BTS ‘No More Dream’ Lyrics Explained - Learn Korean with BTS

BTS ‘No More Dream’ Lyric Game – Match the Korean to English! | Learn Korean with BTS

Let’s study Korean with BTS Lyrics! In this post, we’ll break down each lyric in BTS’ ‘No More Dream’ 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 study game videos from my YouTube channel throughout the 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) - ‘No More Dream’ Lyrics (With English Translation & Korean Grammar/Vocabulary Notes)

[RM & all] : 얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!”

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

니 꿈은 겨우 그거니 Is your dream only that?

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

꿈은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

겨우 : "barely" or "only just."

• It’s often used to show disappointment, implying that something is insufficient or smaller than expected. Here, it suggests that the dream is too modest or insignificant.

그거니 : "is that it?"

• 그거 ("that/that thing" (here referring to "your dream")) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[Suga]: I wanna big house, big cars & big rings

But 사실은 I dun have any big dreams But actually I dun have any big dreams

사실은 : "the truth is" or "actually."

• 사실 (truth) + 은 (topic marker, used to emphasize 사실 (truth), setting up a contrast with the previous line)

하하 난 참 편하게 살어 Haha I live pretty comfortably

하하 : "haha"

난 : "I" or "as for me." 

• 나 (I) + 는 (topic marker) → contracted to 난.

참 : "truly" or "really."

편하게 : "Comfortably."

• 편하다 ("to be comfortable") + -게 (ending that makes it an adverb, meaning "in a comfortable way")

살어 : "live". 

• 살다 (to live) → 살어 (dialect / nonstandard variant of 살아 (informal / casual present tense ending, “live(s)” / “I live” / “you live,” depending on context)).

꿈 따위 안 꿔도 아무도 뭐라 안 하잖어 Even if you don’t dream no one says anything

꿈 : "Dream."

따위 : "Things like..." / "Such things as..." (often used to belittle or diminish something, implying insignificance. With 꿈 (dream), 꿈 따위 can translate to "Such things as dreams" or "things like dreams.")

안 꿔도 : "Even if I don't dream."

• 안 (negation adverb, not / don't [verb]) + 꾸다 (to dream) + -도 (even) → 안 꿔도 = “even if I don’t dream"

아무도 뭐라 안 하잖어: "Nobody says anything, right?"

• 아무도 (No one) + 뭐라고 안 하다 (to not say anything / to not make a remark / to not scold or complain → 뭐라 is a contracted / colloquial form of 뭐라고) + -잖어 (a dialectal or colloquial pronunciation variant of -잖아, an ending that adds a soft assertion — reminding or defending: "you know" or "as you know," often used to confirm something that the speaker assumes is understood by the listener.)

[RM] : 전부 다다다 똑같이 나처럼 생각하고 있어 Everyone is thinking like me

전부 : "All" or "everything."

다다다 : Repetition of 다 (all), used for emphasis.

똑같이 : "Exactly the same."

• 똑같다 (to be exactly the same, to be identical) + -이 (adverb-forming suffix, makes adjectives into adverbs) → 똑같이 (identically / the same way)

나처럼 : "Like me."

• 나 (me / I, casual) + 처럼 (like / similar to)

생각하고 있어 : "Thinking."

• 생각하다 (to think) + -고 있어 (present progressive tense form, meaning "is/are thinking")

새까까까맣게 까먹은 꿈 많던 어린 시절 Completely forgotten childhood that was filled with dreams

새까까까맣게: completely black, utterly dark (the nuance here is: to a total, irretrievable extent — like it’s shrouded in darkness)

• 새까맣게 (pitch black / jet-black), repeated (새까-까-까맣게) for exaggerated effect / emphasis. But in this figurative context (with 까먹다 = "forget"), it's not about color — it means: totally / completely / entirely / deeply (forgotten) (with a nuance of being buried in darkness).

까먹은: "forgotten".

• 까먹다 (to forget) + -은 (attributive past tense ending, attaches to verbs → describes a noun (what was forgotten) (here, 꿈))

꿈: "Dream(s)."

많던 : "Many" (in the past).

• 많다 (to be many / a lot of) + -던 (a retrospective modifier that expresses past, incomplete, or habitual actions — often with an emotional or reflective nuance. Similar to “used to…” in English.) So 많던 = “that used to be many” → referring to the 꿈 (dreams) of 어린 시절 (childhood) → 꿈 많던 어린 시절 = “the childhood that used to be full of dreams”

어린 시절 : "Childhood."

• 어린 (young, from 어리다 (to be young) → adjective form “young”) + 시절 (time / period). Together, it refers to one's childhood.

대학은 걱정 마 멀리라도 갈 거니까 Don’t worry about college, I’ll go even if it’s far away

대학은: "University" or "college" (as the topic)

• 대학 (university or college) + 은 (topic marker, putting emphasis on 대학 (university))

걱정 마: "Don’t worry."

