Body to Body — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
What does “Body to Body” by BTS mean?
BTS's “Body to Body” is a call for a packed stadium to come together, put the screens away and share one big, sweaty night. The group wants closeness, skin against skin and hand in hand, with a crowd that reaches from the front rows to the back.
What the song is about
Under the swagger runs a sense of belonging to a shared home, and the night feels too good to end before sunrise.
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.
저기 저 달에 닿게 손에 손, 너와 나, we on and on, yeahListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jeo·gi jeo da·re da·ke so·ne son, neo·wa na, we on and on, yeah
Meaning: Hand in hand, you and me, reaching that moon, on and on
Words in this line- 저기jeo·giover there
- 저jeothat
- 달에da·reto the moon
- 닿게da·keso as to reach
- 손에so·nein hand
- 손,son,hand
- 너와neo·wayou and
- 나,na,I
Word for word: Over there that moon so as to reach, in hand hand, you and I, we on and on, yeah
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 손에 손 literally means 'in hand, hand' and nods to the 1988 Seoul Olympics song 손에 손잡고. 닿게 (so as to reach) is a purpose ending, so natural English needs 'reaching'. 'On and on' is about endlessness, not prepositions.
아리랑 고개로 넘어간다Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): a·ri·rang go·gae·ro neo·meo·gan·da
Meaning: I'm crossing over Arirang Pass
Words in this line- 아리랑a·ri·rangArirang
- 고개로go·gae·rovia the pass
- 넘어간다neo·meo·gan·dago over
Word for word: Arirang to-the-pass go-over
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 고개 alone is 'mountain pass' and 넘어간다 is 'go over and onward', with the particle 로 marking the route 'by way of'. In the song the pass stands for hardship and parting, so it sounds sadder than a simple hike.
나를 버리고 가시는 님은Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): na·reul beo·ri·go ga·si·neun ni·meun
Meaning: My love, who leaves me behind and goes
Words in this line- 나를na·reulme
- 버리고beo·ri·goabandoning
- 가시는ga·si·neunwho goes
- 님은ni·meunbeloved
Word for word: Me abandoning going-honorific beloved-topic
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 나를 is 'me', 버리고 is 'abandoning', 가시는 is the honorific 'who is going' and 님 is a respectful 'beloved'. Korean puts the verb before the noun and drops 'my', so the literal version is clumsy, while the real meaning is a lament that is still respectful.
십리도 못가서 발병난다Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): sim·ni·do mot·kka·seo bal·ppyeong·nan·da
Meaning: Won't even make ten ri before their feet hurt
Words in this line- 십리도sim·ni·doeven ten ri
- 못가서mot·kka·seobefore getting far
- 발병난다bal·ppyeong·nan·dafeet will hurt
Word for word: Ten-ri even not-going, foot-illness occurs
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 십리 is 'ten ri', about 4 km, 못가서 is 'unable to go' and 발병난다 is 'a foot ailment arises'. Together it is a gentle curse on the one who left: may they not get far and come back. It is not hatred but love disguised as grumbling.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Body to Body” — BTS. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask TaejunSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가까이 | ga·kka·i | closer |
| 감지 | gam·jji | close |
| 겨레의 | gyeo·re·ui | of the people |
| 내려놔 | nae·ryeo·nwa | put down |
| 너와의 | neo·wa·ui | with you |
| 눈을 | nu·neul | eyes |
| 따져 | tta·jyeo | fuss over |
| 마음 | ma·eum | heart |
| 비워 | bi·wo | empty out |
| 사이 | sa·i | relationship |
| 솟구치는 | sot·kku·chi·neun | surging |
| 아라리요 | a·ra·ri·yo | arariyo (refrain) |
| 우리만의 | u·ri·ma·nui | only ours |
| 인마 | in·ma | dude |
| 인생은 | in·saeng·eun | life |
| 증오는 | jeung·o·neun | hatred |
| 짧아 | jjal·ba | is short |
| 체면 | che·myeon | face, dignity |
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Questions about “Body to Body”
What is “Body to Body” by BTS about?
BTS's “Body to Body” is a call for a packed stadium to come together, put the screens away and share one big, sweaty night.
What does “저기 저 달에 닿게 손에 손, 너와 나, we on and on, yeah” mean in “Body to Body”?
Hand in hand, you and me, reaching that moon, on and on. 손에 손 literally means 'in hand, hand' and nods to the 1988 Seoul Olympics song 손에 손잡고.
What does “아리랑 고개로 넘어간다” mean in “Body to Body”?
I'm crossing over Arirang Pass. 고개 alone is 'mountain pass' and 넘어간다 is 'go over and onward', with the particle 로 marking the route 'by way of'.
How do you pronounce “나를 버리고 가시는 님은”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “na·reul beo·ri·go ga·si·neun ni·meun”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Body to Body” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Taejun goes through all 52 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 1 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.