Boombayah — BLACKPINK: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync좋아 이 분위기가 좋아jo·a i bu·nwi·gi·ga jo·aI like it, I like this vibeListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
“Boombayah” by BLACKPINK is a swaggering night-out song in which the group flaunts their confidence and invites someone to dance with them. Heads turn when they walk in, a bottle gets passed around, and they picture speeding off in a flashy sports car to gamble their youth together. Beneath the bragging is a real crush, and the night ends with a wish to forget sobriety and keep running.
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.
좋아 이 분위기가 좋아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jo·a i bu·nwi·gi·ga jo·a
Meaning: I like it, I like this vibe
Words in this line- 좋아jo·aI like it
- 이ithis
- 분위기가bu·nwi·gi·gavibe
- 좋아jo·aI like it
Word for word: Good, this atmosphere good.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 좋아 repeats for emphasis; combined with 분위기 (atmosphere) it conveys delight in the moment.
야 야야 야야야야 붐붐바 붐바야Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ya ya·ya ya·ya·ya·ya bum·bum·ba bum·ba·ya
Meaning: Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah, boom-boom-ba, boom-ba-yeah
Words in this line- 야yayeah
- 야야ya·yayeah-yeah
- 야야야야ya·ya·ya·yayeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
- 붐붐바bum·bum·baboom-boom-ba
- 붐바야bum·ba·yaboom-ba-yeah
Word for word: Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah, boom-boom-ba, boom-ba-yeah
Why it doesn't translate word for word: A third variation of the hook with percussive onomatopoeia 붐붐바 (boom-boom-ba) and 붐바야 (boom-ba-yeah). These sounds mimic the beat and rhythm of the track, creating a musical effect rather than semantic meaning.
감히 날 막지 마 혹시나 누가 날 막아도Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): gam·hi nal mak·jji ma hok·ssi·na nu·ga nal ma·ga·do
Meaning: Don't dare stop me, even if someone tries
Words in this line- 감히gam·hidare
- 날nalme
- 막지mak·jjistop
- 마madon't
- 혹시나hok·ssi·naperhaps
- 누가nu·gasomeone
- 날nalme
- 막아도ma·ga·dotries
Word for word: Dare not me stop, perhaps someone me stops also
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 감히 (gamhi) is an adverb meaning 'dare'. 막지 마 (makji ma) is imperative negation 'don't stop'. 혹시나 (hoksina) is an adverb of uncertainty 'perhaps, just in case'. Together the phrase creates a confident, defiant tone: even if someone tries, I won't let myself be stopped.
오늘 밤 너와 춤추고 싶어Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): o·neul bam neo·wa chum·chu·go si·peo
Meaning: I wanna dance with you tonight.
Words in this line- 오늘o·neultoday
- 밤bamnight
- 너와neo·wawith you
- 춤추고chum·chu·godance
- 싶어si·peowant
Word for word: Today night with you dance want.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '오늘 밤' (tonight) is a temporal expression emphasizing urgency and the desire to spend time right now. '춤추고 싶어' (wanna dance) is an expression of desire that in the song's context means not just physical dancing but closeness. Together they create an invitation to an intimate moment.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Boombayah” — BLACKPINK. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask SoheeSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 감싸고 | gam·ssa·go | wraps, surrounds |
| 거야 | geo·ya | will |
| 끝을 | kkeu·teul | end |
| 넘어서 | neo·meo·seo | go beyond |
| 달려봐 | dal·lyeo·bwa | let's run |
| 달리고 | dal·li·go | run |
| 도네 | do·ne | goes, disappears |
| 따라다라단딴 | tta·ra·da·ra·dan·ttan | la-la-la-la |
| 따윈 | tta·win | like |
| 뚜두룹바우 | ttu·du·rup·ppa·u | du-du-rup-ba-u |
| 모르게 | mo·reu·ge | without knowing |
| 버리고 | beo·ri·go | throw away |
| 빨리 | ppal·li | fast |
| 오늘은 | o·neu·reun | today |
| 오빠 | o·ppa | oppa |
| 올라 | ol·la | go up |
| 정신 | jeong·sin | mind |
| 특별해 | teuk·ppyeo·rae | special, unique |
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Questions about “Boombayah”
What is “Boombayah” by BLACKPINK about?
“Boombayah” by BLACKPINK is a swaggering night-out song in which the group flaunts their confidence and invites someone to dance with them.
What does “좋아 이 분위기가 좋아” mean in “Boombayah”?
I like it, I like this vibe. 좋아 repeats for emphasis; combined with 분위기 (atmosphere) it conveys delight in the moment.
What does “야 야야 야야야야 붐붐바 붐바야” mean in “Boombayah”?
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah, boom-boom-ba, boom-ba-yeah. A third variation of the hook with percussive onomatopoeia 붐붐바 (boom-boom-ba) and 붐바야 (boom-ba-yeah).
How do you pronounce “감히 날 막지 마 혹시나 누가 날 막아도”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “gam·hi nal mak·jji ma hok·ssi·na nu·ga nal ma·ga·do”: that's how it's actually sung by BLACKPINK, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Boombayah” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sohee goes through all 62 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
- BLACKPINK
- Official video
- BLACKPINK · 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.