the smile I once showed (finished).” It expresses repetition and continuity in the past.

내: my

• 나 (I) + -의 (possessive particle: “of”) → contraction: 나의 → 내 (standard in speech and writing)

반달: half-moon

• 반 (half) + 달 (moon)

눈웃음: eye-smile

• 눈 (eye) + 웃음 (smile)

요즘 다시 짓고 다녀 These days I’ve been wearing it again

요즘: these days / recently

다시: again / once more

짓고: making (and…) / forming (and…)

• 짓다 (to build, to make, to form; includes 표정을 짓다 = “to make a facial expression”) + -고 (connective ending, links one action to the next: “and,” “and then,” “and…”). Meaning inside this context: 짓고 = “making (that smile/expression) and…”

다녀: go around / go about

• 다니다 (to go around, to move about, to frequent habitually) + -어 (informal present ending → becomes -여 after contraction). Indicates a habitual, present ongoing action: “go around doing ~,” “walk around while ~,” “be going about ~.” In this context: “going around (these days) making that expression again.”

내 팬들이 궁금해해줘 My fans are curious

내: my

• 나 (I) + -의 (possessive particle: “of”) → contraction: 나의 → 내 (standard in speech and writing)

팬들이: fans (as the subject)

• 팬 (fan) + -들 (plural marker) + -이 (subject particle)

궁금해해줘: (please) be curious about me / wonder about me

• 궁금해하다 (to show curiosity / to wonder / to be curious (about someone/something)) + -아/어 주다 (“to do something for someone”) → “(my fans) are being curious (about me) for me / kindly show curiosity about me”

아 그리고 잘 안 마셔 마끼아또 Ah and I don’t really drink macchiatos

아: ah / oh

그리고: and / and also

잘 안 마셔: I don’t (usually) drink (it)

• 잘 (well / properly) [In negation contexts (잘 + 안), it can mean “not often / rarely / hardly”] + 안 (not / don’t, propositional negation adverb) + 마시다 (to drink) + -어 (informal present ending) → 마셔 (drink) → 잘 안 마셔 = “I don’t really drink (it) / I rarely drink (it).”

마끼아또: macchiato

알잖아 너 땜에 습관이 된 아메리카노 You know, drinking Americanos became a habit because of you

알잖아: you know (you already know / as you know)

• 알다 (to know) + -잖아 (sentence-ending: “you know,” “isn’t it,” confirms shared knowledge)

*Grammar note: -잖아 is a contraction of -지 않아요? (“isn’t it so?”). It's used to remind the listener of something they already know, express mild insistence, or as a soft confirmation request.

너: you (informal 2nd-person pronoun)

땜에: because of (contraction / colloquial spoken form of 때문에 (because of). Attached to nouns to mark reason: “because of X”)

습관이: habit (as the subject)

• 습관 (habit) + -이 (subject particle, marks 습관 as the subject of the verb 된)

된: that became / which turned into

• 되다 (to become) + -ㄴ (adnominal past marker → modifies a noun, used to create a modifier meaning “that has become / that became.”) → 된 아메리카노 = “the Americano that (something) became (a habit).”

아메리카노: Americano

사귈 땐 이게 무슨 맛인가 싶었었는데 When we were dating, I wondered what taste it was

사귈 땐: when (we) were dating / at the time we were dating

• 사귀다 (to date / to be in a relationship) + -ㄹ 때 (when ~ / at the time when ~) + -는 (topic particle → sometimes emphasizes contrast or sets a time frame as the topic) → contraction: 때는 → 땐

이게: this (as the subject)

• 이 (this) + 것 (thing) + -이 (subject particle) → 이것이 → 이게 (used when “this (thing)” is the subject of the following verb)

무슨: what kind of / what sort of (used before a noun to ask category/type. Here it modifies 맛.)

맛인가: is it (this) taste? / what kind of taste is this?

• 맛 (taste) + -인가 (“is it?” with nuance of questioning, wondering, searching for an explanation. Soft reflective / rhetorical question, not a direct confrontational one.) [이다 (to be) → 인 (attributive/base form before particles) + -가 (subject marker used with a rising intonation / interrogative function in copular questions)]

싶었었는데: (I) wondered / I wasn’t sure back then / I used to want to know

• 싶다 (to think maybe / to wonder if / to suspect that) [싶다 can mean ‘to want’ or ‘to think maybe,’ but which one it is depends on what comes before it.] + -었었- (remote past, “had wanted / had wondered”) + -는데 (background / contrast connector, “but…" / "so…" / "and then…”)

차갑고 뒷맛은 씁쓸한 게 니가 없으니까 There’s a cold and bitter aftertaste because you’re not here

