Savage — aespa: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in syncI'm a savage 널 부셔 깨 줄게 ohI'm a savage neol bu·syeo kkae jul·kke ohI'm a savage, I'll smash and break you, ohListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
aespa's “Savage” follows a singer who won't be mocked or imitated, turning her anger into a fierce, confident counterattack. Pushed onto a stage she isn't ready for and shamed by the crowd, she grows sharper, spots her opponents' weak points and fights with a blade of light in a place called Kwangya. Near the end the tone softens into thanks for the fans who rescued her and a promise to meet again.
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.
I'm a savage 널 부셔 깨 줄게 ohListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): I'm a savage neol bu·syeo kkae jul·kke oh
Meaning: I'm a savage, I'll smash and break you, oh
Words in this line- 널neolyou
- 부셔bu·syeosmash
- 깨kkaebreak
- 줄게jul·kkeI'll (do it)
Word for word: I am savage, you break-crack will-give, oh
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 부셔 깨 stacks two verbs 'smash'+'break'; the ending '-줄게' ('I'll do it to you') intensifies the threat.
너무 끔찍한 기대 그런 환각 틀에 나를 가둬 놔Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neo·mu kkeum·jji·kan gi·dae geu·reon hwan·gak teu·re na·reul ga·dwo nwa
Meaning: Terrible expectations have locked me inside a frame of illusion
Words in this line- 너무neo·mutoo/so
- 끔찍한kkeum·jji·kanterrible
- 기대gi·daeexpectations
- 그런geu·reonsuch
- 환각hwan·gakillusion
- 틀에teu·reinto the frame
- 나를na·reulme
- 가둬ga·dwoconfine
- 놔nwaleave
Word for word: Too terrible expectation, that illusion's frame-in me confine-left
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 가두다 means 'lock up,' and 놓다 (as 놔) adds 'and leave it that way' — together it's 'locked up and abandoned there,' stronger than the parts suggest.
데미지를 입은 네게 인정사정 볼 것 없는 펀치Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): de·mi·ji·reul i·beun ne·ge in·jeong·sa·jeong bol kkeot eom·neun peon·chi
Meaning: A merciless punch for you, already reeling from the damage
Words in this line- 데미지를de·mi·ji·reuldamage
- 입은i·beunwho has taken
- 네게ne·geto you
- 인정사정in·jeong·sa·jeongmercy/pity
- 볼bolto look
- 것kkeotthing
- 없는eom·neunwithout
- 펀치peon·chipunch
Word for word: Damage having-taken to-you mercy-pity nothing-to-look punch
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 인정사정 볼 것 없다 is a fixed idiom — literally 'nothing to look at regarding mercy,' meaning 'absolutely no mercy.' The word order had to be fully reassembled in translation.
우린 만나 꼭 부활 그다음Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): u·rin man·na kkok bu·hwal geu·da·eum
Meaning: We'll surely meet — after the revival, what's next.
Words in this line- 우린u·rinwe
- 만나man·na(will) meet
- 꼭kkoksurely
- 부활bu·hwalresurrection
- 그다음geu·da·eumafter that
Word for word: We meet surely resurrection that-after
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The line is deliberately clipped: "meet" has no explicit future ending, and "surely" plus "after the resurrection, next" sit side by side with no connectors. The telegraphic order reads like separate thoughts glued together for rhythm.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Savage” — aespa. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask BomiSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가리고 | ga·ri·go | hiding |
| 관중 | gwan·jung | crowd |
| 광야 | gwang·ya | Kwangya |
| 광야로 | gwang·ya·ro | to the Kwangya |
| 교묘한 | gyo·myo·han | cunning |
| 구축할 | gu·chu·kal | to build |
| 김이 | gi·mi | steam |
| 꺼져 | kkeo·jyeo | get lost |
| 더는 | deo·neun | anymore |
| 두고 | du·go | put aside |
| 말이 | ma·ri | words |
| 방해 | bang·hae | disturb |
| 보여 | bo·yeo | show |
| 아님 | a·nim | otherwise |
| 약점 | yak·jjeom | weakness |
| 이젠 | i·jen | now |
| 잡아 | ja·ba | catch |
| 짓밟아 | jit·ppal·ba | trample |
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Questions about “Savage”
What is “Savage” by aespa about?
aespa's “Savage” follows a singer who won't be mocked or imitated, turning her anger into a fierce, confident counterattack.
What does “I'm a savage 널 부셔 깨 줄게 oh” mean in “Savage”?
I'm a savage, I'll smash and break you, oh. 부셔 깨 stacks two verbs 'smash'+'break'; the ending '-줄게' ('I'll do it to you') intensifies the threat.
What does “너무 끔찍한 기대 그런 환각 틀에 나를 가둬 놔” mean in “Savage”?
Terrible expectations have locked me inside a frame of illusion. 가두다 means 'lock up,' and 놓다 (as 놔) adds 'and leave it that way' — together it's 'locked up and abandoned there,' stronger than the parts suggest.
How do you pronounce “데미지를 입은 네게 인정사정 볼 것 없는 펀치”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “de·mi·ji·reul i·beun ne·ge in·jeong·sa·jeong bol kkeot eom·neun peon·chi”: that's how it's actually sung by aespa, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Savage” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Bomi goes through all 80 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.