• 걱정 (worry / concern (noun)) + 마 (from 말다, used in commands to mean "don’t [do something]") → 걱정 마 = “Don’t worry” (casual/informal). More polite versions: 걱정 마세요 (standard polite) or 걱정하지 마세요 (more complete and formal).

멀리라도: "Even if it's far."

• 멀리 (far / far away, adverb form of 멀다 (to be far)) + -라도 (particle that roughly means: "even if," "at least," or "though it may be." It adds a nuance of concession or minimal acceptance — like “even if it’s just...” or “even though it’s...”)

갈 거니까: "Because I’ll go" / “Since (I’m) going” / “I’m going, so…”

• 가다 (to go) + -ㄹ 거야 (will [verb], casual future form, 갈 거야 → “I will go” (future tense)) + -니까 (because / since / so)

[Jungkook] : 알았어 엄마 지금 독서실 간다니까 Ok mom, I’m going to the study room now

알았어: "Got it" or "I know."

• 알다 (to know / to understand) → 알았어 (past tense, often used in a resigned or understanding tone. In context, it's like saying "Okay, I get it.")

엄마: "Mom."

지금: "Now."

독서실 : "Study room" or "reading room." (This refers to a place where students go to study in quiet.)

간다니까 : "I said I’m going."

• 가다 (to go) + -ㄴ다니까 (ending that adds emphasis, implying frustration or repetition (as in "I’ve already told you"). Here, "간다니까" can be understood as "I'm going, okay?" or "I told you, I'm going.")

[V] : 니가 꿈꿔온 니 모습이 뭐여 Who do you dream of being?

니가: "You" (as the subject of the sentence).

• 너 (you, informal/casual) + -가 (subject particle) (네가 is official spelling for the subject "you", but it's pronounced "니가", which is why you see 니가 in lyrics, scripts, and casual speech. The reason 네가 is pronounced 니가 is to avoid confusion with 내가 (naega), which means “I (subject).”)

꿈꿔온: "That you’ve dreamed of (up to now)."

• 꿈꾸다 (to dream) + -어 오다 (to have been doing up to now) + -ㄴ (Attributive ending (past / descriptive)) → 꿈꿔온 (that I have dreamed (of))

니 : "Your"

모습이 : "appearance" or "self-image."

• 모습 (appearance, form, figure, look, or the way someone/something looks) + 이 (subject marker)

뭐여 : "What is it?"

• 뭐 (what) + -야 / -여 (informal copula ending (“to be”), is / are / am) (뭐여 is a colloquial / dialectal version of 뭐야 → both mean “what is it?” / “what?”)

지금 니 거울 속엔 누가 보여, I gotta say Who do you see in the mirror now, I gotta say

지금: "Now."

니: "Your" (informal spoken form of 너의).

거울: "mirror."

속엔: "in."

• 속 (inside) + -에 (in / at, location particle) + -는 (topic particle, contracted to -엔, emphasizes what's inside the mirror)

누가: "Who (subject)."

• 누구 (who) + 가 (subject particle)

보여: "Do you see?" or "is seen?"

• 보이다 ("to be seen" / "to be visible" / "to appear") → 보여 (present tense informal conjugation)

[j-hope] : 너의 길을 가라고 Go your own way

너의 : "Your."

• 너 (you) + 의 (possessive marker) = "your."

길을 : "Path" or "way."

• 길 (road or path) + 을 (object marker, marks “path” as the object of the verb “to go”)

가라고 : "Go (as told)."

• 가다 (to go) + -라고 (quotative ending used when giving commands or quoting an imperative)

단 하루를 살아도 Even if you live for just one day

단 : "just" or "only."

하루를 : "one day (object form)."

• 하루 (day) + 를 (object marker)

살아도 : "Even if you live."

• 살다 (to live) + -아 (present connective form) → 살아 + -도 (“even if / though / even though”)

뭐라도 하라고 Do something

뭐라도: "Anything" or "at least something."

• 뭐 (what or something) + -라도 ("at least" or "anything at all")

하라고: "Do it (as told)."

• 하다 (to do) + -라고 (quotative ending used when giving commands or quoting an imperative) (the speaker is implying they’re quoting themselves or someone else saying “Do something!”).

나약함은 담아둬 Put away your weakness

나약함은: "Weakness."

• 나약하다 (to be weak / feeble) → 나약함 (noun form) + 은 (topic marker, "as for..." — emphasizes 나약함 as the topic)

담아둬: "Set aside" or "keep it."

• 담아두다 (to store away, bottle up, or put something aside for later) → 담아둬 (imperative form (informal command) → “put it away” / “store it”)

[Jungkook] : 왜 말 못하고 있어? 공부는 하기 싫다면서 Why aren’t you saying anything? You said you didn’t want to study

왜: "Why."

말 못하고 있어?: "Can’t (you) say anything?"