차갑고: cold and ~

• 차갑다 (to be cold) + -고 (connective ending: links descriptive states/actions; “and”)

뒷맛은: as for the aftertaste / the aftertaste (topic)

• 뒷맛 (aftertaste) → 뒷 (back/behind) + 맛 (taste) + -은 (topic particle)

씁쓸한 게: the fact that it’s bitter / the thing that is bitter / bitterness (as a feeling)

• 씁쓸하다 (to be bitter / bittersweet) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending → modifies a noun) → 씁쓸한 (bitter / bittersweet) + 것 (thing/fact/what) + -이 (subject marker) → 것이 → 게 (spoken) → “the bitter thing,” “the fact that it’s bitter” (a nounified clause serving as the subject)

*So instead of saying: It is bitter. Korean says: There is a bitter thing / bitter quality.

니가: you (as the subject)

없으니까: because you’re not here / because there’s no you

• 없다 (to not exist / to be absent) + -으니까 (reason/cause connective)

Grammar note: -으니까 gives explicit reason. It means “because / since / as.” It's stronger and more explanatory than -서. 없으니까 = “because (you) are absent / not here”

이젠 조금 이해가 돼 girl I understand it a little now girl

이젠: now / now (after things have changed)

• 이제 (now / from now) + -는 (topic particle) → 이제는 → 이젠 (contraction of 이제는)

Nuance: emphasizes a shift from the past: “now (as opposed to before),” “nowadays,” “now at this point”

조금: a little / a bit

이해가 돼: I understand / it makes sense

• 이해 (understanding) + -가 (subject particle) + 되다 (to become, to turn into, to work out) + -어 (informal present ending) → 돼 (contraction: 되어 → 돼) → 이해가 되다 = to become understood → to be understandable → to understand. Meaning in context: “I get it,” “it becomes understandable,” “(my) understanding comes (now).”

이렇게 다들 익숙해져가는 거라면 If this is how everyone gets used to it

이렇게: like this / in this way

다들: everyone

• 다 (all, everyone) + -들 (plural marker → “all of them,” “everyone”) (Used colloquially to refer to a group of people collectively)

익숙해져가는 거라면: If (this) is the process of everyone getting used to it… / If this is how everyone becomes used to things…

• 익숙해져가다 (to gradually become used to / to keep getting used to) + -는 거 (“the act of ___ / the thing of ___ / what is ___”) + -(이)라면 (conditional copula ending, used after nouns to form a conditional (“if it is ~”))

후회 많을 불장난을 다시 선택하겠어 나는 I’d choose to play with fire even if it would be full of regrets

후회: regret

많을: many (regrets)

• 많다 (to be many) + -을 (attributive future/possible noun modifier, “many (that will be)” / “regrets that will come / that will be many”) → 후회 많을 = “regrets that will be many,” “a lot of regret (to come).”

불장난을: “playing with fire” (object)

• 불장난 (playing with fire → risky behavior, reckless thing that leads to regret) [불 (fire) + 장난 (mischief, prank)] + -을 (object particle → marks what the action is done to) → 불장난을 = the act of playing with fire (as the object)

다시: again

선택하겠어: I will choose / I would choose / I’m going to choose

• 선택하다 (to choose) + -겠어 (intention, volition, resolve, “I will”)

나는: as for me / I (topic)

• 나 (I / me) + -는 (topic particle)

우리의 야속하던 약속들, 수많던 잘못들과 Our bitter promises, our many mistakes,

우리의: our / of us

• 우리 (we / our) + -의 (possessive marker “of”) → 우리의 = “our”

야속하던: that was cruel / that used to be heartless

• 야속하다 (to be cruel, cold, unkind) + -던 (retrospective adnominal modifier, describes a past, ongoing, repeated, or remembered state, evokes emotional recollection or “the way it used to be”)

약속들: promises

• 약속 (promise) + -들 (plural marker) → 야속하던 약속들 = “our promises that used to be heartless,” “our once-cold promises.”

수많던: that were countless / that used to be numerous

• 수많다 (to be numerous, to be many) + -던 (retrospective modifier) → “the many (that there used to be),” “countless (formerly).” Here, it modifies 잘못들과.

잘못들과: mistakes and (something else)

• 잘못 (mistake, wrong) + -들 (plural) + -과 (and / with—coordinating particle used after consonants, links nouns: “A and B”)

또 다른 잘못들 사이 놓인 말 못할 잘잘못들 The unspeakable mistakes that lie in between

또 다른: another / yet another / a different

• 또 (again / additionally / another) + 다른 (different, other) → 또 다른 →

  “another (different) one in addition”

잘못들: mistakes (plural)

• 잘못 (mistake) + -들 (plural marker)

사이: between / among / amid (between, the space between two things, the relationship gap). In this line, 사이 functions as the location/situation in which a choice is made: “between our once-cruel promises, our countless mistakes, and our many other mistakes.”

