top of page

BTS ‘N.O’ Lyrics Explained - Learn Korean with BTS

  • Writer: BTS Lyric Translations
    BTS Lyric Translations
  • Feb 10
  • 17 min read

Updated: 5 days ago




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

[RM] : Yo, right in here


BTS, we dropped the second ball


CS, the revolution started again


좋은 집 (좋은 집) A nice house (nice house)

좋은: "good/nice." 

  • 좋다 (to be good) + -은 (attributive adjective ending used to modify a noun)


집:  "house, home."


좋은 집 = "a good house"


좋은 차 (좋은 차) A nice car (nice car)

좋은: "good/nice." 

  • 좋다 (to be good) + -은 (attributive adjective ending used to modify a noun)


: "car"


좋은 차 = "a good car"


그런 게 행복일 수 있을까? (있을까) Can these things bring happiness? (Can they?)

그런 게: "such a thing" or "something like that"

  • 그렇다 (to be like that) + -ㄴ (attributive noun-modifying ending) → 그런 (such a, that kind of) + 게 (thing (as subject), contracted form of 것이 [것 (thing) +이 (subject marker])


행복일 수 있을까?: could (it) be happiness? / could this be happiness?

  • 행복 (happiness) + 이다 (to be) → 행복이다 (“is happiness”) + -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (can / be able to / is possible to) + -(으)ㄹ까? (expresses doubt or wondering → “could it…?” “I wonder if it could…”)


그런 게 행복일 수 있을까? = "Could something like that really be happiness?" or "Is that really what happiness is?"


In Seoul (in Seoul)


To the SKY (to the SKY)

*Cultural note: In South Korea, Seoul is home to some of the most prestigious and competitive universities ("In Seoul"). The SKY universities are often used as shorthand to refer to the top three universities in Seoul, which are:


  1. 서울대학교 (Seoul National University)

  • Considered the most prestigious university in Korea.


  1. 고려대학교 (Korea University)

  • Another highly prestigious university, often known for its strong alumni network and academic reputation.


  1. 연세대학교 (Yonsei University)

  • Also a top university in Korea, with a long history and strong academic programs.


Together, these universities are often referred to as SKY (the S from Seoul National University, the K from Korea University, and the Y from Yonsei University).


부모님은 정말 행복해질까? (해질까) Will parents really be happy? (Will they?)

부모님은: "parents"

  • 부모 (parents) + -님 (honorific suffix showing respect) + -은 (topic marker)


정말: "really, truly"


행복해질까: will (they) become happy? / I wonder if they’ll become happy

  • 행복해지다 (to become happy) [행복하다 (to be happy) + -아/어지다 (to become / to turn into) → 행복해지다 (become happy)] + -ㄹ까 (expresses wondering, doubt, “will…?”, “I wonder if…”)


부모님은 정말 행복해질까? = "Will my parents really become happy?" or "Will my parents truly be happy?"


[Jungkook] : 꿈 없어졌지 Dream has disappeared

: "dream" (noun)


없어졌지: has disappeared / is gone (with a tone of realization or confirmation)

  • 없어지다 (to disappear / to be gone) + -었- (past tense) + -지 (adds a confirming, reflective, or “you know / right?” nuance)


숨쉴 틈도 없이 No time to breathe


숨쉴 틈도 없이: "without even a moment to breathe."

  • 숨쉬다 (to breathe) + -ㄹ (attributive “to ___,” forming “to breathe” before a noun → 숨쉴) + 틈 (gap, space, chance → “moment”) + -도 없이 (“without even…” [-도 (even / also / too (emphatic particle)) + 없이 (without))


학교와 집 아니면 피씨방이 다인 쳇바퀴 같은 삶들을 살며 Living repetitive, hamster-wheel-like lives where there's nothing but school, home, or the PC bang (internet café)

학교와 집: "school and home"

  • 학교 (school) + 와 (and, used after a vowel) + 집 (home)


아니면: "or, if not"


피씨방이: "PC bang (internet café)"

  • 피씨방 (PC bang / internet café) + -이 (subject marker; used after a consonant)


다인: "all that there is"

  • 다 (all) + -인 (modifier form from 이다, meaning here “that which is”) → 다인 = “that which is all,” “all that there is”


쳇바퀴 같은 삶들: "hamster-wheel-like lives" (meaning monotonous, repetitive lives)

  • 쳇바퀴 (hamster wheel) + 같은 (like / similar to) [같다 (to be the same / to be like) + -은 (attributive adjective ending)] + 삶들 (lives) [삶 (life) + -들 (plural marker)]


살며: "while living."

