Dirty Work — aespa: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync전엔 없던 돌연변이 같아jeo·nen eop·tteon do·ryeon·byeo·ni ga·taLike a mutant that didn't exist beforeListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
aespa's “Dirty Work” is a swaggering portrait of a woman who embraces being dangerous, doing the tough jobs others avoid and ignoring anyone who wants her to play nice. She pictures herself as a curse, a reaper and a mafia-bred hit girl, with sharp teeth and a cold stare, while brushing off flimsy rules like thin glass underfoot. Pretty but tough, she lights her own fire and thrives on the hard stuff.
Key lines
4 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
전엔 없던 돌연변이 같아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jeo·nen eop·tteon do·ryeon·byeo·ni ga·ta
Meaning: Like a mutant that didn't exist before
Words in this line- 전엔jeo·nenbefore
- 없던eop·tteonthat didn't exist
- 돌연변이do·ryeon·byeo·nimutant
- 같아ga·taseems like
Word for word: Before non-existed mutant seems-like
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 전엔 contracts 전에는 ('before'+topic). 없던 is the past modifier of 없다 ('to not exist'), describing 돌연변이 ('mutant'). 같아 means 'seems like' with the subject 'I' dropped, implied by context.
오답을 고른 게 정답인 선택Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): o·da·beul go·reun ge jeong·da·bin seon·taek
Meaning: Choosing the wrong answer was the right choice
Words in this line- 오답을o·da·beulwrong answer
- 고른go·reunchosen
- 게gethe fact that
- 정답인jeong·da·binthat is the right answer
- 선택seon·taekchoice
게 contracts 것이 ('the thing that'), 인 is the modifier form of 이다 attached to 정답 ('that is the right answer'). Together: 'a choice where the wrong answer is the right one'.
쉽게 난 두 발로 그 위를 Pass YeahListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): swip·kke nan du bal·lo geu wi·reul Pass Yeah
Meaning: Easily I walk right over it on two feet, yeah
Words in this line- 쉽게swip·kkeeasily
- 난nanI
- 두dutwo
- 발로bal·lowith feet
- 그geuthat
- 위를wi·reulon top of
그 위를 Pass carries on the glass metaphor from the line before — she isn't afraid to step on and crush the fragile rule.
번뇌를 깨우는 음률 속에Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): beon·noe·reul kkae·u·neun eum·nyul so·ge
Meaning: In a melody that stirs up anguish inside
Words in this line- 번뇌를beon·noe·reulagony
- 깨우는kkae·u·neunawakening
- 음률eum·nyulmelody
- 속에so·geinside
번뇌 is a Buddhist-rooted term for tormenting thoughts, heavier than plain "sadness." 속에 ("inside") shows the anguish lives inside the melody itself — the music is what wakes it.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Dirty Work” — aespa. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask AriSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 겹의 | gyeo·bui | layer's |
| 깨트려 | kkae·teu·ryeo | break |
| 눈을 | nu·neul | eyes |
| 다수로 | da·su·ro | as the majority |
| 따윈 | tta·win | such as |
| 맘대로 | mam·dae·ro | as I please |
| 뭐를 | mwo·reul | whatever |
| 밝혀 | bal·kyeo | light up |
| 스스로 | seu·seu·ro | by oneself |
| 얄팍한 | yal·pa·kan | shallow |
| 저주야 | jeo·ju·ya | curse |
| 하든 | ha·deun | I do |
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Questions about “Dirty Work”
What is “Dirty Work” by aespa about?
aespa's “Dirty Work” is a swaggering portrait of a woman who embraces being dangerous, doing the tough jobs others avoid and ignoring anyone who wants her…
What does “전엔 없던 돌연변이 같아” mean in “Dirty Work”?
Like a mutant that didn't exist before. 전엔 contracts 전에는 ('before'+topic).
What does “오답을 고른 게 정답인 선택” mean in “Dirty Work”?
Choosing the wrong answer was the right choice.
How do you pronounce “쉽게 난 두 발로 그 위를 Pass Yeah”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “swip·kke nan du bal·lo geu wi·reul Pass Yeah”: that's how it's actually sung by aespa, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Dirty Work” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Ari goes through all 56 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- aespa
- Official video
- aespa · YouTube
Lyrics and music belong to their rights holders. This page quotes no more than four lines for commentary; the translations, pronunciation and explanations are written by theIDOL.