놓인: placed / put (passive modifier)

• 놓이다 (to be placed / to be put → passive of 놓다 “to place/put”) + -ㄴ (adnominal past modifier → describes a noun) → 놓인 = ‘that is placed,’ ‘that lies put,’ ‘that has been set down.’

말 못할: unspeakable / inexpressible / cannot be said

• 말 (word / speech / thing to say) + 못하다 (cannot do) + -ㄹ (attributive future/ability marker used here as “can/cannot”) → 못할 = “that cannot (be done)”  → 말 못할: “that cannot be spoken,” “unspeakable,” “beyond words.”

잘잘못들: rights and wrongs (plural)

• 잘 (right) + 잘못 (wrong) → combined meaning = moral + practical rights/wrongs [“rights and wrongs,” “good and bad,” “faults and virtues,” “blame and credit”] + -들 (plural marker) → 잘잘못들 = multiple rights/wrongs, many faults/virtues, many moral errors.

맛볼수록 쓰기만 했던 추억이 담긴 잔 A cup full of memories that only got more bitter as I tasted it

맛볼수록: the more (I) taste / the more (one) experiences

• 맛보다 (to taste → literally “to see the taste,” to experience the flavor) + -ㄹ수록 (the more X happens, the more Y happens → proportional connective)

*Grammar note: -ㄹ수록 indicates increase with repetition / intensity: “as (I) taste more and more…” “the more (one) experiences/tastes…”

쓰기만 했던: was only bitter / only tasted bitter / only did ‘being bitter’

• 쓰다 (to be bitter) + -기만 하다 (“to do only X”) → 쓰기만 하다 = to only be bitter + -았/었- (simple past) + -던 (retrospective modifier) → 쓰기만 했던 = “(something that) used to be only bitter,” “that had always been nothing but bitter.”

추억이: memories (subject)

• 추억 (memory, recollection) + -이 (subject particle, marks “memories” as the subject of the verb 담긴)

담긴: containing / filled with (passive modifier)

• 담기다 (to be put in / to be contained / to be filled with → passive of 담다 “to put in, to fill”) + -ㄴ (adnominal past modifier → describes a noun) → 담긴 = “that is filled with,” “that contains,” “in which (memories) are held.”

잔: cup / glass

왜 들이키게 되는지 알 것 같지만 I think I know why I keep drinking it

왜: why

들이키게 되는지: why (I/you/someone) end up gulping it / end up drinking it in

• 들이키다 (to gulp down / chug / drink in one go) + -게 되다 (“to end up doing ___ / to come to ___ naturally / to become such that ___ happens”) + -는지 (indirect question marker: “why / how / whether”) (combines naturally with 왜 earlier, 왜 … 되는지 = why it becomes (so), why this happens)

알 것 같지만: I think I know, but…

• 알다 (to know) + -ㄹ 것 같다 (“I think that…” / “it seems like…” / “it looks like…”) → 알 것 같다 = “I think I know / I feel like I know / it seems like I know.” + -지만 (contrastive conjunction = “but,” “however”)

다 이렇게 사는 거란 말이 왜 이리 슬프지 나 Why does the saying that everyone lives like this make me so sad?

다: all / everything / everyone

이렇게: like this / in this way

사는 거란: what life is / the thing called “living”

• 살다 (to live) + + -는 거 (“the act of ___ / the thing of ___ / what is ___”) → 사는 거 = living / life + (이)란 (the thing called… / what ___ is)

말이: “the saying (that)…” / “the words (that)…”

• 말 (speech, words, statement, saying) + -이 (subject particle) → 사는 거란 말이 = the saying that ‘this is what living is’ → literally, “the words that say ‘living is this.’” → “the words that (this) is living…”

왜 이리: why like this / why so / why is it this way

• 왜 (why) + 이리 (this way / like this → colloquial)

슬프지: am (I) sad? / feel sad?

• 슬프다 (to be sad) + -지 (ending that: adds rhetorical tone, softens assertion, means “isn’t it?” / “right?” / “why am I…?” / expresses lament)

나: I / me (placed at the end for emphasis or self-address)

[Jungkook, vocal line] : Baby baby 그대는 Caramel Macchiato Baby baby you’re Caramel Macchiato

그대는: as for you / you are

• 그대 (you — poetic/formal) + -는 (topic marker)

*그대 is a poetic, formal word for “you,” often used in lyrics and literature.

