BAD — ATEEZ: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync빠져버려 난 이제 포로 (yo)ppa·jyeo·beo·ryeo nan i·je po·ro yohI've fallen for you, now I'm your captive (yo)Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
ATEEZ's “BAD” is about being completely smitten with a magnetic woman whose charm leaves the singer dizzy, spellbound and happy to be her captive. Latin-flavored images pile up: a red-hot dancer, a classic cigar, a spider's web, a fiery pepper. They end up writing poems about her and wanting to dedicate a victory to her, in a flirty, swaggering all-night mood.
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.
빠져버려 난 이제 포로 (yo)Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ppa·jyeo·beo·ryeo nan i·je po·ro yoh
Meaning: I've fallen for you, now I'm your captive (yo)
Words in this line- 빠져버려ppa·jyeo·beo·ryeofell completely
- 난nanI
- 이제i·jenow
- 포로po·rocaptive
빠지다 alone means 'to fall into' and 포로 means 'prisoner'. Together they mean falling so deep in love that you feel held captive.
떨려 넌 향기로운 amigaListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): tteol·lyeo neon hyang·gi·ro·un a·mi·ga
Meaning: I tremble, you, my fragrant amiga
Words in this line- 떨려tteol·lyeoI tremble
- 넌neonyou
- 향기로운hyang·gi·ro·unfragrant
떨려 means 'I'm trembling' from nerves or excitement, not cold. 향기로운 means 'fragrant'. Amiga is Spanish for 'girl friend', used here as an affectionate address.
난 너만 바래 내가 찾던 euphoriaListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nan neo·man ba·rae nae·ga chat·tteon euphoria
Meaning: I only want you, the euphoria I've been looking for
Words in this line- 난nanI
- 너만neo·manonly you
- 바래ba·raewish for
- 내가nae·gaI (subject)
- 찾던chat·tteonwas seeking
Word for word: I only you wish, I-was-searching euphoria
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean puts the verb late and the describing phrase before the noun, so the literal version reads backwards. 바래 alone means 'wish', 너만 means 'only you', and together they mean 'you are all I want'. The ending of 찾던 turns 'searched' into a description of the euphoria.
너에게 바치리 나의 la victoriaListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neo·e·ge ba·chi·ri na·ui la bik·to·ri·a
Meaning: I'll dedicate my la victoria to you
Words in this line- 너에게neo·e·geto you
- 바치리ba·chi·riwill dedicate
- 나의na·uimy
Word for word: To-you will-dedicate my the victory
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 바치다 means 'to offer up', and the ending -리 adds a solemn 'I shall'. 'La victoria' is Spanish for 'the victory', so together it is a vow to lay his victory at her feet. The literal version is clumsy because of the Spanish article 'la', which Korean does not have.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “BAD” — ATEEZ. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 나도 | na·do | me too |
| 네게 | ne·ge | to you |
| 눈이 | nu·ni | eyes |
| 멀어 | meo·reo | go blind |
| 몰라 | mol·la | don't know |
| 미소 | mi·so | smile |
| 미쳐버려 | mi·chyeo·beo·ryeo | go crazy |
| 빠져 | ppa·jyeo | fallen into |
| 아득해 | a·deu·kae | hazy, dizzy |
| 어떡해 | eo·tteo·kae | what do I do |
| 어지러워 | eo·ji·reo·wo | dizzy |
| 짜릿해서 | jja·ri·tae·seo | because it's thrilling |
| 청양고추 | cheong·yang·go·chu | Cheongyang chili |
| 허우적대 | heo·u·jeok·ttae | flail around |
| 홀렸네 | hol·lyeon·ne | I'm spellbound |
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Questions about “BAD”
What is “BAD” by ATEEZ about?
ATEEZ's “BAD” is about being completely smitten with a magnetic woman whose charm leaves the singer dizzy, spellbound and happy to be her captive.
What does “난 너만 바래 내가 찾던 euphoria” mean in “BAD”?
I only want you, the euphoria I've been looking for. Korean puts the verb late and the describing phrase before the noun, so the literal version reads backwards.
What does “너에게 바치리 나의 la victoria” mean in “BAD”?
I'll dedicate my la victoria to you. 바치다 means 'to offer up', and the ending -리 adds a solemn 'I shall'.
How do you pronounce “빠져버려 난 이제 포로 (yo)”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “ppa·jyeo·beo·ryeo nan i·je po·ro yoh”: that's how it's actually sung by ATEEZ, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “BAD” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sunwoo goes through all 53 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
- ATEEZ
- Official video
- KQ ENTERTAINMENT · 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.