DNA — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync내게 주어진 운명의 증거 너는 내 꿈의 출처nae·ge ju·eo·jin un·myeong·ui jeung·geo neo·neun nae kku·mui chul·cheoEvidence of the fate given to me; you are the source of my dream.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BTS's “DNA” is about the thrill of meeting someone who feels like fate itself, a love the group sees as written into their very bodies. They describe it through science, math and the birth of the universe, then add a breathless, almost giddy rush of first love. Certainty and wonder sit side by side, ending in a playful, assured celebration of being together.
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.
내게 주어진 운명의 증거 너는 내 꿈의 출처Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): nae·ge ju·eo·jin un·myeong·ui jeung·geo neo·neun nae kku·mui chul·cheo
Meaning: Evidence of the fate given to me; you are the source of my dream.
Words in this line- 내게nae·geto me
- 주어진ju·eo·jingiven
- 운명의un·myeong·uifate
- 증거jeung·geoevidence
- 너는neo·neunyou
- 내naemy
- 꿈의kku·muidream
- 출처chul·cheosource
Word for word: To-me given fate-genitive evidence, you my dream-genitive source.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The phrase '운명의 증거' (evidence of fate) is an oxymoron: fate doesn't require proof, but here it appears as a scientific fact. '너는 내 꿈의 출처' reverses logic: usually a dream precedes a meeting, but here the meeting is the source of the dream—the meeting is more real than the dream itself.
너에게 내민 내 손은 정해진 숙명Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): neo·e·ge nae·min nae so·neun jeong·hae·jin sung·myeong
Meaning: Take it, take it — my hand extended to you is a predetermined fate.
Words in this line- 너에게neo·e·geto you
- 내민nae·minextended
- 내naemy
- 손은so·neunhand
- 정해진jeong·hae·jinpredetermined
- 숙명sung·myeongfate
Word for word: Take, take, to-you extended my hand-topic predetermined fate.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The repetition of 'Take it, take it' is an English insertion that creates a sense of urgency and emotional intensity. '정해진 숙명' (predetermined fate) is not just fate but an already-decided, unchangeable fate. The phrase emphasizes that there is no choice, only acceptance of the inevitable.
이 모든 건 우연이 아니니까Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): i mo·deun geon u·yeo·ni a·ni·ni·kka
Meaning: This is all not a coincidence.
Words in this line- 이ithis
- 모든mo·deunall
- 건geonis
- 우연이u·yeo·nicoincidence
- 아니니까a·ni·ni·kkanot
Word for word: This all-thing coincidence-not-because.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The final phrase with the negation '아니니까' emphasizes certainty. The word '우연' (coincidence) contrasts with all the previous discourse about fate and predestination. It's not just a denial of chance but an affirmation that everything was planned from the beginning.
신기하게 자꾸만 숨이 멎는 게 참 이상해 설마Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): sin·gi·ha·ge ja·kku·man su·mi meon·neun ge cham i·sang·hae seol·ma
Meaning: Strangely, my breath keeps catching more and more.
Words in this line- 신기하게sin·gi·ha·gestrangely
- 자꾸만ja·kku·mankeep
- 숨이su·mibreath
- 멎는meon·neuncatches
- 게ge(marker)
- 참chamtruly
- 이상해i·sang·haestrange
- 설마seol·masurely not
Word for word: Strangely, again-and-again breath stopping thing, really strange, no way…
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '자꾸만' means 'keep' but in song context expresses mounting excitement. '설마' is a particle of doubt that conveys surprise and uncertainty about whether this is truly love.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “DNA” — 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. Jian checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Jian 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 JianSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 걱정하지 | geok·jjeong·ha·ji | don't worry |
| 날부터 | nal·bu·teo | from the day |
| 넘어서 | neo·meo·seo | beyond |
| 달라 | dal·la | different |
| 둘이니까 | du·ri·ni·kka | because we're two |
| 말아 | ma·ra | don't (imperative) |
| 무한의 | mu·ha·nui | infinite |
| 생긴 | saeng·gin | was born |
| 생에도 | saeng·e·do | life |
| 세기를 | se·gi·reul | ages |
| 아마 | a·ma | probably |
| 영원히 | yeong·won·hi | forever |
| 완전 | wan·jeon | completely |
| 우주가 | u·ju·ga | universe |
| 운명을 | un·myeong·eul | destiny |
| 전생에도 | jeon·saeng·e·do | in past lives |
| 찾아낸 | cha·ja·naen | found |
| 함께니까 | ham·kke·ni·kka | together because |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “DNA” 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 “DNA”
What is “DNA” by BTS about?
BTS's “DNA” is about the thrill of meeting someone who feels like fate itself, a love the group sees as written into their very bodies.
What does “내게 주어진 운명의 증거 너는 내 꿈의 출처” mean in “DNA”?
Evidence of the fate given to me; you are the source of my dream. The phrase '운명의 증거' (evidence of fate) is an oxymoron: fate doesn't require proof, but here it appears as a scientific fact.
What does “너에게 내민 내 손은 정해진 숙명” mean in “DNA”?
Take it, take it — my hand extended to you is a predetermined fate. The repetition of 'Take it, take it' is an English insertion that creates a sense of urgency and emotional intensity.
How do you pronounce “이 모든 건 우연이 아니니까”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “i mo·deun geon u·yeo·ni a·ni·ni·kka”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “DNA” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Jian goes through all 51 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.