-는 marks it as the topic (“as for you”). In lyrics, the verb 이다 (“to be”) is often omitted but implied, so 그대는 can function like “you are…” in English.

여전히 내 입가엔 그대 향기 달콤해 Your scent is still sweet around my lips

여전히: still / as always

내: my

입가엔: by / on my lips / at the corners of my mouth

• 입 (mouth) + 가 (edge / area) → 입가 (area around the mouth) + -에 (location marker: “at / on / in”) + -는 (topic marker) → 입가에는 → contracted to 입가엔

그대: you (formal/poetic)

향기: fragrance / scent

달콤해: is sweet

• 달콤하다 (to be sweet) + -해 (informal present tense)

Baby baby tonight

[V, vocal line] : Baby baby 그대는 café latte 향보다 Baby baby you’re better than the scent of a cafe latte

그대는: as for you / you (topic)

• 그대 (poetic/literary form of “you,” used in songs, poetry, love letters) + -는 (topic particle)

향보다: than the scent / compared to the aroma

• 향 (scent, aroma) + 보다 (comparative particle “than”)

*Grammar note: -보다 attaches to the noun being compared against: A보다 B = “B is more than A.” Here: 향보다 = “than the scent (of café latte)”

포근했던 그 느낌 기억하고 있나요 Do you remember the cozy feeling?

포근했던: that was warm/cozy (in the past)

• 포근하다 (to be cozy, soft, warm, comforting) + -었- (past marker) + -던 (retrospective adnominal modifier) → 포근했던 = “that used to feel cozy,” “that comforting (feeling) we had back then.”

그: that (그 느낌 = “that feeling”)

느낌: feeling / sensation / emotional impression

기억하고 있나요: Do you remember? / Are you still remembering? (literal nuance)

• 기억 (memory) + 하다 (to do) → 기억하다 (to remember) + -고 있다 (present progressive form, means “to be in the state of doing X,” verb-ing) + -나요? (gentle, wondering question ending, polite form)

  
  

Baby baby tonight

[Suga] : Baby tonight 잘 자요 오늘 밤 Baby tonight, sleep well tonight

잘: well / sleep well / properly (with 자다 (to sleep), 잘 expresses quality → “sleep well,” “have a good sleep,” “rest well.”)

자요: sleep (polite)

• 자다 (to sleep) + -아요 / -어요 (polite present ending) (Because 자- has an ㅏ vowel, it takes -아요 → 자아요 → contraction → 자요)

*잘 자요 is a common polite goodnight expression.

오늘: today (when placed before 밤, forms a time phrase: “today night” → “tonight.”)

밤: night / evening

• 오늘 (today) + 밤 (night) = “tonight,” “this night.”

괜히 둘 사이 어색한 기류만 흐르던 첫 문자와 첫 통화 The awkward atmosphere between the two of us in our first text and phone call

괜히: for no reason / needlessly / pointless(ly)

둘: the two / both (num./noun)

사이: between / relationship / space between

*Note: 사이 has two senses: literal: the space between two objects OR emotional/relational: the relationship/closeness/distance between two people. Here, with 둘, it becomes: 둘 사이 (“between the two,” “the relationship between the two of us.”) This phrase structurally modifies what follows → “둘 사이 (the relationship between the two) + 어색한 기류” (“the awkward vibe between the two.”)

어색한: awkward (adjective modifying a noun)

• 어색하다 (to be awkward) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending) → 어색한 = “awkward,” “awkward-feeling,” “uncomfortable.”

기류만: only the atmosphere / vibe

• 기류 (air current, airflow, or figuratively = emotional vibe or atmosphere) + -만 (exclusive particle = “only,” “just,” “nothing but”) → 기류만 = “only the (emotional) air,” “only the vibe,” “just the atmosphere.” → 어색한 기류만 (“only the awkward vibe,” “nothing but awkward tension”). Here 만 emphasizes that the only thing present was the awkward atmosphere.

흐르던: that was flowing / that used to flow (past, ongoing, continuous)

• 흐르다 (to flow, to run, to pass—as in time/messages/conversation flowing) + -던 (retrospective adnominal ending, describes an ongoing, repeated, or continuous past action) → 흐르던 = “that kept flowing,” “that used to flow,” “that was flowing back then.” → 기류만 흐르던 = “only an awkward atmosphere flowed between us”

첫: first (adnominal determiner, placed before a noun to specify the first instance) (첫 문자 = first text message)

문자와: text message and ~

• 문자 (text message, SMS) + -와 (coordinating particle “and,” used after vowels)

*Grammar note: -와 / -과 is a formal/neutral noun connector. 와 after vowels, 과 after consonants.