  • 살다 (to live) + -며 (while)


일등을 강요 받는 학생은 Students who are pressured to be in first place


일등을:  "first place, top rank" (as the object)

  • 일등 (first place / top rank) + -을 (object marker)


강요받는: "forced to, pressured into"

  • 강요받다 (to be forced / coerced / pressured) + -는 (present attributive form → modifying a noun)


학생은: "students"

  • 학생 (student) + -은 (topic marker)


꿈과 현실 사이의 이중간첩 live a double life between dreams and reality


꿈과: "dream(s) and"

  • 꿈 (dream) + -과 (and, used after a consonant)


현실: "reality"


사이의: "between"

  • 사이 (between, space) + -의 (descriptive/possessive marker → “the space between ___”)


이중간첩: "double agent" (metaphorically meaning someone caught between two conflicting realities, two identities, or caught between two sides)

  • 이중 (double / dual) + 간첩 (spy / agent)

​[Suga] : 우릴 공부하는 기계로 만든 건 누구? Who made us into studying machines?


우릴: "Us" (in this case, we or students are being referred to)

  • 우리 (we) + -를 (object marker)


공부하는: "studying"

  • 공부하다 (to study) + -는 (present noun-modifier) → 공부하는 = “studying,” “who study”


기계로: "into a machine"

  • 기계 (machine) + -로 (directional particle, meaning "into" or "as")


만든 건: "The thing that made" or "What made"

  • 만들다 (to make) → 만든 (attributive past form) + 것 (thing) + 은 (topic marker) → 것은 → 건 (topic form contraction)


누구?: "Who?" (question)


일등이 아니면 낙오로 구분 First place or you're considered behind


일등이: "First place" (with subject marker)

  • 일등 (first place; top rank) + -이 (subject marker)


아니면: "If not" / "Or"

  • 아니다 (to not be) + -면 (if)


낙오로 구분: "Classified as a dropout" or "Labeled as a failure"

  • 낙오 (falling behind; dropout; someone left behind) + -로 (as; in the capacity of; classified as) + 구분 (classification / categorization / sorting)


짓게 만든 건 틀에 가둔 건 어른이란 걸 Adults are the ones who built the mold and locked us in it


짓게 만든 건: "The thing that made (someone) do (something)" or "What caused (someone) to do (something)."

  • 짓다 (to do; to make; to commit an action) + -게 (causative/connecting ending = “to make someone do,” “so that someone does”) → “to make (someone) do,” “to cause (someone) to do” + 만들다 (to make; to create) + -ㄴ (attributive past ending) → “made,” “that made,” “that caused” + 것 (thing) + -은 (topic marker) → 것은 → 건 → “the thing,” “what”


틀에 가둔 건: "The thing that locked (someone) in a frame" or "What locked (someone) in a mold." (figurative, meaning constrained or boxed in by society’s expectations)

  • 틀 (frame; mold; rigid structure) + -에 (in; into; at — location/direction particle) → “into the mold,” “in the frame” + 가두다 (to lock up; to confine) + -ㄴ (attributive past ending) → “locked,” “confined,” “that locked in” + 것 (thing) + -은 (topic marker) → 건

    → “the thing,” “what”


어른이란 걸: "The thing that is called an adult" or "What is known as an adult."

  • 어른 (adult) + 이라는 → 이란 (called; known as; referred to as) + 것 (thing) + -을 (object marker) → 것을 → 걸 → 어른이란 걸 → “what we call an adult,” “the thing referred to as an adult”


쉽게 수긍 할 수밖에 You have to agree


쉽게:  “easily,” “in an easy manner”

  • 쉽다 (to be easy) + -게 (adverb-forming ending)


수긍 할 수밖에: "agreement" or "acceptance."

  • 수긍하다 (to agree; to acknowledge; to accept) + -ㄹ 수밖에 (없다) (there is no way/option but to…) [수긍할 (what one will accept / is going to accept) + 수밖에 (no choice but to) → “no choice but to accept,” “inevitably have to accept.”]


