Boy With Luv (작은 것들을 위한 시) — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync모든 게 궁금해 how's your daymo·deun ge gung·geum·hae how's your dayI'm curious about everything, how's your day?Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “Boy With Luv,” BTS sing as someone endlessly curious about a loved one, wanting to learn every little habit, taste and detail about them. Fame has lifted the singer so high that it feels dizzying and lonely, and the loved one becomes the reason to stay grounded and keep flying. Grand ambitions give way to a simple promise to protect that person, and the mood is bright, playful and tender.
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.
모든 게 궁금해 how's your dayListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): mo·deun ge gung·geum·hae how's your day
Meaning: I'm curious about everything, how's your day?
Words in this line- 모든mo·deuneverything
- 게ge(object marker)
- 궁금해gung·geum·haecurious
Word for word: Everything-everything curious, how's your day?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 모든 게 (modeun ge) literally 'everything' + object marker, but with 궁금해 (gunggeumhae, 'curious') creates 'I'm curious about everything about you'. It expresses interest in someone's life.
뭐가 널 행복하게 하는지Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): mwo·ga neol haeng·bo·ka·ge ha·neun·ji
Meaning: What makes you happy
Words in this line- 뭐가mwo·gawhat
- 널neolyou
- 행복하게haeng·bo·ka·gehappily
- 하는지ha·neun·jimakes
Word for word: What you happily makes
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 하는지 (haneun-ji) literally 'makes', but with 뭐가 (mwoga, 'what') and 행복하게 (haengbokage, 'happily') creates 'what makes you happy'. It expresses interest in what brings someone joy.
다 말하지 너무 작던 내가 영웅이 된 거라고Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): da ma·ra·ji neo·mu jak·tteon nae·ga yeong·ung·i doen geo·ra·go
Meaning: I don't say that tiny me became a hero.
Words in this line- 다daall
- 말하지ma·ra·jispeak
- 너무neo·mutoo
- 작던jak·tteonsmall
- 내가nae·gaI
- 영웅이yeong·ung·ihero
- 된doenbecame
- 거라고geo·ra·gosaying that
Word for word: All not-say, too small I hero became (oh no).
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 다 말하지 literally means 'I don't say everything', but in context means 'I won't speak of this' or 'I don't say'. The phrase expresses humility: the hero denies his heroism despite his achievements.
난 말하지 운명 따윈 처음부터 내 게 아니었다고Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nan ma·ra·ji un·myeong tta·win cheo·eum·bu·teo nae ge a·ni·eot·tta·go
Meaning: I don't say that fate was never mine from the start.
Words in this line- 난nanI
- 말하지ma·ra·jispeak
- 운명un·myeongfate
- 따윈tta·winsuch as
- 처음부터cheo·eum·bu·teofrom the start
- 내naemy
- 게ge(possessive)
- 아니었다고a·ni·eot·tta·gowas not
Word for word: I not-say, fate such from beginning not-was me.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 운명 따윈 처음부터 내 게 아니었다 literally 'fate such from the start was not mine', but means the hero rejects fate as a determining force. He denies fate's power over him.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Boy With Luv” — BTS. 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. Sunwoo checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Sunwoo 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 SunwooSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 그때 | geu·ttae | then |
| 나는 | na·neun | I |
| 날개로 | nal·gae·ro | wings |
| 날고 | nal·go | flying |
| 내게 | nae·ge | me |
| 높아 | no·pa | high |
| 높이 | no·pi | high |
| 눈에 | nu·ne | eyes |
| 맞추고 | mat·chu·go | see |
| 사소한 | sa·so·han | trivial |
| 싶어 | si·peo | want |
| 알겠어 | al·ge·sseo | understand |
| 여긴 | yeo·gin | here |
| 오워 | o·wo | ouer |
| 전부를 | jeon·bu·reul | everything |
| 조금은 | jo·geu·meun | a little |
| 줬던 | jwot·tteon | gave |
| 함께하고 | ham·kke·ha·go | together |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “Boy With Luv” 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 “Boy With Luv”
What is “Boy With Luv” by BTS about?
In “Boy With Luv,” BTS sing as someone endlessly curious about a loved one, wanting to learn every little habit, taste and detail about them.
What does “모든 게 궁금해 how's your day” mean in “Boy With Luv”?
I'm curious about everything, how's your day? 모든 게 (modeun ge) literally 'everything' + object marker, but with 궁금해 (gunggeumhae, 'curious') creates 'I'm curious about everything about you'.
What does “뭐가 널 행복하게 하는지” mean in “Boy With Luv”?
What makes you happy. 하는지 (haneun-ji) literally 'makes', but with 뭐가 (mwoga, 'what') and 행복하게 (haengbokage, 'happily') creates 'what makes you happy'.
How do you pronounce “다 말하지 너무 작던 내가 영웅이 된 거라고”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “da ma·ra·ji neo·mu jak·tteon nae·ga yeong·ung·i doen geo·ra·go”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Boy With Luv” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sunwoo goes through all 86 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
- BTS
- 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.