• 말 ("speech" or "words") + 못하다 ("cannot do" or "unable to do") + -고 있어 (present progressive form, making it "can’t speak" or "not speaking." So literally: "in the state of not being able to speak.")

공부는 하기 싫다면서 : "Even though you said you don’t want to study."

• 공부 (study, studying) + -는 (topic particle, sets “studying” as the topic being discussed or contrasted (“as for studying…”)) + 하다 (to do) + -기 (nominalizer, turns the verb into a noun meaning “doing”) + 싫다 (to be disliked / to not want / to hate) → 하기 싫다 ("to dislike doing (something)” / “don’t want to do (something)”) + -다면서 (“while saying that…” / “even though you said that…” / “you say that…, yet…”)

*Grammar note: -다면서 = shortened form of -다고 하면서 → combination of: -다고: quotative ending for statements (“saying that…”) + 하면서: “while (doing something)” / “as you say that…”

학교 때려 치기는 겁나지? 이거 봐 등교할 준비하네 벌써 You’re scared to quit school, aren’t you? Look at this; you’re already getting ready to go to school

학교 : "School."

때려 치기는 : "Quitting" or "dropping out."

• 때려치다 (literally “hit and throw,” but idiomatically “quit” or “drop it” (especially a job, school, or an activity)) + -기 (nominalizer → turns the verb into a noun (“quitting”)) + -는 (topic particle → emphasizes or contrasts the topic)

*Grammar note: -기는 makes a contrastive or emphatic topic — often acknowledging something while preparing to contrast or add nuance. “As for (verb-ing)…” / “(You say) … but…” / “Indeed … (but)…”

겁나지?: "Aren’t you scared?"

• 겁 (fear) + 나다 (to arise) → 겁나다 (to feel scared) + -지 (a question ending that implies "right?" or "isn’t that so?")

이거 봐: "Look at this."

• 이거 (this / this thing) + 봐 (casual command form of 보다 (to see / to look))

등교할 준비하네: "getting ready for school."

• 등교하다 (to go to school) → 등교할 (future attributive, used to describe or modify a noun → 등교할 준비 (preparation to go to school / getting ready for going to school) + 준비하다 (to prepare) (준비 = preparation + 하다 = to do) + -네 (an informal ending that adds a sense of mild surprise, as if observing something unexpected. It expresses the speaker’s realization, observation, or surprise — like “oh, I see” / “I notice that…”).

벌써: "Already."

철 좀 들어 제발 좀, 너 입만 살아가지고 임마 유리멘탈 boy Grow up a little please, man you’re all talk and weak minded

철 좀 들어: "Grow up a little."

• 철 (maturity or sense) + 들다 (in this context means "to gain" or "to grow into") → 철 들다 (an idiom meaning to become mature or to grow up mentally/emotionally) + 좀 (a little, softens the tone, making it slightly less direct)

제발 좀: "Please, really."

• 제발 (please) + 좀 (adds emphasis)

너: "You."

입만 살아가지고: "All talk." (Literally, "only your mouth is alive," implying that the person talks big but doesn’t act.)

• 입 (mouth) + 만 (only) + 살다 (to live) + -아/어가지고 (a spoken connective that originated from -고 가지고, literally “and having,” it adds emotion, tone, or a causal/colloquial link depending on context)

임마: A rough, informal way of saying “hey, you!” (“Hey, you (punk/brat)”)

• 이 (this) + 놈 (guy / dude / bastard) + -아 (vocative ending, used when calling someone) → 이놈아 = “hey you!” (derogatory or scolding tone) → 임마 = shortened form of 이놈아. It can have a rough, familiar, or teasing tone depending on context. It’s not polite — and you should never use it toward someone older, a stranger, or anyone in a formal situation.

유리멘탈: "Glass mentality."

• 유리 (glass) + 멘탈 (mental, borrowed from English). This phrase describes someone with a "fragile mindset" or "easily shattered confidence."

(Stop!) 자신에게 물어봐 언제 니가 열심히 노력했냐고 (Stop!) Ask yourself when you’ve tried hard

자신에게: "To yourself."

• 자신 (self) + 에게 (to / toward)

물어봐: "Ask."

• 물어보다 (to ask) → 물어봐 (casual command form)

언제: "When."

니가: "You" (as the subject).

• 너 (you) + -가 (subject particle)

열심히: "Diligently" or "hard."

노력했냐고: "If (you) worked hard."

• 노력하다 (to make an effort / to try hard) → 노력했- (past tense stem) + -냐고 (indirect speech ending used to quote a question)

[RM & all] : 얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

니 꿈은 겨우 그거니 Is your dream only that?

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

꿈은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

겨우 : "barely" or "only just."

• It’s often used to show disappointment, implying that something is insufficient or smaller than expected. Here, it suggests that the dream is too modest or insignificant.

그거니 : "is that it?"

