BTS ‘N.O’ Lyrics Explained - Learn Korean with BTS
- Feb 10, 2025
- 18 min read
Updated: Jan 28
Let’s study Korean with BTS Lyrics! In this post, we’ll break down each lyric in BTS’ ‘N.O’ 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.
자, 시작해 볼까? Let’s dive into the lyrics and learn Korean with BTS!
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)
차: "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:
서울대학교 (Seoul National University)
Considered the most prestigious university in Korea.
고려대학교 (Korea University)
Another highly prestigious university, often known for its strong alumni network and academic reputation.
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
꿈: "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 / something) build / form / create" or "What caused (someone / something) to build / form / create."
짓다 (to build / make / compose / write / create — meaning depends heavily on context — e.g., writing lyrics/poems, making facial expressions, building a house, etc.) + -게 만들다 (to make someone do (verb) / to cause someone to (verb)) + -ㄴ (attributive past ending) → “made,” “that made,” “that built” + 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”
The line is saying:
Adults are the ones who constructed how young people must act → 짓게 만든 건
Adults are the ones who confined them to role/identity molds → 틀에 가둔 건
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: “no choice/option but to accept”
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: "(so as) To rise up" / "in order to climb up" / "making (yourself) rise/climb 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”)
*Grammar note: In this construction 밟고 올라서게, the -게 is the “so that / in order to / to make (someone) do X” connector. -게 can mean: purpose → “so that (X does Y),” causative → “make (X do Y)," or manner / result → “(do Y) in such a way that…”
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?”
*Grammar note: Korean treats the content of thought or speech as something you quote, so you mark it as quoted content. 누구라고 생각해? → literally: “Think ‘(it is) who’?” So instead of: “think X," Korean frames it like: “think ‘X’ (as a quote).” In English we don’t explicitly mark that inner quote.
[V] : 어른들은 내게 말하지 Adults tell me
어른들은: "Adults" (as the topic)
어른 (adult) + -들 (plural marker) + -은 (topic marker)
내게: "To me"
나 (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”
건: “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)
차: "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:
서울대학교 (Seoul National University)
Considered the most prestigious university in Korea.
고려대학교 (Korea University)
Another highly prestigious university, often known for its strong alumni network and academic reputation.
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: “Nothing but vagueness / nothing but uncertainty”
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” / “only vague”
통장: "Bank account."
내 불행은 한도초과지 I've maxed out my unhappiness
내: "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)
참: really / truly / so
편한 거래: (they say) you have it easy
편하다 (to be easy / comfortable) + –(으)ㄴ 것 / 거 (used to nominalize descriptive verbs to mean “being X,” “the state/situation of X,” or “the fact that something is X.”) + -래 (reported speech ending from -라고 해(요) (“they say that…”) → contracted to -라 해 → further contracted in casual speech to -래)
분에 넘치게 행복한 거래 that we are happier than we deserve to be
분에 넘치게: "More than one deserves" / "beyond what one deserves or is suited for"
분 (one’s share, one’s status, position, means, lot in life) + -에 (for / in relation to) + 넘치다 (to overflow, exceed) + –게 (adverbial ending (“in a way that…”))
행복한 거래: "(they say) you’re happy"
행복하다 (to be happy) + –(으)ㄴ 것 / 거 (used to nominalize descriptive verbs to mean “being X,” “the state/situation of X,” or “the fact that something is X.”) + -래 (reported speech ending from -라고 해(요) (“they say that…”) → contracted to -라 해 → further contracted in casual speech to -래)
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) + -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"
나 (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”
건: “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!
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BTS Lyric Translations (@btslyrictranslations)
💬 Related post: BTS (방탄소년단) - 'N.O' Lyrics (With English Translation)
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