Putting It Together: 쉽게 수긍 할 수밖에 = "There’s no choice but to easily accept it" or "You can’t help but agree easily".


단순하게 생각해도 약육강식 아래 Even if you think simply, under survival of the fittest,


단순하게:  "Simply" or "in a simple way"

  • 단순하다 (to be simple) + -게 (adverb ending)


생각해도: "Even if (you) think"

  • 생각하다 (to think) + -도 (even if / even though)


약육강식: "Survival of the fittest"

  • Literally, it means "the weak are eaten by the strong."


아래: "Under" or "below"


친한 친구도 밟고 올라서게 Step on your close friends to rise up


친한 친구도: "Even a close friend"

  • 친하다 (to be close; to be friendly) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending) → “close,” “friendly” + 친구 (friend) + 도 (“even,” “also,” adding emphasis that even this person is included)


밟고: "Trample and" or "step on and"

  • 밟다 (to step on; to trample) + -고 (connective: “and,” “and then,” “by doing”)


올라서게: "To rise up (by doing something)" or "To be forced to step up."

  • 올라서다 (to step up; to rise; to climb up) + -게 (can be causative (“to make someone do”) / can also be resultative (“to end up doing,” “so that … happens”) → 올라서게 = “to be made to rise,” “to end up stepping up,” “forced to climb up”)


만든 게 누구라 생각해 what? who do you think made that what?


만든 게: "The thing that made (something happen)" or "What created (this situation)."

  • 만들다 (to make; to create) + -ㄴ (attributive past ending) → “made,” “created,” “that made” + 것 (thing) + -이 (subject marker) → 것이 → 게 → “the thing that,” “what”


누구라 생각해?: "Who do you think?"

  • 누구 (who) + -라 (contracted form of -라고 (used for quoting, indirect speech, or rhetorical emphasis) → here: “(as) who,” “who (you say)”) + 생각하다 (to think) → 생각해? (present, casual) → “do you think?”


[V] : 어른들은 내게 말하지 Adults tell me


어른들은: "Adults" (as the topic)

  • 어른 (adult) + -들 (plural marker) + -은 (topic marker)


내게: "To me"

  • (me / I) + -게 (spoken form of -에게 “to”)


말하지: “(they) tell / (they) say”

  • 말하다 (to say, to tell) + -지 (explanatory/emphatic ending)


힘든 건 지금뿐이라고 Things are hard now


힘든: "Difficult, hard"

  • 힘들다 (to be hard / tough) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending) → “hard,” “difficult”


: “the thing(s) (that are…)”

  • 것 (thing) + -은 (topic marker) → 것은 → 건 → “the thing,” “what is”


지금뿐이라고: “(they say) it’s only now”

  • 지금 (now) + -뿐 (only / nothing but) + -이라고 (quoting marker (“that…,” “they say that…”)) → 지금뿐이라고 = “that it’s only now,” “that it’s only for now”


[Jungkook] : 조금 더 참으라고 나중에 하라고 Hold on a little more, do what you want later


조금 더: "A little more."

  • 조금 (a little) + 더 (more)


참으라고: “(they say) to endure / they tell (you) to endure”

  • 참다 (to endure; tolerate) + -으라고 (imperative quoting form) → “to endure,” “to put up with it,” “they say to endure”


나중에 하라고: "(They say) to do it later."

  • 나중에 (later) + 하다 (to do) + -라고 (imperative quoting form) → 하라고 = “to do (they say to do it)”


[All] : Everybody say NO!


더는 나중이란 말로 안돼 Later doesn't work anymore


더는: "Anymore"

  • 더 (more) + -는 (topic marker used with negation → “as for more… (no more)”)


나중이란: "The thing called 'later'"

  • 나중 (later) + -이란 (contraction of 이라고 하는 → “called,” “referred to as”)


말로: "With words / by saying it"

  • 말 (words; speech) + -로 (by means of / using)


안돼: “it won’t work / it’s not okay / not acceptable”

  • 안 (not) + 되다 (to work; to be possible) → 안돼 = “It won’t work,” “It can’t be,” “Not acceptable”


Meaning: "We can't keep using the word 'later' as an excuse."