첫 통화: first phone call

• 첫 (first) + 통화 (phone call, phone conversation)

기대하던 첫 만남 I looked forward to our first meeting

기대하던: (the one I) used to look forward to / that I anticipated

• 기대하다 (to look forward to, to anticipate, to expect) + -던 (retrospective adnominal ending, describes an ongoing, repeated, or continuous past action) → 기대하던 = (“that I used to look forward to,” “that I had been anticipating,” “the awaited / the anticipated.” It modifies 첫 만남.)

  
  

첫: first (adnominal determiner, indicates the first instance of a noun, always placed directly before the noun it modifies)

만남: meeting / encounter

• 만나다 (to meet) → nominalized form: 만남 = “a meeting,” “an encounter.”

근데 난 왜 손톱만 물어뜯었을까 But why did I just keep biting my nails?

근데: but / however / by the way (contraction of 그런데, casual, conversational, introduces contrast, shift, or a reflective realization)

난: as for me / I (topic)

• 나 (I) + -는 (topic particle) (난 = contraction of 나는)

왜: why

손톱만: only my nails / just (my) nails

• 손톱 (fingernail) + -만 (exclusive particle, “only,” “just,” “nothing but”)

물어뜯었을까: why did I bite? / I wonder why I bit

• 물어뜯다 (to bite and tear / nibble → commonly “to bite nails”) + -었- (past tense marker) + -을까 (used for self-reflective wondering, carries nuance of: “I wonder if,” “why would I have,” “what made me…”) → 물어뜯었을까 = “I wonder why I bit (them).” It is not a direct question; it’s introspective and emotional.

긴장해서였을까 Was I nervous?

긴장해서였을까: could it have been because I was nervous? / I wonder if it was because I was nervous.

• 긴장 (nervousness, tension) + 하다 (to do) → 긴장하다 = to be nervous + -아서/어서 (cause/reason connective (“because / so”), “because (I) was nervous,” “from being nervous”) + 이다 (to be) + -었- (past) + -을까 (question/uncertainty/hypothesis marker) → 였을까 (was it? / could it have been? / I wonder if it was…) → 긴장해서 + 였을까 → “Was it because of being nervous?”

시간이 흐르고 자연스레 Naturally, as time went by,

시간이: time (as the subject)

• 시간 (time) + -이 (subject particle)

흐르고: flows and ~ / passes and ~

• 흐르다 (to flow; to pass, as in time) + -고 (connective, means “and then / and / while”)

자연스레: naturally / as a natural progression (adverbial form of 자연스럽게)

우리 둘 사인 연인 아님 애인 그런 말들로 매일 서로를 확인하고 확인했지 With words like love and lovers, we confirmed each others feelings

우리: we / us / our (In Korean, 우리 can mean: “we (the two of us),” “our (shared),” depending on context.)

둘: two / the two (people) (pure Korean number → “two”)

• 우리 둘 = “we two,” “the two of us,” “both of us.”

사인: the relationship between (two people)

• 사이 (relationship, the space between people) + -인 (이다 → attributive form “being / that is”) → 사이인 → 사인 (lyric contraction) = “the relationship between,” “the bond between.” 우리 둘 사이인 = “the relationship between the two of us.”

연인: lover / romantic partner

*연인 emphasizes romantic, emotional love (a poetic “lover”), while 애인 is the everyday word for one’s boyfriend, girlfriend, or romantic partner.

아님: Or / If not (contraction of "아니면")

• 연인 아님 애인 = ‘a lover, or maybe an (ordinary) boyfriend/girlfriend.’

애인: boyfriend/girlfriend

그런: such / that kind of…

• 그렇다 (to be like that) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending) → 그런 = “such,” “that kind of,” “like that.” It modifies 말들.

말들로: with such words / using such words

• 말 (word, speech) + -들 (plural marker) = 말들 (words) + -로 (particle of method/means, “using,” “by,” “through,” marks the tool/method by which an action is done)

매일: every day

서로를: each other (object)

• 서로 (each other) + -를 (object particle)

확인하고: confirmed and / checked (and then)

• 확인하다 (to confirm, to check, to verify) + -고 (connective, “and,” “and then,” “while”)

확인했지: (you know we) confirmed / we did confirm

• 확인하다 (to check / to confirm) + -았/었- (past tense) [확인하다 + -았/었 → 했] + -지 (sentence-ending particle, adds nuance of soft assertion or confirmation)

맘에 새긴 우리의 첫 만남은 Our first meeting that I engraved in my heart

맘에: in my heart / in my mind

• 맘 (“heart,” “mind,” “inner feeling,” “emotion,” “thoughts,” contraction of 마음) + -에 (location/direction particle)

새긴: carved / engraved / etched (modifier)

• 새기다 (to carve, engrave, etch, imprint) + -ㄴ (adnominal past modifier for verbs, “that has been carved,” “that was engraved”) → 새긴 = “engraved,” “carved,” “etched (into).” This modifies 우리의 첫 만남.

