Next Level — aespa: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync저 너머의 문을 열어jeo neo·meo·ui mu·neul yeo·reoI open the door beyondListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “Next Level,” aespa sing about stepping into a dangerous new world together, hand in hand, to confront a villain and reach a distant goal. Temptation, blackouts and illusions try to isolate them, yet they hold on to each other and to their belief, guided by a calling voice. Defiant and curious, they end up stronger and freer than the selves they left behind.
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.
저 너머의 문을 열어Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jeo neo·meo·ui mu·neul yeo·reo
Meaning: I open the door beyond
Words in this line- 저jeothat/there
- 너머의neo·meo·uibeyond
- 문을mu·neuldoor
- 열어yeo·reoopen
Word for word: That beyond-of door-object open
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 저 (that/there) plus 너머 (beyond) form 'the beyond,' linked by 의 to 문 (door); the literal order looks clunky because the modifier precedes the noun and the verb comes last.
감당할 수 없는 절망도Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): gam·dang·hal ssu eom·neun jeol·mang·do
Meaning: Even despair too much to handle
Words in this line- 감당할gam·dang·halhandle/bear
- 수ssuway (to)
- 없는eom·neunthat has no
- 절망도jeol·mang·doeven despair
Word for word: Handle way-not-existing despair-even
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '감당할 수 없다' is a set construction, 'there's no way to bear it'; the particle 도 adds 'even,' making despair the extreme example before the next line's 'won't break my faith.'
(Æ) 광야의 것 탐내지 말아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ae gwang·ya·ui geot tam·nae·ji ma·ra
Meaning: Don't covet what belongs to Kwangya
Words in this line- 광야의gwang·ya·uiof Kwangya (the world)
- 것geotthing
- 탐내지tam·nae·jicovet
- 말아ma·radon't
Word for word: Kwangya's / thing / don't covet
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Kwangya isn't literal 'wilderness' — it's the name of aespa's fictional universe; 것 alone is just 'thing'. Together the phrase points to that brand world, not an actual wasteland.
비난받고 사람들과 멀어지는 착각 속에Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): bi·nan·bat·kko sa·ram·deul·gwa meo·reo·ji·neun chak·kkak so·ge
Meaning: Trapped in the illusion of being blamed and growing distant from people
Words in this line- 비난받고bi·nan·bat·kkobeing blamed
- 사람들과sa·ram·deul·gwawith people
- 멀어지는meo·reo·ji·neungrowing distant
- 착각chak·kkakillusion
- 속에so·gewithin
Word for word: Blamed-receiving people-with becoming-distant illusion inside-in
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean stacks modifying clauses before the noun with no connectors: both "being blamed" and "growing distant" describe "illusion" in one chain. "착각 속에" literally "inside a delusion" frames the whole feeling as a mental trap, not reality.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Next Level” — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 가는 | ga·neun | that goes |
| 감정들을 | gam·jeong·deu·reul | emotions |
| 강해져 | gang·hae·jyeo | become stronger |
| 거야 | geo·ya | will |
| 걷잡을 | geot·jja·beul | to control |
| 걸어가 | geo·reo·ga | walk/go |
| 결국 | gyeol·guk | eventually |
| 결국엔 | gyeol·gu·gen | eventually |
| 결속은 | gyeol·so·geun | unity/bond |
| 고난과 | go·nan·gwa | hardship and |
| 놓지 | no·chi | let go |
| 닿을 | da·eul | reach (until) |
| 때까지 | ttae·kka·ji | until |
| 못해 | mo·tae | cannot |
| 부셔 | bu·syeo | break |
| 손을 | so·neul | hand |
| 잃고 | il·ko | losing |
| 제껴라 | je·kkyeo·ra | overtake |
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Questions about “Next Level”
What is “Next Level” by aespa about?
In “Next Level,” aespa sing about stepping into a dangerous new world together, hand in hand, to confront a villain and reach a distant goal.
What does “저 너머의 문을 열어” mean in “Next Level”?
I open the door beyond. 저 (that/there) plus 너머 (beyond) form 'the beyond,' linked by 의 to 문 (door); the literal order looks clunky because the modifier precedes the noun and the…
What does “감당할 수 없는 절망도” mean in “Next Level”?
Even despair too much to handle. '감당할 수 없다' is a set construction, 'there's no way to bear it'; the particle 도 adds 'even,' making despair the extreme example before the next line's 'won't…
How do you pronounce “(Æ) 광야의 것 탐내지 말아”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “ae gwang·ya·ui geot tam·nae·ji ma·ra”: that's how it's actually sung by aespa, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Next Level” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sori goes through all 84 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.