더는 남의 꿈에 갇혀 살지 마 Don't live your life trapped in other people's dreams


더는: "Anymore"

  • 더 (more) + -는 (topic marker used with negation → “as for more… (no more)”)


남의: "Someone else's"

  • 남 (others; other person) + -의 (possessive marker) → “of someone else,” “someone else’s”


꿈에: "In a dream"

  • 꿈 (dream) + -에 (location marker: in / inside / at) → “in a dream”


갇혀: "Trapped"

  • 갇히다 (to be trapped; confined) → 갇혀 (present/casual form)


살지마: "Don't live"

  • 살다 (to live) + -지 마 (negative imperative “don’t”) → “don’t live,” “don’t live like that”


We roll (We roll)

We roll (We roll) We roll

Everybody say NO!


정말 지금이 아니면 안돼 It's now or never


정말: "Really, truly."


지금이: "now" (as the subject)

  • 지금 (now) + -이 (subject marker)


아니면: "If not / or"

  • 아니다 (to not be) + -면 (if)


안돼: “it won’t work / it’s not possible / it can’t be”

  • 안 (not) + 되다 (to work, to be possible) → 안돼 = “it won’t do,” “it can’t be,” “it’s not acceptable”


아직 아무것도 해본 게 없잖아 We haven't even done anything yet


아직: "Yet, still."


아무것도: "Nothing" or "anything."

  • 아무 (any) + 것 (thing) + -도 (even) → “not even anything” → nothing

    *Grammar note: 아무것도 must be used with a negative verb. So it doesn’t mean “nothing” by itself — it creates “nothing” in combination with something like 없다, 안 하다, 못 하다, etc.


해본 게: "The thing that (you) have tried doing.” / “what you’ve tried” / “anything you’ve ever tried.

  • 하다 (to do) + -아/어 보다 (to try doing something) → 해보다 (“to try doing”) → 해본 (attributive past) → “that you tried doing / tried” + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject marker)  → 것이 → 게


없잖아: "Haven't, you know?" / "There isn't (anything you've tried), you know."

  • 없다 (to not exist / not have) + -잖아 (you know / obviously)


We roll (We roll)

We roll (We roll) We roll

Everybody say NO!


[RM] : 좋은 집 (좋은 집) A nice house (nice house)


좋은: "good/nice." 

  • 좋다 (to be good) + -은 (attributive adjective ending used to modify a noun)


집:  "house, home."


좋은 집 = "a good house"


좋은 차 (좋은 차) A nice car (nice car)


좋은: "good/nice." 

  • 좋다 (to be good) + -은 (attributive adjective ending used to modify a noun)


: "car"


좋은 차 = "a good car"


그런 게 행복일 수 있을까? (있을까) Can these things bring happiness? (Can they?)


그런 게: "such a thing" or "something like that"

  • 그렇다 (to be like that) + -ㄴ (attributive noun-modifying ending) → 그런 (such a, that kind of) + 게 (thing (as subject), contracted form of 것이 [것 (thing) +이 (subject marker])


행복일 수 있을까?: could (it) be happiness? / could this be happiness?

  • 행복 (happiness) + 이다 (to be) → 행복이다 (“is happiness”) + -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (can / be able to / is possible to) + -(으)ㄹ까? (expresses doubt or wondering → “could it…?” “I wonder if it could…”)


그런 게 행복일 수 있을까? = "Could something like that really be happiness?" or "Is that really what happiness is?"


In Seoul (in Seoul)


To the SKY (to the SKY)


*Cultural note: In South Korea, Seoul is home to some of the most prestigious and competitive universities ("In Seoul"). The SKY universities are often used as shorthand to refer to the top three universities in Seoul, which are:


  1. 서울대학교 (Seoul National University)

  • Considered the most prestigious university in Korea.


  1. 고려대학교 (Korea University)

  • Another highly prestigious university, often known for its strong alumni network and academic reputation.


  1. 연세대학교 (Yonsei University)

  • Also a top university in Korea, with a long history and strong academic programs.


Together, these universities are often referred to as SKY (the S from Seoul National University, the K from Korea University, and the Y from Yonsei University).


부모님은 정말 행복해질까? (해질까) Will parents really be happy? (Will they?)