*Grammar note: -ㄴ with action verb describes a completed action that modifies a noun.

우리의: our / of us

• 우리 (we / our) + -의 (possessive particle)

첫: first (adnominal determiner, modifies nouns to indicate the first instance, first time)

• 첫 만남 = first meeting / first encounter

만남은: the meeting… (topic)

• 만남 (meeting, encounter) → derived noun from 만나다 (to meet) + -은 (topic particle)

캬라멜 마끼아또처럼 달콤했지 Was sweet like a caramel macchiato

캬라멜 마끼아또처럼: like a caramel macchiato

• 캬라멜 마끼아또 (caramel macchiato) + -처럼 (comparison particle: “like / as / as if”)

달콤했지: it was sweet (you know)

• 달콤하다 (to be sweet) + -었- (past tense) + -지 (final ending: soft assertion / shared-memory nuance)

어디든 같이 가고 싶던 마음도 The feeling of wanting to go everywhere together

어디든: anywhere / wherever

• 어디 (where) + -든 (even / any / no-matter particle)

같이: together / with

가고 싶던: (that I) wanted to go

• 가다 (to go) + -고 싶다 (want to ~) + -던 (retrospective modifier: past ongoing/used-to feeling)

마음도: the feeling/heart (too / also)

• 마음 (heart / feeling) + -도 (also / too particle)

시간이 지나면서 As time passed

시간이: time (as the subject)

• 시간 (time) + -이 (subject marker)

지나면서: as (it) passes / while passing

• 지나다 (to pass) + -면서 (while ~ / as simultaneously)

마치 에스프레소처럼 내려놓게 되었어 I put those feelings down like an expresso

마치: as if / just like

에스프레소처럼: like an espresso

• 에스프레소 (espresso) + -처럼 (comparison particle “like / as”)

내려놓게 되었어: to end up letting go / to come to put down

• 내려놓다 (to put down / to let go) + -게 되다 (“to end up doing ___ / to come to ___ naturally / to become such that ___ happens”) + -었어 (informal past) → 내려놓게 되었어 = “I ended up letting it go / it came to be that I let it down.”

Uh 괜시리 속 아프네, uh 우린 참 좋았는데 Uh it hurts my insides, uh we were so good together

괜시리: for no reason / needlessly / uselessly / unnecessarily

속: inside

아프네: it hurts (I realize it now)

• 아프다 (to hurt / be painful) + -네 (expressive ending: realization / emotional noticing)

우린: we (as topic)

• 우리 (we) + -는 (topic marker) → contraction: 우린

참: really / truly

좋았는데: it was good, but…

• 좋다 (to be good) + -았- (past tense) + -는데 (connective ending that adds background, contrast, or leading into something else: "but / though / and yet". Often implies the speaker is trailing off, expecting understanding or continuing thought.)

이별은 쓰디쓴 아메리카노 Breaking up is a bitter americano

이별은: separation / goodbye (as for separation…)

• 이별 (parting / breakup) + -은 (topic marker)

쓰디쓴: extremely bitter

• 쓰다 (to be bitter) + -디- (intensifier meaning “to an extreme degree,” adds emphasis, poetic/literary tone) + -쓴 (attributive modifier form of 쓰다 used before nouns)

아메리카노: Americano (loanword)

아직도 추억은 여전히 그 카페로 가고 있어 My memories still go to that cafe

아직도: still / even now

• 아직 (still / not yet) + -도 (even / also) → emphasizes continuation

추억은: memories (as for the memories…)

• 추억 (memories) + -은 (topic marker)

여전히: still / unchanged

그: that (demonstrative “that,” referring to a known place → the café)

카페로: to the café / toward the café

• 카페 (café) + -로 (directional particle: “to / toward / into”)

가고 있어: (they) are going / heading

• 가다 (to go) + -고 있다 (progressive “be doing” → ongoing action)

[Jungkook, vocal line] : Baby baby 그대는 Caramel Macchiato Baby baby you’re Caramel Macchiato

그대는: as for you / you are

• 그대 (you — poetic/formal) + -는 (topic marker)

*그대 is a poetic, formal word for “you,” often used in lyrics and literature.

