ANIMAL — BOYNEXTDOOR: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync빌딩 숲에 누가 집주인bil·ding su·pe nu·ga jip·jju·inWho owns this building in the concrete jungle?Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BOYNEXTDOOR's “ANIMAL” is about a group chasing the top spot in the city and letting raw instinct take over instead of playing it safe. They daydream about big stages, penthouses and glamorous trips abroad, while worn-out shoes, stretched T-shirts and a caffeine habit show how much hustle sits underneath. Brash and playful, it pushes everyone to leave yesterday's self behind and trust their gut until holding back is impossible.
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.
빌딩 숲에 누가 집주인Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): bil·ding su·pe nu·ga jip·jju·in
Meaning: Who owns this building in the concrete jungle?
Words in this line- 빌딩bil·dingbuilding
- 숲에su·pein the forest
- 누가nu·gawho
- 집주인jip·jju·inlandlord
숲 (forest) isn't literal trees — it's a metaphor for a dense cluster of skyscrapers, a 'concrete jungle.'
입 버릇같이 담다디 담다Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ip beo·reut·kka·chi dam·tta·di dam·tta
Meaning: Like a habit on my lips, dam-da-di dam-da
Words in this line- 입ipmouth
- 버릇같이beo·reut·kka·chilike a habit
- 담다디dam·tta·didam-da-di
- 담다dam·ttadam-da
Word for word: mouth habit-like, dam-da-di dam-da
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 담다디 담다 directly quotes Lee Sang-eun's 1988 hit '담다디' — meaningless scat syllables. Paired with 입 버릇같이 ('like a habit on the mouth'), the line says this tune has become an unconscious habit, hummed without thinking, the way an old song gets stuck in your head.
Limit 야 나 잡아봐라Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): Limit ya na ja·ba·bwa·ra
Meaning: Limit, try and catch me
Words in this line- 야ya(vocative)
- 나naI
- 잡아봐라ja·ba·bwa·racatch me
Word for word: Limit-vocative I catch-try-imperative
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 야 is a casual vocative particle used to address someone directly, personifying 'Limit' as a rival being called out. 잡아봐라 is a defiant imperative form of 'catch,' meaning 'just try to catch me' — together the line dares the concept of limits to keep up.
아샷추 세 번에 샷추 dripListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): a·syat·chu se beo·ne syat·chu drip
Meaning: By the third round of ashatchu, the shot's already dripping
Words in this line- 아샷추a·syat·chuashatchu (drink)
- 세sethree
- 번에beo·netimes, in
- 샷추syat·chushot-chu
아샷추 is slang for an iced-tea-plus-soju-shot drink combo; it's a known drink name, not a literal phrase.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “ANIMAL” — BOYNEXTDOOR. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Try the lessonAsk Mingyu 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 MingyuSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가자 | ga·ja | let's go |
| 개야 | gae·ya | [counter]? |
| 그냥해 | geu·nyang·hae | just do it |
| 꼭대기 | kkok·ttae·gi | top |
| 끝내준 | kkeun·nae·jun | amazing |
| 나마스테 | na·ma·seu·te | namaste |
| 늘어난 | neu·reo·nan | stretched out |
| 당연히 | dang·yeon·hi | naturally |
| 뒷일은 | dwi·si·reun | what comes after |
| 부어 | bu·eo | pour |
| 분명히 | bun·myeong·hi | clearly |
| 빵꾸난 | ppang·kku·nan | full of holes |
| 서울 | seo·ul | Seoul |
| 시동켜 | si·dong·kyeo | starts the engine |
| 신발은 | sin·ba·reun | shoes (topic) |
| 신호위반해 | sin·ho·wi·ban·hae | run the red light |
| 어제의 | eo·je·ui | yesterday's |
| 올라가 | ol·la·ga | go up |
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Questions about “ANIMAL”
What is “ANIMAL” by BOYNEXTDOOR about?
BOYNEXTDOOR's “ANIMAL” is about a group chasing the top spot in the city and letting raw instinct take over instead of playing it safe.
What does “입 버릇같이 담다디 담다” mean in “ANIMAL”?
Like a habit on my lips, dam-da-di dam-da. 담다디 담다 directly quotes Lee Sang-eun's 1988 hit '담다디' — meaningless scat syllables.
What does “Limit 야 나 잡아봐라” mean in “ANIMAL”?
Limit, try and catch me. 야 is a casual vocative particle used to address someone directly, personifying 'Limit' as a rival being called out.
How do you pronounce “빌딩 숲에 누가 집주인”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “bil·ding su·pe nu·ga jip·jju·in”: that's how it's actually sung by BOYNEXTDOOR, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “ANIMAL” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Mingyu goes through all 54 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
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- Official video
- HYBE LABELS · 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.