Aliens — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync지루하고 따분해 모든 게ji·ru·ha·go tta·bun·hae mo·deun geEverything is boring and dullListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
“Aliens” by BTS is a swaggering declaration that a group of outsiders, born different, now set the pace and dare anyone to keep up. They shrug off doubters and curses, turn bad luck around, and teach newcomers their rules, from Korean letters to house manners. Confident and playful throughout, it closes on planting their flag and leaving a mark.
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.
지루하고 따분해 모든 게Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ji·ru·ha·go tta·bun·hae mo·deun ge
Meaning: Everything is boring and dull
Words in this line- 지루하고ji·ru·ha·goboring and
- 따분해tta·bun·haedull
- 모든mo·deunall
- 게gethings
Word for word: Boring-and dull all things.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean joins two states with the ending -고 ('and'), and 게 is a contracted 것이, 'thing'. Word for word it sounds like a pile of fragments, but a native speaker simply says 'everything is boring and dull'.
우릴 부러워하네 저 civiliansListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): u·ril bu·reo·wo·ha·ne jeo civilians
Meaning: Those civilians envy us
Words in this line- 우릴u·rilus
- 부러워하네bu·reo·wo·ha·neenvy
- 저jeothose
Word for word: Us envy those civilians.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 부러워하네 is the verb 'envy' with the ending -네, which adds a note of observation or mild surprise. Civilians alone means non-military people, but here it means ordinary humans as opposed to the 'aliens'. So the natural line is 'those ordinary folks envy us'.
뭐든 더 빠르게Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): mwo·deun deo ppa·reu·ge
Meaning: Everything faster
Words in this line- 뭐든mwo·deunanything
- 더deomore
- 빠르게ppa·reu·gefast
Word for word: Whatever, more, fast.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 뭐든 on its own means "whatever" or "anything," and 더 means "more." 빠르게 means "quickly." Put together they form a slogan: "do everything faster," not a list of separate words.
저주하니 아직? 흉즉대길Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jeo·ju·ha·ni a·jik? hyung·jeuk·ttae·gil
Meaning: Still cursing me? Bad luck turns into great luck
Words in this line- 저주하니jeo·ju·ha·nido you curse
- 아직?a·jik?still
- 흉즉대길hyung·jeuk·ttae·gilbad luck, great luck
Word for word: Curse you still? Misfortune then great luck.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 저주하니 on its own is 'do you curse', and 아직 is 'still'. 흉즉대길 combines 흉 'misfortune' and 대길 'great luck', and together they say that misfortune turns into fortune. So the rivals' curses only bring luck.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Aliens” — BTS. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask EunsuSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가나 | ga·na | ga-na (start) |
| 고민해 | go·min·hae | worry over |
| 그래 | geu·rae | like that |
| 도대체 | do·dae·che | on earth |
| 동쪽에서 | dong·jjo·ge·seo | in the east |
| 매일 | mae·il | every day |
| 박수 | bak·ssu | clap |
| 밤새워대 | bam·sae·wo·dae | keep pulling all-nighters |
| 배워놔 | bae·wo·nwa | learn it |
| 벗어놔 | beo·seo·nwa | take off |
| 보고 | bo·go | watching |
| 시대가 | si·dae·ga | the era (subject) |
| 신발은 | sin·ba·reun | shoes (topic) |
| 어쩔래 | eo·jjeol·lae | what'll you do |
| 어쩜 | eo·jjeom | how come |
| 예의를 | ye·ui·reul | manners (object) |
| 원해 | won·hae | wants |
| 으로 | eu·ro | to the stadium |
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Questions about “Aliens”
What is “Aliens” by BTS about?
“Aliens” by BTS is a swaggering declaration that a group of outsiders, born different, now set the pace and dare anyone to keep up.
What does “지루하고 따분해 모든 게” mean in “Aliens”?
Everything is boring and dull. Korean joins two states with the ending -고 ('and'), and 게 is a contracted 것이, 'thing'.
What does “우릴 부러워하네 저 civilians” mean in “Aliens”?
Those civilians envy us. 부러워하네 is the verb 'envy' with the ending -네, which adds a note of observation or mild surprise.
How do you pronounce “뭐든 더 빠르게”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “mwo·deun deo ppa·reu·ge”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Aliens” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Eunsu goes through all 73 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official audio (album track)
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- BTS
- Album
- ARIRANG · track 3 of 14
- Official audio
- 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.