Life Goes On — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync어느 날 세상이 멈췄어 아무런 예고도 하나 없이eo·neu nal se·sang·i meom·chwo·sseo a·mu·reon ye·go·do ha·na eop·ssiOne day the world stopped, without any warning.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BTS's “Life Goes On” is about carrying on after the world suddenly stops and everything feels cold, wet and heavy. The singer admits to being worn down and stuck, yet reaches out a hand and finds comfort in the bond that hasn't changed. Rain, winter and darkness give way to a gentle, hopeful mood: ordinary days keep coming, and light will rise again.
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.
어느 날 세상이 멈췄어 아무런 예고도 하나 없이Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): eo·neu nal se·sang·i meom·chwo·sseo a·mu·reon ye·go·do ha·na eop·ssi
Meaning: One day the world stopped, without any warning.
Words in this line- 어느eo·neusome
- 날nalday
- 세상이se·sang·iworld
- 멈췄어meom·chwo·sseostopped
- 아무런a·mu·reonno
- 예고도ye·go·dowarning
- 하나ha·nanot one
- 없이eop·ssiwithout
Word for word: Some day world stopped, any warning not one without.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 어느 날 (some day) is idiomatic for an unspecified past moment. 아무런 예고도 하나 없이 (lit. 'no warning not one without') is archaic poetic construction meaning 'without any warning' in modern Korean.
끝이 보이지 않아 출구가 있긴 할까Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): kkeu·chi bo·i·ji a·na chul·gu·ga it·kkin hal·kka
Meaning: I can't see the end, is there even an exit?
Words in this line- 끝이kkeu·chiend
- 보이지bo·i·jivisible
- 않아a·nanot
- 출구가chul·gu·gaexit
- 있긴it·kkinis there
- 할까hal·kkaat all
Word for word: end visible not exit is there at all
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 보이지 않아 fuses "visible" with a negative ending to mean "can't be seen," and 있긴 할까 adds an emphatic particle (긴) plus the wondering ending -을까, giving "is there even...?" The speaker doubts there's any way out of this feeling.
이 음악을 빌려 너에게 나 전할게Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): i eu·ma·geul bil·lyeo neo·e·ge na jeon·hal·kke
Meaning: I'll borrow this music to convey myself to you.
Words in this line- 이ithis
- 음악을eu·ma·geulmusic
- 빌려bil·lyeoborrow
- 너에게neo·e·geto you
- 나naI
- 전할게jeon·hal·kkeconvey
Word for word: this music borrow to you I convey
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 빌려 전할게 strings "borrowing" and "will convey" together with no connector, and the object sits before the verb, which reads backwards in English. It means using this song as a way to tell someone how the speaker feels. Key words: 빌리다 (to borrow, used here as "through/by means of") and 전하다 (to convey, deliver).
잠시 두 눈을 감아 여기 내 손을 잡아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jam·si du nu·neul ga·ma yeo·gi nae so·neul ja·ba
Meaning: Close your eyes for a moment, take my hand here.
Words in this line- 잠시jam·sifor a moment
- 두dutwo
- 눈을nu·neuleyes
- 감아ga·maclose
- 여기yeo·gihere
- 내naemy
- 손을so·neulhand
- 잡아ja·batake
Word for word: For moment two eyes close here my hand take.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: "잠시 두 눈을 감아" (close your eyes for a moment) is a call to turn away from pain; "여기 내 손을 잡아" (take my hand) is an offer of support and closeness. Together they create a moment of vulnerability and trust, where one person asks the other to stay.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Life Goes On” — BTS. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask JianSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가네 | ga·ne | goes |
| 감기 | gam·gi | cold |
| 같아 | ga·ta | seems |
| 거리 | geo·ri | street |
| 겨우 | gyeo·u | just |
| 겨울이 | gyeo·u·ri | winter |
| 그럼 | geu·reom | then |
| 기다림을 | gi·da·ri·meul | waiting |
| 날아가지 | na·ra·ga·ji | flies by |
| 돌아오겠지 | do·ra·o·get·jji | will come around |
| 떼지질 | tte·ji·jil | won't lift |
| 미래로 | mi·rae·ro | to future |
| 발이 | ba·ri | feet |
| 아무 | a·mu | nothing |
| 없단 | eop·ttan | isn't |
| 일도 | il·do | thing |
| 하루 | ha·ru | day |
| 하루가 | ha·ru·ga | day |
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Questions about “Life Goes On”
What is “Life Goes On” by BTS about?
BTS's “Life Goes On” is about carrying on after the world suddenly stops and everything feels cold, wet and heavy.
What does “어느 날 세상이 멈췄어 아무런 예고도 하나 없이” mean in “Life Goes On”?
One day the world stopped, without any warning. 어느 날 (some day) is idiomatic for an unspecified past moment.
What does “끝이 보이지 않아 출구가 있긴 할까” mean in “Life Goes On”?
I can't see the end, is there even an exit? 보이지 않아 fuses "visible" with a negative ending to mean "can't be seen," and 있긴 할까 adds an emphatic particle (긴) plus the wondering ending -을까, giving "is…
How do you pronounce “이 음악을 빌려 너에게 나 전할게”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “i eu·ma·geul bil·lyeo neo·e·ge na jeon·hal·kke”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Life Goes On” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Jian goes through all 50 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
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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.