Not Today — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync겨눠 총, 조준, 발사gyeo·nwo chong, jo·jun, bal·saAim, target, fire.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “Not Today,” BTS speak for the underdogs of the world, admitting that defeat may come someday but refusing to accept it now. Ordinary, unremarkable people are urged to stand up, keep moving however they can, and break through whatever confines them. The mood builds from defiant resolve into a shared, shouting celebration of trust and togetherness.
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.
겨눠 총, 조준, 발사Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gyeo·nwo chong, jo·jun, bal·sa
Meaning: Aim, target, fire.
Words in this line- 겨눠gyeo·nwoaim
- 총,chong,gun
- 조준,jo·jun,targeting
- 발사bal·safire
Word for word: Aim gun, targeting, fire.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 겨눠 (gyeo·nwo) literally means 'aim', but in battle-cry context it's part of unified action. 총 (chong) is 'gun', but here it's metaphor for fighting spirit. Three words together create rhythmic battle cry, not literal shooting description.
오늘은 안 죽어 절대Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): o·neu·reun an ju·geo jeol·ttae
Meaning: Today I absolutely won't die.
Words in this line- 오늘은o·neu·reuntoday
- 안annot
- 죽어ju·geodie
- 절대jeol·ttaeabsolutely
Word for word: Today not die absolutely, yeah.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The word '절대' (jeoldae) means 'absolutely' or 'by no means'. The phrase '안 죽어' (an jukeo) literally means 'won't die', but in the song's context it's a metaphor for survival and resilience against hardship. Together they form a resolute declaration of unshakeable will.
꿇지 마라 울지 않아 손을 들어Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): kkul·chi ma·ra ul·ji a·na so·neul deu·reo
Meaning: Don't kneel, don't cry, raise your hands
Words in this line- 꿇지kkul·chidon't kneel
- 마라ma·raimperative
- 울지ul·jidon't cry
- 않아a·nanegation
- 손을so·neulhands
- 들어deu·reoraise
꿇지 마라 (kneel) is an idiom for surrender and defeat; here it means don't lose your spirit. 손을 들어 (raise hands) is a gesture of resistance and fighting spirit.
네 눈 속의 두려움 따위는 버려Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ne nun so·gui du·ryeo·um tta·wi·neun beo·ryeo
Meaning: Throw away the fear in your eyes
Words in this line- 네neyour
- 눈nuneyes
- 속의so·guiinside
- 두려움du·ryeo·umfear
- 따위는tta·wi·neunlike
- 버려beo·ryeothrow away
Word for word: Your eye inside fear like throw away.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 네 눈 속의 (in your eyes) is an idiomatic expression for inner state. 두려움 (fear) is the concrete emotion. 따위는 (like) is a particle of dismissal, strengthening resolve. Together the phrase means not just to get rid of fear but to actively reject it.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Not Today” — BTS. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가두는 | ga·du·neun | confines |
| 걸어 | geo·reo | walk |
| 걸어갈 | geo·reo·gal | walk |
| 곁에 | gyeo·te | by the side |
| 그것도 | geu·geot·tto | that too |
| 그때가 | geu·ttae·ga | that time (subject) |
| 그래 | geu·rae | yeah |
| 기어 | gi·eo | crawl |
| 기어서라도 | gi·eo·seo·ra·do | even crawling |
| 꽃은 | kko·cheun | flowers (topic) |
| 묻지 | mut·jji | don't ask |
| 믿는다면 | min·neun·da·myeon | if you believe |
| 믿어 | mi·deo | trust |
| 뱁새들아 | baep·ssae·deu·ra | little birds |
| 소리 | so·ri | voice |
| 죽지 | juk·jji | die |
| 질러 | jil·leo | scream |
| 친구들아 | chin·gu·deu·ra | friends |
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Questions about “Not Today”
What is “Not Today” by BTS about?
In “Not Today,” BTS speak for the underdogs of the world, admitting that defeat may come someday but refusing to accept it now.
What does “겨눠 총, 조준, 발사” mean in “Not Today”?
Aim, target, fire. 겨눠 (gyeo·nwo) literally means 'aim', but in battle-cry context it's part of unified action.
What does “오늘은 안 죽어 절대” mean in “Not Today”?
Today I absolutely won't die. The word '절대' (jeoldae) means 'absolutely' or 'by no means'.
How do you pronounce “꿇지 마라 울지 않아 손을 들어”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “kkul·chi ma·ra ul·ji a·na so·neul deu·reo”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Not Today” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Jaemin goes through all 93 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.