부모님은: "parents"

  • 부모 (parents) + -님 (honorific suffix showing respect) + -은 (topic marker)


정말: "really, truly"


행복해질까: will (they) become happy? / I wonder if they’ll become happy

  • 행복해지다 (to become happy) [행복하다 (to be happy) + -아/어지다 (to become / to turn into) → 행복해지다 (become happy)] + -ㄹ까 (expresses wondering, doubt, “will…?”, “I wonder if…”)


부모님은 정말 행복해질까? = "Will my parents really become happy?" or "Will my parents truly be happy?"


[j-hope] : 놀고 먹고 싶어 I want to live leisurely


놀고: "play and..."

  • 놀다 (to play) + -고 (and / and then)


먹고 싶어: "I want to eat"

  • 먹다 (to eat) + -고 싶어 (want to…)


→ "I want to play and eat."


교복 찢고 싶어 I want to rip apart my school uniform


교복: "School uniform."


찢고 싶어: "I want to rip"

  • 찢다 (to rip) + -고 싶어 (want to…)


Make money good money


벌써 삐딱한 시선 My perspective's already skewed


벌써: "Already."


삐딱한: "Sideways" or "crooked"

  • 삐딱하다 (to be crooked / askew) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending) → 삐딱한 (“crooked / sideways” modifying a noun)


시선: "Glance" or "gaze."


막연함뿐인 통장, I have a non existent bank account


막연함뿐인: "Only vague hope" or "Full of vague hope."

  • 막연함 (vagueness, something vague or unclear — noun form of 막연하다) + -뿐 (only / nothing but) + -인 (attributive form of 이다, turning it into “that is only ___”) → 막연함뿐인 = “that is nothing but vague hope” / “only vague hope”


통장: "Bank account."


내 불행은 한도초과지 I've maxed out my unhappiness


: "My."


불행은: "Unhappiness" (as the topic)

  • 불행 (unhappiness / misfortune) + -은 (topic marker)


한도초과지: "Beyond limits"

  • 한도 (limit, boundary) + 초과 (exceeding / going over) → 한도초과 (“over the limit,” “limit exceeded”) + -지 (emphatic sentence ending meaning: “you know,” “obviously,” “isn’t it,” “as you can see,” or a soft assertion.) → 한도초과지 = ‘It’s over the limit, you know.’ / ‘I’m past my limit, obviously.’


공부하는 한숨 공장, A studying sigh factory


공부하는: "Studying"

  • 공부하다 (to study) + -는 (present attributive ending: “that is studying / who studies”) → 공부하는 = studying / that studies


한숨: "Sigh."


공장: "Factory."

계속되는 돌려막기 I dig a hole to fill another


계속되는: "Ongoing, continuous"

  • 계속되다 (to continue / to be ongoing) + -는 (present attributive ending: “that continues / that is ongoing”) → 계속되는 = ongoing / continuing / that keeps happening


돌려막기: rotating cover-up / shifting the burden / patching one problem with another

  • 돌리다 (to turn / rotate) + 막다 (to block / cover / patch) → 돌려막다 (to rotate covering something; to block something by shifting it around) + -기 (standard nominalizer, the act of ___ / the doing of ___ / ___-ing) → 돌려막기 (“the act of rotating cover-ups / shifting burdens”)

*Nuance: It's a slang expression used to describe a situation where one problem or responsibility is covered up or solved temporarily, only for another to arise, creating a continuous cycle of problems. It can refer to shifting responsibility or just putting off something that keeps coming back.


[RM] : 어른들이 하는 고백 너넨 참 편한 거래 Adults say that we have it easy


어른들이 하는 고백: "The confession (statement) that adults make."

  • 어른 (adult) + -들 (plural marker) + -이 (subject marker) + 하다 (to do) + -는 (present attributive form: “that does / that do”) → 하는 = doing / that do (used to modify the noun 고백) + 고백 (confession - can mean an admission, a statement, or an emotional declaration)


너넨: you guys (as the topic)

  • 너희 (you plural) + -는 (topic marker)


: really / truly / so


편한: easy / comfortable

  • 편하다 (to be easy / comfortable) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective form) → 편한 = easy / convenient


거래: (they say) / I heard / supposedly

  • 거 (thing) + -래 (hearsay ending: “they say / apparently”) [-라고 해(요) (“they say that…”) → contracted to -라 해 → further contracted in casual speech to -래] It reports something you heard from someone else, often with a casual or slightly teasing tone.