• 그거 ("that/that thing" (here referring to "your dream")) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[Jungkook] : 거짓말이야 you such a liar See me see me ya 넌 위선자야 It’s a lie, you such a liar See me see me ya you’re a hypocrite

거짓말이야: "It’s a lie."

• 거짓말 (lie) + 이야 (“is” - informal / friendly / casual tone)

넌: “As for you” or “you (topic).”

• 너 (you) + -는 (topic marker)

위선자야: "You’re a hypocrite."

• 위선자 (hypocrite) + -야 (“is” / “are” - casual tone)

*Grammar note: 이야 / -야 = Copula 이다 (to be) in the casual present form used after a noun ending in a vowel → “is” / “are” (casual tone). If the noun ended in a consonant (like 거짓말), it would be -이야. If it ends in a vowel (like 위선자), it’s just -야.

[Jin] : 왜 자꾸 딴 길을 가래 야 너나 잘해 Why do you keep telling me to go on another path? Hey, just take care of yourself

왜: "Why."

자꾸: "Repeatedly" or "constantly."

딴 길을: "A different path."

• 딴 (other or different, from 다른 (different, another) → 딴 is its shortened colloquial form) + 길 (road or path) + 을 (object marker)

가래: "Tell (me) to go."

• 가다 (to go) + -래 (quotative contraction of -라고 해 → 가래 (“They say to go” / “(someone) tells you to go.”))

  
  

야: A casual interjection similar to "hey" or "yo."

너나 잘해: “You, at least, do well (yourself).” / "Mind your own business."

• 너 (you) + -나 (particle meaning “even,” “at least,” or “how about…” → emphasizes you with a pointed or sarcastic tone (“you of all people,” “you, at least, should…”) + 잘해 (casual present / imperative of 잘하다 (to do well))

제발 강요하진 말아줘 Please don’t force me

제발: "Please."

강요하진 말아줘: "Don’t force (me)."

• 강요하다 (to force or to pressure) + -지 말다 (“to not do [verb]”) ( -진 is a contracted form of -지는, where -는 is a contrastive/emphatic topic marker, -지는 ≈ “as for doing that” / “at least that” / “especially that”) + -아/어 주다 (“please do for me," makes it a softer or more polite request)

[all] : (La la la la la)

[RM & all] : 니 꿈이 뭐니 니 꿈이 뭐니 뭐니 ​ What’s your dream? What’s your dream? What is it?

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[all] : (La la la la la)

[RM & all] : 고작 이거니 고작 이거니 거니 Is this all it is? Is this all it is? Is this?

고작: "Only this" or "Just this much."

이거니: "Is this it?"

• 이거 (this / this thing) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

BTS ‘No More Dream’ Lyric Quiz - Can you understand the lyric? | Learn Korean with BTS

[Suga] : 이 지겨운 same day, 반복되는 매일에 On the tedious same day, repeated every day

이 지겨운:  "This tiring" or "this tedious."

• 이 (this) + 지겨운 (from 지겹다, meaning "boring" or "tedious," with a sense of being fed up. 지겨운 is the attributive form (modifier form) of the adjective → “tedious ___” / “tiresome ___.”)

반복되는: "Repetitive."

• 반복되다 (to repeat, 반복 = repetition, 되다 = to become / be done) → 반복되는 (attributive present form → “repeating ___” / “that repeats.” -는 turns it into a descriptive modifier)

매일에: "Every day."

• 매일 (every day / daily) + -에 (location/time particle) → “in/on/at every day”

어른들과 부모님은 틀에 박힌 꿈을 주입해 Adults and parents instill conventional dreams

어른들과: "Adults and."

• 어른 (adult) + -들 (plural suffix, “-s”) + -과 (and / with)

부모님은: "Parents" (as topic). 

• 부모님 (parents — honorific form of 부모) + -은 (topic particle)

틀에 박힌: "Clichéd" or "stuck in a mold."

• 틀 (frame or mold) + -에 (indicates a time or place, "in", in this context) + 박히다 (to be embedded or stuck) → 틀에 박힌 (modifier form (“stuck in a mold”) describing 꿈)

꿈을: "Dream(s)" (as object).

• 꿈 (dream) + -을 (object particle)

주입해: "Inject" or "instill."

• 주입하다 (to inject / to instill / to imprint an idea) + -해 (present tense / casual form)

장래희망 넘버원.. 공무원? Number 1 dream job…a civil servant?

장래희망: "Future hope" → meaning “dream job,” “career aspiration,” or “what you want to be when you grow up.”

• 장래 (future, from Sino-Korean 長來: “long + coming”) + 희망 (hope, aspiration, desire)

넘버원..: "Number one." (Borrowed from English)

공무원? : "Civil servant," “public official.”

• In Korea, it refers to stable government jobs — often seen as secure but conventional careers.

강요된 꿈은 아냐, 9회말 구원투수 It’s not a forced dream, the bottom of the ninth inning relief pitcher

강요된: "Forced."