-는 marks it as the topic (“as for you”). In lyrics, the verb 이다 (“to be”) is often omitted but implied, so 그대는 can function like “you are…” in English.

여전히 내 입가엔 그대 향기 달콤해 Your scent is still sweet around my lips

여전히: still / as always

내: my

입가엔: by / on my lips / at the corners of my mouth

• 입 (mouth) + 가 (edge / area) → 입가 (area around the mouth) + -에 (location marker: “at / on / in”) + -는 (topic marker) → 입가에는 → contracted to 입가엔

그대: you (formal/poetic)

향기: fragrance / scent

달콤해: is sweet

• 달콤하다 (to be sweet) + -해 (informal present tense)

Baby baby tonight

[Jimin, vocal line] : Baby baby 그대는 café latte 향보다 Baby baby you’re better than the scent of a cafe latte

그대는: as for you / you (topic)

• 그대 (poetic/literary form of “you,” used in songs, poetry, love letters) + -는 (topic particle)

향보다: than the scent / compared to the aroma

• 향 (scent, aroma) + 보다 (comparative particle “than”)

*Grammar note: -보다 attaches to the noun being compared against: A보다 B = “B is more than A.” Here: 향보다 = “than the scent (of café latte)”

포근했던 그 느낌 기억하고 있나요 Do you remember the cozy feeling?

포근했던: that was warm/cozy (in the past)

• 포근하다 (to be cozy, soft, warm, comforting) + -었- (past marker) + -던 (retrospective adnominal modifier) → 포근했던 = “that used to feel cozy,” “that comforting (feeling) we had back then.”

그: that (그 느낌 = “that feeling”)

느낌: feeling / sensation / emotional impression

기억하고 있나요: Do you remember? (soft, nostalgic, intimate)

• 기억 (memory) + 하다 (to do) → 기억하다 (to remember) + -고 있다 (present progressive form, means “to be in the state of doing X,” verb-ing) + -나요? (gentle, wondering question ending, polite form)

Baby baby tonight

1,2,3,4

[j-hope] : 그래 매일 하루종일 니 향기 속에 취하던 시절과 Yeah, I remember that time, when I was drunk on your scent all day long

그래: yeah / that’s right

매일: every day

하루종일: all day long

• 하루 (day) + 종일 (all day)

니: your (informal possessive “your”)

향기: scent / fragrance

속에: inside / within

• 속 (inside) + -에 (location particle)

취하던: was drunk on / used to be intoxicated by

• 취하다 (to get drunk / intoxicated) + -던 (retrospective: past ongoing/used-to state)

시절과: that time/period and…

• 시절 (period/time) + -과 (and)

Overall Meaning: “Yeah… those days when I was intoxicated by your scent all day, every day, and…” → The -과 (“and”) signals that the thought continues.

서로 먼 훗날을 기약하며 이별을 택했던 기억이 나 I remember how we broke up, promising to see each other in the distant future

서로: each other

먼: distant

• 멀다 (to be far) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending)

훗날을: a future day, later time, the distant future (object)

• 훗날 (future / later day) + -을 (object particle)

*훗날 feels more poetic than 미래. It implies “sometime far ahead, someday.”

기약하며: promising / while making a promise

• 기약하다 (to promise) + -며 (while ~ing / as / and)

이별을: separation / goodbye (object)

• 이별 (separation) + -을 (object particle)

택했던: had chosen

• 택하다 (to choose) + -았/었- (past tense) + -던 (retrospective modifier: past ongoing/used-to state) → 이별을 택했던 = “(when we) chose to part”

기억이 나: I remember (memory surfaces) / a memory comes to mind

• 기억 (memory) + -이 (subject particle) + 나다 (to come out / to arise / to occur) → 기억이 나다 (to remember / to come to mind / to come back to you) → 나 (informal present form)

Meaning: “I remember when we chose to part, promising to meet again someday far in the future.”

Natural translation for both sentences: “Yeah… I remember those days when I was intoxicated by your scent all day long, and when we chose to part, promising to meet again someday in the distant future.”

