Shut Down — BLACKPINK: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync컴백이 아냐 떠난 적 없으니까keom·bae·gi a·nya tteo·nan jeok eop·sseu·ni·kkaIt's not a comeback, we never left.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BLACKPINK’s “Shut Down” is a swaggering declaration that the group has arrived to take over, leaving every rival with nothing to do but watch. They flaunt pearls, diamonds, custom-made pieces and a roaring Lamborghini, wave off the paparazzi, and treat anyone who wished them to fail as a spectator. The tone stays cool, teasing and a little menacing, with no trace of doubt.
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.
컴백이 아냐 떠난 적 없으니까Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): keom·bae·gi a·nya tteo·nan jeok eop·sseu·ni·kka
Meaning: It's not a comeback, we never left.
Words in this line- 컴백이keom·bae·gicomeback (subject)
- 아냐a·nyais not
- 떠난tteo·nanleft
- 적jeoktime
- 없으니까eop·sseu·ni·kkathere is none, so
Word for word: Comeback is not, left time does not exist, so.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 'Comeback' literally means returning to the stage. '떠난 적 없으니까' is an idiom where 적 means 'time/instance'—together it means they've always been relevant, never absent.
짖어봐 네 목에 목줄은 내 거니까Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ji·jeo·bwa ne mo·ge mok·jju·reun nae geo·ni·kka
Meaning: Bark, but the collar on your neck is mine.
Words in this line- 짖어봐ji·jeo·bwabark
- 네neyour
- 목에mo·geon neck
- 목줄은mok·jju·reuncollar (subject)
- 내naemine
- 거니까geo·ni·kkabecause
Word for word: Bark, your neck collar mine because.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 짖어봐 (bark) evokes a dog's submission. 목줄 (collar) symbolizes control. Together: they dominate, even if others resist.
간판 내리고 문 잠가 shut downListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gan·pan nae·ri·go mun jam·ga shut down
Meaning: Sign taken down, door locked, shut down.
Words in this line- 간판gan·pansign
- 내리고nae·ri·gotaken down
- 문mundoor
- 잠가jam·galocked
Word for word: Sign lowered, door locked, shut down.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 간판 내리고 (sign taken down) evokes closing a venue. 문 잠가 (door locked) is literal. Together: complete shutdown of the place.
뒤집어봐 이건 가격표야 ain't cheap babyListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): dwi·ji·beo·bwa i·geon ga·gyeok·pyo·ya ain't cheap baby
Meaning: Flip it, this is the price tag, ain't cheap, baby
Words in this line- 뒤집어봐dwi·ji·beo·bwaflip it
- 이건i·geonthis is
- 가격표야ga·gyeok·pyo·yaprice tag
Word for word: flip it this is price tag ain't cheap baby
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean endings fuse ideas into one word: 뒤집어봐 packs 'flip' with a casual 'try it' command, and 가격표야 glues 'price tag' straight onto 'is'. It's a cocky brag about being worth every cent — flip the tag and see. Key words: 뒤집어봐 (go on, flip it), 가격표야 (it's the price tag). 'Ain't cheap baby' is already English.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Shut Down” — BLACKPINK. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
A line from the song with one word missing: listen, then pick the right word. Rena checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Rena about this song
Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask RenaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 게임이 | ge·i·mi | game (subject) |
| 겸손하게 | gyeom·son·ha·ge | humbly |
| 고개들이 | go·gae·deu·ri | heads |
| 꺾일라 | kkeo·kkil·la | will break |
| 내려 | nae·ryeo | falls |
| 답안지야 | da·ban·ji·ya | answer sheet |
| 닿은 | da·eun | touching |
| 돌아 | do·ra | turn |
| 땅바닥에 | ttang·ba·da·ge | on ground |
| 똑바로 | ttok·ppa·ro | straight, carefully |
| 머리 | meo·ri | head |
| 분홍빛의 | bun·hong·bi·chui | pink light |
| 비를 | bi·reul | rain (object) |
| 앉아있어 | an·ja·i·sseo | sit |
| 얼음 | eo·reum | ice |
| 위로 | wi·ro | up |
| 적이 | jeo·gi | time (subject) |
| 진정해 | jin·jeong·hae | calm down |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “Shut Down” go to your study notebook with spaced review, so they come back right before you forget them.
Create a free accountWith Google, Apple or email · 10 seconds
Questions about “Shut Down”
What is “Shut Down” by BLACKPINK about?
BLACKPINK’s “Shut Down” is a swaggering declaration that the group has arrived to take over, leaving every rival with nothing to do but watch.
What does “컴백이 아냐 떠난 적 없으니까” mean in “Shut Down”?
It's not a comeback, we never left. 'Comeback' literally means returning to the stage.
What does “짖어봐 네 목에 목줄은 내 거니까” mean in “Shut Down”?
Bark, but the collar on your neck is mine. 짖어봐 (bark) evokes a dog's submission.
How do you pronounce “간판 내리고 문 잠가 shut down”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “gan·pan nae·ri·go mun jam·ga shut down”: that's how it's actually sung by BLACKPINK, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Shut Down” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena goes through all 52 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.