BTS 'Coffee' Grammar & Vocabulary Lyrics Explained – Learn Korean with BTS
- BTS Lyric Translations
- Apr 2, 2025
- 24 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
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
씁쓸하다 (to be bitter / bittersweet / slightly unpleasant) + -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)
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: understanding (subject)
이해 (understanding) + -가 (subject particle)
돼: becomes / makes sense / becomes clear
되다 (to become, to turn into, to work out) + -어 (informal present ending) → 돼 (contraction: 되어 → 돼) 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)
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 왜이리 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.’”
왜이리: why like this / why so / why is it this way
왜 (why) + 이리 (this way / like this → colloquial)
슬프지: it’s sad, isn’t it? / why is it so sad?
슬프다 (to be sad) + -지 (ending that: adds rhetorical tone, softens assertion, means “isn’t it?” / “right?” / expresses lament)
[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? (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
[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 / nothing but the awkward 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”)
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.”
*In lyric context: refers to the flow of early messages and calls—something ongoing, warm, lively.
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 우리 둘 사인 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: 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: signs / signals / cues (from English “sign”)
연인 아님 애인 그런 말들로 매일 서로를 확인하고 확인했지 With words like love and lovers, we confirmed each others feelings
연인: lover / 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: confirming / checking (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 마끼아또 처럼 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: 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: times / days (and)
시절 (period/time) + -과 (and)
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: the future / later days (object)
훗날 (future / later day) + -을 (object particle)
기약하며: promising / while making a promise
기약하다 (to promise) + -며 (while ~ing)
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)
기억이: memory (subject)
기억 (memory) + -이 (subject particle)
나: I (I remember)
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 thing (that I) want to see / what I long to see is…
보다 (to see) + -고 싶다 (to want to) + -은 (attributive modifier) → 보고 싶은 → 보고픈 (lyrical shortening, more emotional) + 것 (thing) + -은 (topic marker) → 것은 → 건
*In Korean, 보고 싶다 literally means: I want to see you, but emotionally = I miss you. Therefore: 보고픈 건 → the thing I want to see is… → the thing I miss is… / what I miss is…
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
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BTS Lyric Translations (@btslyrictranslations)
💬 Related post: BTS (방탄소년단) - 'Coffee' Lyrics (With English Translation)
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