너와 같이 좋아했던 민트향, The mint scent that we liked together

너와: with you

• 너 (you, informal) + -와 (with / and)

같이: together / with

좋아했던: had liked

• 좋아하다 (to like) + -았/었- (past) + -던 (retrospective/used-to)

민트향: mint scent

• 민트 (mint) + 향 (scent)

커피를 먹다 보니 너가 생각나며 rewind As I drink coffee, I think of you and rewind

커피를: coffee (object)

• 커피 (coffee) + -를 (object particle)

먹다 보니: as I was drinking / while drinking (I realized / naturally found myself…)

• 먹다 (to eat/drink) + -다 보니 (progressive experience → realization/result form, while doing something repeatedly/continuously → and naturally, something happened)

너가: you (subject)

• 너 (you, informal) + -가 (subject particle)

생각나며: while thinking of you / while recalling

• 생각나다 (to come to mind) + -며 (while ~ing)

시간이 많이 지난 요즘 가끔 These days, after a long time,

시간이: time (subject)

• 시간 (time) + -이 (subject particle)

많이: a lot / much (adverb)

지난: has passed / past

• 지나다 (to pass) + -ㄴ (adjectival modifier for past tense) → becomes 지난 = “that has passed / previous / last”

요즘: these days / recently

가끔: sometimes

니가 보고픈 건 왜일까? Why do I miss you?

니가: you (subject, informal)

• 너 (you, informal) → contraction / spoken form → 니 + -가 (subject particle) → 니가 = you (as the subject of the sentence)

보고픈 건: the fact that I miss you / this feeling of wanting to see (you)

• 보다 (to see) + -고 싶다 (to want to) + -은 (attributive modifier) → 보고 싶은 → 보고픈 (lyrical shortening, more emotional) + 것 (nominalizer: turns the feeling into a conceptual “thing”) + -은 (topic marker) → 것은 → 건

*In Korean, 보고 싶다 literally means: I want to see you, but emotionally = I miss you. 것 here does NOT mean a physical “thing.” It nominalizes the feeling or state, turning “wanting to see” into something you can reflect on.

왜일까: why could it be / I wonder why

• 왜 (why) + 이다 (to be) + -ㄹ까 (wondering/questioning ending)

[Jungkook, vocal line] : Baby baby 그대는 Caramel Macchiato Baby baby you’re Caramel Macchiato

그대는: as for you / you are

• 그대 (you — poetic/formal) + -는 (topic marker)

*그대 is a poetic, formal word for “you,” often used in lyrics and literature.

-는 marks it as the topic (“as for you”). In lyrics, the verb 이다 (“to be”) is often omitted but implied, so 그대는 can function like “you are…” in English.

여전히 내 입가엔 그대 향기 달콤해 Your scent is still sweet around my lips

여전히: still / as always

내: my

입가엔: by / on my lips / at the corners of my mouth

• 입 (mouth) + 가 (edge / area) → 입가 (area around the mouth) + -에 (location marker: “at / on / in”) + -는 (topic marker) → 입가에는 → contracted to 입가엔

그대: you (formal/poetic)

향기: fragrance / scent

달콤해: is sweet

• 달콤하다 (to be sweet) + -해 (informal present tense)

Baby baby tonight

[Jimin, vocal line] : Baby baby 그대는 café latte 향보다 Baby baby you’re better than the scent of a cafe latte

그대는: as for you / you (topic)

• 그대 (poetic/literary form of “you,” used in songs, poetry, love letters) + -는 (topic particle)

향보다: than the scent / compared to the aroma

• 향 (scent, aroma) + 보다 (comparative particle “than”)

*Grammar note: -보다 attaches to the noun being compared against: A보다 B = “B is more than A.” Here: 향보다 = “than the scent (of café latte)”

포근했던 그 느낌 기억하고 있나요 Do you remember the cozy feeling?

포근했던: that was warm/cozy (in the past)

• 포근하다 (to be cozy, soft, warm, comforting) + -었- (past marker) + -던 (retrospective adnominal modifier) → 포근했던 = “that used to feel cozy,” “that comforting (feeling) we had back then.”

그: that (그 느낌 = “that feeling”)

느낌: feeling / sensation / emotional impression

기억하고 있나요: Do you remember? (soft, nostalgic, intimate)

• 기억 (memory) + 하다 (to do) → 기억하다 (to remember) + -고 있다 (present progressive form, means “to be in the state of doing X,” verb-ing) + -나요? (gentle, wondering question ending, polite form)

Baby baby tonight

Please note ♡ : To fully understand the Korean language and its’ use in BTS’ music, a more comprehensive study method is recommended in addition to this content. (There are many great resources online for learning Korean!) 💜 Please credit me & link my site if you use or share any of the translations or content from my site. Thank you. :)

Follow me on YouTube,  TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest for BTS lyric videos and more!

BTS Lyric Translations (@btslyrictranslations)

💬 Related post: BTS (방탄소년단) - 'Coffee' Lyrics (With English Translation)

BTS (방탄소년단) - 'Coffee' Lyric Video

< Back to Learn Korean with BTS Lyrics (O!RUL8,2?)