• 강요되다 (to be forced / to be imposed upon) → 강요된 (“forced / imposed” - past participle or modifier form used to describe 꿈)

꿈은 아냐,: "Not a dream."

• 꿈 (dream) + -은 (topic marker) + 아니다 (to not be) + -야 (casual copula ending) → contraction of 아니야 → 아냐 (colloquial) → “is not,” “it isn’t,” “no, it’s not.”

9회말 구원투수: "Bottom of the 9th inning relief pitcher."

• 9회말 (the bottom of the 9th inning, the final, decisive moment of a game) + 구원투수 (relief pitcher / savior pitcher. In baseball, it refers to the relief pitcher who enters near the end to save the game. Metaphorically, it means “a savior,” “one who comes in at the crucial moment to save the situation.”)

*Nuance: The first half rejects externally imposed, “molded” dreams (강요된 꿈),

and the second half asserts personal agency and self-determination, using a baseball metaphor. Being the 9회말 구원투수 implies rising to the challenge, turning things around, or becoming your own hero at the crucial moment — an empowering, defiant image against conformity.

[j-hope] : 시간낭비인 야자에 돌직구를 날려 Throw a fastball at self study time, they’re a waste of time

시간낭비인: "A waste of time."

• 시간 (time) + 낭비 (waste, from Sino-Korean 浪費 “waste + expense”) + -인 (the attributive form of the copula 이다 (to be), meaning “that is / which is.”) → So 시간낭비인 literally means “that is a waste of time,” used to describe the next noun (야자).

야자에: "At evening self-study."

• 야자 (abbreviation of 야간자율학습, literally “night self-study session.” In reality, 야자 in Korean high schools is mandatory after-school studying at night, not truly “self-directed”) + -에 (location or target particle meaning “at / toward / against”)

돌직구를 날려: "Throw a fastball."

• 돌직구 (a baseball term meaning "straight pitch / fastball," and is often used metaphorically to mean "directness" or "getting straight to the point") + -를 (object marker) + 날려 (the imperative casual form of 날리다 (to throw or send flying))

지옥 같은 사회에 반항해, 꿈을 특별사면 Defy hellish society, give your dream a special pardon

지옥 같은: "Like hell."

• 지옥 (hell) + -같은 (“like / similar to / resembling,” modifier used before a noun. Here, 같은 describes what kind of society it is — one that resembles hell.)

사회에: "In society."

• 사회 (society) + -에 (location/target particle meaning “in / to / toward / at”)

반항해: "Rebel."

• 반항하다 (to rebel / to resist / to defy) + -해 (present tense casual / imperative form)

꿈을: "Dreams," (as the object).

• 꿈 (dream) + -을 (object particle)

특별사면: "Special pardon."

• 특별 (special, exceptional) + 사면 (pardon, amnesty). The phrase implies granting freedom or new life to suppressed dreams.

자신에게 물어봐 니 꿈의 profile Ask yourself what is your dream’s profile

자신에게 물어봐: "Ask yourself."

• 자신 (oneself, yourself, myself — reflexive pronoun) + -에게 (to / toward — particle indicating direction or recipient) + 물어보다 (to ask / to inquire / to try asking) + -어 봐 (casual imperative form)

니 꿈의 profile: "Your dream’s profile."

• 니 (your, casual speech) + 꿈 (dream) + -의 (possessive particle, meaning “of” or "'s")

억압만 받던 인생 니 삶의 주어가 되어봐 Try to become the subject of your life that's only been suppressed

억압만 받던 인생: "A life that was only oppressed." / "A life that only received oppression."

• 억압 (oppression, suppression) + -만 (only, just) + 받다 (to receive, to undergo) → 받던 (the attributive past/habitual form of 받다, used to describe a noun) + 인생 (life)

*Grammar note: -던 implies a past or ongoing state the speaker remembers or describes (as in “the life that used to be oppressed”).

니 삶의: "Your life’s."

• 니 (your) + 삶 (life, living — native Korean word distinct from 인생, which is Sino-Korean) + -의 (possessive particle meaning “of” / "'s")

주어가 되어봐: "Become the subject."

• 주어 (subject — grammatical term for the doer of the action in a sentence) + -가 (subject particle marking the subject of the clause) + 되다 (to become / to turn into) + -어 보다 (to try doing something) → 되어봐 (casual imperative)

*This is a metaphor — “삶의 주어가 되어봐” means “become the subject of your own life”, i.e., take control, act, and decide for yourself — not be the object that things happen to.

[Jin] : 니가 꿈꿔온 니 모습이 뭐여 Who do you dream of being?

니가: "You" (as the subject of the sentence).

• 너 (you, informal/casual) + -가 (subject particle) (네가 is official spelling for the subject "you", but it's pronounced "니가", which is why you see 니가 in lyrics, scripts, and casual speech. The reason 네가 is pronounced 니가 is to avoid confusion with 내가 (naega), which means “I (subject).”)