분에 넘치게 행복한 거래 that we are happier than we deserve to be


분에 넘치게: "More than one deserves" / "Excessively"

  • 분 (one’s share / what one deserves) + -에 (according to / in terms of) + 넘치게 (excessively; 넘치다 “to overflow” + -게 adverb ending)


행복한: "Happy"

  • 행복하다 (to be happy) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending)


거래: Hearsay tone marker (“they say,” “I heard,” “apparently”)

  • 거 (thing) + -래 (hearsay ending: “they say / apparently”) [-라고 해(요) (“they say that…”) → contracted to -라 해 → further contracted in casual speech to -래] It reports something you heard from someone else, often with a casual or slightly teasing tone.


그럼 이렇게도 불행한 나는 뭔데 Then why am I so unhappy like this?


그럼: "then" or "in that case."

  • 그러면 (then / in that case) → contracted to 그럼


이렇게도: "Even like this" or "in this way."

  • 이렇게 (like this / in this way) + -도 (even / also)


불행한: "Unhappy"

  • 불행하다 (to be unhappy) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending)


나는: "I" (as the topic)

  • 나 (I) + -는 (topic marker)


뭔데: “What is it (then)?” / “What does that make me?” / “So what am I, then?”

  • 뭐 (what) + -인데 (copula + explanatory/contrastive ending → “what am I then?”) contracted → 뭔데

공부 외엔 대화주제가 없어 There's no topic of conversation other than studying


공부: "Studying / study."


외엔: “except for / aside from / other than (as for…)”

  • 외에 (besides / except for / other than) + -는 (topic marker → -는 → contracted to -엔)


대화주제가: "Topic of conversation (as the subject)"

  • 대화 (conversation) + 주제 (topic) → 대화주제 (topic of conversation) + -가 (subject marker)


없어: "There isn't" (informal)

  • 없다 (to not exist / to not have) + -어 (informal present ending) → 없어 = there isn’t / I don’t have / we don’t have

밖엔 나 같은 애가 넘쳐 There's a lot of kids out there like me


밖엔: "Outside, except for"

  • 밖 (outside) + -에 (location/target particle) + -는 (topic marker) → 밖에는 → 밖엔


나 같은 애가: "People like me"

  • 나 (I / me) + 같은 (like / similar to) + 애 (kid / person, casual) + -가 (subject marker)


넘쳐: "Overflow" or "there are many"

  • 넘치다 (to overflow / be too many) + -어 (informal speech ending)

똑같은 꼭두각시 인생 The same puppet life


똑같은: "The same"

  • 똑같다 (to be the same / identical) + -은 (attributive adjective ending) → 똑같은 = the same / identical (modifying a noun)


꼭두각시: "Puppet" (symbolizing someone controlled or manipulated).


인생: "Life."


도대체 누가 책임져줘? Who's going to take responsibility?


도대체: on earth / in the world / seriously

  • 도대체 is an adverb used for emphasis when asking a question (used to express strong frustration or bewilderment). 도대체 누가 → "Who on earth?" / "Who in the world?" / "Seriously, who?"


누가: "Who" (as the subject)

  • 누구 (who) + -가 (subject marker)


책임져줘: "Take responsibility (for me/us)." 

  • 책임지다 (to take responsibility) + -아/어 주다 (“please do it (for me)”)

[Jin] : 어른들은 내게 말하지 Adults tell me


어른들은: "Adults" (as the topic)

  • 어른 (adult) + -들 (plural marker) + -은 (topic marker)


내게: "To me"

  •  (me / I) + -게 (spoken form of -에게 “to”)


말하지: “(they) tell / (they) say”

  • 말하다 (to say, to tell) + -지 (explanatory/emphatic ending)


힘든 건 지금뿐이라고 Things are hard now


힘든: "Difficult, hard"

  • 힘들다 (to be hard / tough) + -ㄴ (attributive adjective ending) → “hard,” “difficult”


: “the thing(s) (that are…)”

  • 것 (thing) + -은 (topic marker) → 것은 → 건 → “the thing,” “what is”


지금뿐이라고: “(they say) it’s only now”

  • 지금 (now) + -뿐 (only / nothing but) + -이라고 (quoting marker (“that…,” “they say that…”)) → 지금뿐이라고 = “that it’s only now,” “that it’s only for now”


[Jungkook] : 조금 더 참으라고 나중에 하라고 Hold on a little more, do what you want later


조금 더: "A little more."

