Live My Life — aespa: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync규칙 깨버려 뻔한 네 사고방식gyu·chik kkae·beo·ryeo ppeon·han ne sa·go·bang·sikBreak the rules, your clichéd mindset.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “Live My Life,” aespa sing about leaving narrow thinking and fixed rules behind and taking the lead in their own lives. They encourage anyone with different dreams to hold on to faith in themselves, and wave off those who claim to know the correct way to live. The mood is bright and steady, full of fresh starts and fearless confidence.
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.
규칙 깨버려 뻔한 네 사고방식Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gyu·chik kkae·beo·ryeo ppeon·han ne sa·go·bang·sik
Meaning: Break the rules, your clichéd mindset.
Words in this line- 규칙gyu·chikrules
- 깨버려kkae·beo·ryeobreak
- 뻔한ppeon·hanpredictable
- 네neyour
- 사고방식sa·go·bang·sikmindset
Word for word: Rule smash, obvious your thinking-method.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 뻔한 literally means 'obvious', but about ideas it means 'cliché, predictable'. 깨버려 is 'break', and the added 버려 ('throw away') gives a 'once and for all' feel. That makes the command sound sharp.
다른 꿈을 꾸는 듯했지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): da·reun kku·meul kku·neun deu·taet·jji
Meaning: It seemed like we were dreaming different dreams
Words in this line- 다른da·reundifferent
- 꿈을kku·meuldream
- 꾸는kku·neundreaming
- 듯했지deu·taet·jjiseemed like
Word for word: Different dream dreaming seemed-right
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 꿈을 꾸다 literally 'to dream a dream' is the standard Korean way to say 'to dream'. 듯 means 'as if' and 했지 'it was, wasn't it'. Together the tail 듯했지 gives a soft reminiscing 'it seemed that...', which no single word carries.
시간은 멈출 수 없잖아, life's too short (life)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): si·ga·neun meom·chul ssu eop·jja·na, life's too short la·if
Meaning: You can't stop time, after all — life's too short
Words in this line- 시간은si·ga·neuntime
- 멈출meom·chulto stop
- 수ssuway
- 없잖아,eop·jja·na,there isn't, you know
Word for word: Time-as-for stop way there-isn't-you-know, life's too short (life)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 멈출 수 없다 is a set pattern: 수 'way, means' plus 없다 'not exist', together 'it's impossible to stop'. The ending -잖아 is a contraction of 'isn't it so?', adding a tone of 'you know this already'. That is where the 'after all' comes from, though no single word says it.
내가 행복할 삶의 주인공은 나 (oh)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nae·ga haeng·bo·kal sal·mui ju·in·gong·eun na o
Meaning: The star of my happy life is me
Words in this line- 내가nae·gaI
- 행복할haeng·bo·kalwill be happy
- 삶의sal·muiof life
- 주인공은ju·in·gong·eunprotagonist
- 나name
Word for word: I will-be-happy life's protagonist-topic me.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 행복할 means 'will be happy', 삶의 means 'of life', and 주인공 is 'protagonist' (literally 'master person'). Together they say you are the owner of your own happy life. Korean stacks modifiers before the noun in a long chain, which makes the literal version awkward.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Live My Life” — aespa. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 거야 | geo·ya | will |
| 고지식한 | go·ji·si·kan | rigid, stubborn |
| 구속하지 | gu·so·ka·ji | to restrict |
| 그래 | geu·rae | yes, right |
| 그런 | geu·reon | that kind of |
| 기대해 | gi·dae·hae | look forward |
| 맞춰진 | mat·chwo·jin | fitted |
| 변화 | byeon·hwa | change |
| 빛나는 | bin·na·neun | shining |
| 새롭게 | sae·rop·kke | newly |
| 선택한 | seon·tae·kan | chosen |
| 소중한 | so·jung·han | precious |
| 솔직한 | sol·ji·kan | honest |
| 시작이야 | si·ja·gi·ya | is the start |
| 외쳐봐 | oe·chyeo·bwa | try shouting |
| 이제부터가 | i·je·bu·teo·ga | from now on |
| 틀에 | teu·re | into a mold |
| 힘차게 | him·cha·ge | vigorously |
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Questions about “Live My Life”
What is “Live My Life” by aespa about?
In “Live My Life,” aespa sing about leaving narrow thinking and fixed rules behind and taking the lead in their own lives.
What does “규칙 깨버려 뻔한 네 사고방식” mean in “Live My Life”?
Break the rules, your clichéd mindset. 뻔한 literally means 'obvious', but about ideas it means 'cliché, predictable'.
What does “다른 꿈을 꾸는 듯했지” mean in “Live My Life”?
It seemed like we were dreaming different dreams. 꿈을 꾸다 literally 'to dream a dream' is the standard Korean way to say 'to dream'.
How do you pronounce “시간은 멈출 수 없잖아, life's too short (life)”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “si·ga·neun meom·chul ssu eop·jja·na, life's too short la·if”: that's how it's actually sung by aespa, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Live My Life” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Mina goes through all 45 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
- SMTOWN · 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.