꿈꿔온: "That you’ve dreamed of (up to now)."

• 꿈꾸다 (to dream) + -어 오다 (to have been doing up to now) + -ㄴ (Attributive ending (past / descriptive)) → 꿈꿔온 (that I have dreamed (of))

니 : "Your"

모습이 : "appearance" or "self-image."

• 모습 (appearance, form, figure, look, or the way someone/something looks) + 이 (subject marker)

뭐여 : "What is it?"

• 뭐 (what) + -야 / -여 (informal copula ending (“to be”), is / are / am) (뭐여 is a colloquial / dialectal version of 뭐야 → both mean “what is it?” / “what?”)

지금 니 거울 속엔 누가 보여, I gotta say Who do you see in the mirror now, I gotta say

지금: "Now."

니: "Your" (informal spoken form of 너의).

거울: "mirror."

속엔: "in."

• 속 (inside) + -에 (in / at, location particle) + -는 (topic particle, contracted to -엔, emphasizes what's inside the mirror)

누가: "Who (subject)."

• 누구 (who) + 가 (subject particle)

보여: "Do you see?" or "is seen?"

• 보이다 ("to be seen" / "to be visible" / "to appear") → 보여 (present tense informal conjugation)

[Jimin] : 너의 길을 가라고 Go your own way

너의 : "Your."

• 너 (you) + 의 (possessive marker) = "your."

길을 : "Path" or "way."

• 길 (road or path) + 을 (object marker, marks “path” as the object of the verb “to go”)

가라고 : "Go (as told)."

• 가다 (to go) + -라고 (quotative ending used when giving commands or quoting an imperative)

단 하루를 살아도 Even if you live for just one day

단 : "just" or "only."

하루를 : "one day (object form)."

• 하루 (day) + 를 (object marker)

살아도 : "Even if you live."

• 살다 (to live) + -아 (present connective form) → 살아 + -도 (“even if / though / even though”)

뭐라도 하라고 Do something

뭐라도: "Anything" or "at least something."

• 뭐 (what or something) + -라도 ("at least" or "anything at all")

하라고: "Do it (as told)."

• 하다 (to do) + -라고 (quotative ending used when giving commands or quoting an imperative) (the speaker is implying they’re quoting themselves or someone else saying “Do something!”).

나약함은 담아둬 Put away your weakness

나약함은: "Weakness."

• 나약하다 (to be weak / feeble) → 나약함 (noun form) + 은 (topic marker, "as for..." — emphasizes 나약함 as the topic)

담아둬: "Set aside" or "keep it."

• 담아두다 (to store away, bottle up, or put something aside for later) → 담아둬 (imperative form (informal command) → “put it away” / “store it”)

[RM & all] : 얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

얌마 니 끔은 뭐니 Hey, what’s your dream?

얌마 : “Hey, you!” 

• 얌마 (sometimes written as 얌마, 얘마, or 야 임마) is a casual, often rough way of saying “hey, you!” — typically used between close friends, siblings, or sometimes rudely in confrontations.

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

Putting it all together: 얌마, 네 꿈은 뭐니? literally means: "Hey, as for your dream, what is it?" More naturally translated as: "Hey, what's your dream?"

니 꿈은 겨우 그거니 Is your dream only that?

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

꿈은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

겨우 : "barely" or "only just."

• It’s often used to show disappointment, implying that something is insufficient or smaller than expected. Here, it suggests that the dream is too modest or insignificant.

그거니 : "is that it?"

• 그거 ("that/that thing" (here referring to "your dream")) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[Jungkook] : 거짓말이야 you such a liar See me see me ya 넌 위선자야 It’s a lie, you such a liar See me see me ya you’re a hypocrite

거짓말이야: "It’s a lie."

• 거짓말 (lie) + 이야 (“is” - informal / friendly / casual tone)

넌: “As for you” or “you (topic).”

• 너 (you) + -는 (topic marker)

위선자야: "You’re a hypocrite."

• 위선자 (hypocrite) + -야 (“is” / “are” - casual tone)

*Grammar note: 이야 / -야 = Copula 이다 (to be) in the casual present form used after a noun ending in a vowel → “is” / “are” (casual tone). If the noun ended in a consonant (like 거짓말), it would be -이야. If it ends in a vowel (like 위선자), it’s just -야.

[Jin] : 왜 자꾸 딴 길을 가래 야 너나 잘해 Why do you keep telling me to go on another path? Hey, just take care of yourself

왜: "Why."

자꾸: "Repeatedly" or "constantly."

딴 길을: "A different path."

• 딴 (other or different, from 다른 (different, another) → 딴 is its shortened colloquial form) + 길 (road or path) + 을 (object marker)

가래: "Tell (me) to go."

• 가다 (to go) + -래 (quotative contraction of -라고 해 → 가래 (“They say to go” / “(someone) tells you to go.”))