  • 조금 (a little) + 더 (more)


참으라고: “(they say) to endure / they tell (you) to endure”

  • 참다 (to endure; tolerate) + -으라고 (imperative quoting form) → “to endure,” “to put up with it,” “they say to endure”


나중에 하라고: "(They say) to do it later."

  • 나중에 (later) + 하다 (to do) + -라고 (imperative quoting form) → 하라고 = “to do (they say to do it)”

[All] : Everybody say NO!


더는 나중이란 말로 안돼 Later doesn't work anymore


더는: "Anymore"

  • 더 (more) + -는 (topic marker used with negation → “as for more… (no more)”)


나중이란: "The thing called 'later'"

  • 나중 (later) + -이란 (contraction of 이라고 하는 → “called,” “referred to as”)


말로: "With words / by saying it"

  • 말 (words; speech) + -로 (by means of / using)


안돼: “it won’t work / it’s not okay / not acceptable”

  • 안 (not) + 되다 (to work; to be possible) → 안돼 = “It won’t work,” “It can’t be,” “Not acceptable”


Meaning: "We can't keep using the word 'later' as an excuse."


더는 남의 꿈에 갇혀 살지 마 Don't live your life trapped in other people's dreams


더는: "Anymore"

  • 더 (more) + -는 (topic marker used with negation → “as for more… (no more)”)


남의: "Someone else's"

  • 남 (others; other person) + -의 (possessive marker) → “of someone else,” “someone else’s”


꿈에: "In a dream"

  • 꿈 (dream) + -에 (location marker: in / inside / at) → “in a dream”


갇혀: "Trapped"

  • 갇히다 (to be trapped; confined) → 갇혀 (present/casual form)


살지마: "Don't live"

  • 살다 (to live) + -지 마 (negative imperative “don’t”) → “don’t live,” “don’t live like that”


We roll (We roll)

We roll (We roll) We roll

Everybody say NO!


정말 지금이 아니면 안돼 It's now or never


정말: "Really, truly."


지금이: "now" (as the subject)

  • 지금 (now) + -이 (subject marker)


아니면: "If not / or"

  • 아니다 (to not be) + -면 (if)


안돼: “it won’t work / it’s not possible / it can’t be”

  • 안 (not) + 되다 (to work, to be possible) → 안돼 = “it won’t do,” “it can’t be,” “it’s not acceptable”


아직 아무것도 해본 게 없잖아 We haven't even done anything yet


아직: "Yet, still."


아무것도: "Nothing" or "anything."

  • 아무 (any) + 것 (thing) + -도 (even) → “not even anything” → nothing

    *Grammar note: 아무것도 must be used with a negative verb. So it doesn’t mean “nothing” by itself — it creates “nothing” in combination with something like 없다, 안 하다, 못 하다, etc.


해본 게: "The thing that (you) have tried doing.” / “what you’ve tried” / “anything you’ve ever tried.

  • 하다 (to do) + -아/어 보다 (to try doing something) → 해보다 (“to try doing”) → 해본 (attributive past) → “that you tried doing / tried” + 것 (thing) + 이 (subject marker)  → 것이 → 게


없잖아: "Haven't, you know?" / "There isn't (anything you've tried), you know."

  • 없다 (to not exist / not have) + -잖아 (you know / obviously)


We roll (We roll)

We roll (We roll) We roll

Everybody say NO!

Everybody say NO!

Everybody say NO!

Everybody say NO!

Everybody say NO!


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 and on TikTok to watch BTS lyric videos and more!

BTS Lyric Translations (@btslyrictranslations)



Five people in white outfits are standing in a futuristic room. Text overlay reads "N.O BTS" and "Everybody say NO!" Mood is energetic.
BTS (방탄소년단) - 'N.O' Lyric Video

 
 
 

Comments


BTS Lyric Translations Subscribe

Subscribe to be notified when new translations are posted!

Thanks for submitting!

bottom of page