  
  

야: A casual interjection similar to "hey" or "yo."

너나 잘해: “You, at least, do well (yourself).” / "Mind your own business."

• 너 (you) + -나 (particle meaning “even,” “at least,” or “how about…” → emphasizes you with a pointed or sarcastic tone (“you of all people,” “you, at least, should…”) + 잘해 (casual present / imperative of 잘하다 (to do well))

제발 강요하진 말아줘 Please don’t force me

제발: "Please."

강요하진 말아줘: "Don’t force (me)."

• 강요하다 (to force or to pressure) + -지 말다 (“to not do [verb]”) ( -진 is a contracted form of -지는, where -는 is a contrastive/emphatic topic marker, -지는 ≈ “as for doing that” / “at least that” / “especially that”) + -아/어 주다 (“please do for me," makes it a softer or more polite request)

[all] : (La la la la la)

[RM & all] : 니 꿈이 뭐니 니 꿈이 뭐니 뭐니 ​ What’s your dream? What’s your dream? What is it?

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[all] : (La la la la la)

[RM & all] : 고작 이거니 고작 이거니 거니 Is this all it is? Is this all it is? Is this?

고작: "Only this" or "Just this much."

이거니: "Is this it?"

• 이거 (this / this thing) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[RM] : 살아가는 법을 몰라 Don’t know how to live

살아가는 법을: "How to live." / "The way to live."

• 살아가다 (to go on living / to live life (살다 “to live” + 가다 “to go” → nuance of continuing to live or make a living)) + -는 (present tense modifier; turns the verb into an adjective-like form to describe “법”) + 법 (method, way, how-to) + 을 (object particle, marks 법 as the thing that is “not known”)

몰라: "Don’t know."

• 모르다 ("to not know") → 몰라 (casual / informal present tense)

[Suga] : 날아가는 법을 몰라 Don’t know how to fly

날아가는: "How to fly." / "The way to fly."

• 날아가다 (to fly away / to fly toward somewhere (날다 “to fly” + 가다 “to go”)) + -는 (present tense modifier; turns the verb into an adjective-like form to describe “법”) + 법 (method, way, how-to) + 을 (object particle, marks 법 as the thing that is “not known”)

  
  

몰라: "Don’t know."

• 모르다 ("to not know") → 몰라 (casual / informal present tense)

[Jungkook] : 결정하는 법을 몰라 Don’t know how to decide

결정하는 법을: "How to decide."

• 결정하다 (to decide, make a decision) + -는 (present tense modifier; turns the verb into an adjective-like form to describe “법”) + 법 (method, way, how-to) + 을 (object particle, marks 법 as the thing that is “not known”))

몰라: "Don’t know."

• 모르다 ("to not know") → 몰라 (casual / informal present tense)

[RM] : 이젠 꿈꾸는 법도 몰라 Don’t even know how to dream now

이젠: "Now" (topic)

• 이제 (now) + -는 (topic marker, which emphasizes the present moment)

꿈꾸는 법도 몰라: “Don’t even know the way to dream” or “Don’t even know how to dream.”

• 꿈꾸다 = to dream (can be sleeping dreams or aspirations) + -는 (present tense modifier; turns the verb into an adjective-like form to describe “법”) + 법 (method, way, how-to) + -도 (also / even - adds emphasis — “not only [the other things]… but also this”) + 을 (object particle, marks 법 as the thing that is “not known”)

몰라: "Don’t know."

• 모르다 ("to not know") → 몰라 (casual / informal present tense)

[RM & all] : 눈을 눈을 눈을 떠라 다 이제 (Everyone) Open your eyes, eyes, eyes all the way now / now, all of you

눈을 눈을 눈을: "Eyes, eyes, eyes."

• 눈 (eyes) + 을 (object marker). Repetition adds rhythm and emphasis.

떠라: "Open (your eyes)."

• 뜨다 (to open [eyes]) + -어라 (imperative ending) → nuance: “Wake up,” “See clearly,” “Become aware.”

다: "Everyone" or "all."

이제 : "Now."

춤을 춤을 춤을 춰봐 자 다시 Dance, dance, dance again

춤을 춤을 춤을 춰봐: “Try dancing”

• 춤 (dance; the act of dancing) + -을 (object particle) + 춤추어 보다 ("to try dancing” / “to dance and see what it’s like”) → 춰봐 (casual imperative form)

*Note: In Korean, 춤(을) 추다 is the standard way to say “to dance.” Think of 춤추다 (춤 + 추다) as a fixed verb phrase — you generally wouldn’t separate 춤 from 추다 when the meaning is “to dance.”

자: “now, let’s” / “come on” (used to encourage action)

다시: again

꿈을 꿈을 꿈을 꿔봐 다 Dream, dream, dream everyone

꿈을 꿔봐: "Try dreaming."

• 꿈 (dream; aspiration; vision; also literal sleep-dream) + -을 (object particle) + 꾸다 (to dream) + -어 보다 (to try doing / to do and see what happens) → 꾸어 보다 → contracted to 꿔보다 → 꿔봐 (casual imperative form)

*Note: Just like 춤을 추다 (“to dance”) or 사진을 찍다 (“to take a picture”), Korean uses 꿈(을) 꾸다 for “to dream.”

다: “all/everyone.”

너 꾸물대지마 우물쭈물 대지마 wussup! Don’t hesitate, don’t be indecisive wussup!

너: "You." (Informal casual).

꾸물대지마: "Don’t dawdle."

• 꾸물대다 (to dawdle, to move slowly, to hesitate, to waste time; onomatopoeic verb — evokes sluggish, indecisive movement or behavior. Nuance: to delay, to drag out action, to be slow or unmotivated) + -지 마 (negative imperative from from -지 말다 (“don’t do …”))

우물쭈물 대지마: "Don’t hesitate."

• 우물쭈물하다 (to be indecisive, to fumble, to waver, to hesitate awkwardly; reduplicated form (우물쭈물) mimics hesitant mumbling or uncertain movement — like “uhhh-ing” in English. Nuance: to hesitate without taking clear action, to stall in confusion or fear.) → 우물쭈물대다 (same meaning, slightly more colloquial/intense version with the -대다 verb stem, which adds repetition or intensity (like “keep hesitating / keep fidgeting”)) + -지 마 (negative imperative from from -지 말다 (“don’t do …”))

*Both 꾸물대다 and 우물쭈물하다 describe inaction: 꾸물대다 → moving too slowly, procrastinating physically or mentally. 우물쭈물대다 → wavering emotionally or mentally, mumbling indecisively.

[Jungkook] : 거짓말이야 you such a liar See me see me ya 넌 위선자야 It’s a lie, you such a liar See me see me ya you’re a hypocrite

거짓말이야: "It’s a lie."

• 거짓말 (lie) + 이야 (“is” - informal / friendly / casual tone)

넌: “As for you” or “you (topic).”

• 너 (you) + -는 (topic marker)

위선자야: "You’re a hypocrite."

• 위선자 (hypocrite) + -야 (“is” / “are” - casual tone)

*Grammar note: 이야 / -야 = Copula 이다 (to be) in the casual present form used after a noun ending in a vowel → “is” / “are” (casual tone). If the noun ended in a consonant (like 거짓말), it would be -이야. If it ends in a vowel (like 위선자), it’s just -야.

[Jin, Jimin] : 왜 자꾸 딴 길을 가래 야 너나 잘해 Why do you keep telling me to go on another path? Hey, just take care of yourself

왜: "Why."

자꾸: "Repeatedly" or "constantly."

딴 길을: "A different path."

• 딴 (other or different, from 다른 (different, another) → 딴 is its shortened colloquial form) + 길 (road or path) + 을 (object marker)

가래: "Tell (me) to go."

• 가다 (to go) + -래 (quotative contraction of -라고 해 → 가래 (“They say to go” / “(someone) tells you to go.”))

  
  

야: A casual interjection similar to "hey" or "yo."

너나 잘해: “You, at least, do well (yourself).” / "Mind your own business."

• 너 (you) + -나 (particle meaning “even,” “at least,” or “how about…” → emphasizes you with a pointed or sarcastic tone (“you of all people,” “you, at least, should…”) + 잘해 (casual present / imperative of 잘하다 (to do well))

제발 강요하진 말아줘 Please don’t force me

제발: "Please."

강요하진 말아줘: "Don’t force (me)."

• 강요하다 (to force or to pressure) + -지 말다 (“to not do [verb]”) ( -진 is a contracted form of -지는, where -는 is a contrastive/emphatic topic marker, -지는 ≈ “as for doing that” / “at least that” / “especially that”) + -아/어 주다 (“please do for me," makes it a softer or more polite request)

[all] : (La la la la la)

[RM & all] : 니 꿈이 뭐니 니 꿈이 뭐니 뭐니 ​ What’s your dream? What’s your dream? What is it?

니 (네) : "your" (casual/informal language).

• Koreans sometimes pronounce 네 (your) as 니 to avoid confusion with 내 (my) since they sound similar. This is especially common in spoken Korean, but 네 is the correct formal writing form for "your."

끔은 : "dream" (with topic marker).

• 끔 (dream) + 은 (topic marker, emphasizing "꿈" (dream) as the topic of the sentence)

뭐니 : "What is it?" or "What’s that?"

• 뭐 (what) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[all] : (La la la la la)

[RM & all] : 고작 이거니 고작 이거니 거니 Is this all it is? Is this all it is? Is this?

고작: "Only this" or "Just this much."

이거니: "Is this it?"

• 이거 (this / this thing) + -니 (ending is used when asking questions in a casual tone, often when the speaker is older or talking down to someone)

[RM] : To all the youngsters without dreams.

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. :)

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