Please — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync함께해줘 나의 worst dayham·kke·hae·jwo na·ui worst dayBe with me on my worst dayListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BTS's “Please” is a plea from someone ready to do anything to stay beside the person he loves, even when the world keeps pushing them apart. He offers to go down on his knees, walk a thorny path and hold her tighter through the worst days, even in hell. Underneath the pleading is a steady, almost giddy devotion: joy only exists with her, and he wants to lean on her completely.
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.
함께해줘 나의 worst dayListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ham·kke·hae·jwo na·ui worst day
Meaning: Be with me on my worst day
Words in this line- 함께해줘ham·kke·hae·jwobe with me
- 나의na·uimy
Word for word: Do-together my worst day.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 함께해주다 is built from 함께 ('together'), 하다 ('do') and 주다 ('give'), i.e. 'do it together for my sake'. Natural English is 'stay with me'. The word 나의 ('my') is sung as 나에 even though it is spelled differently.
세상은 말야 항상 우리 사이를 막지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): se·sang·eun ma·rya hang·sang u·ri sa·i·reul mak·jji
Meaning: You know, the world always comes between us
Words in this line- 세상은se·sang·eunthe world
- 말야ma·ryayou know
- 항상hang·sangalways
- 우리u·riwe
- 사이를sa·i·reulthe gap
- 막지mak·jjiblocks
Word for word: World, I-say, always us gap blocks.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 말야 comes from 말이야, a conversational filler like 'you know', not literally 'words'. 사이를 막다 is 'block the gap', meaning to come between people. That is why English says 'comes between us'.
Whoo 나 기쁨을 느꼈다면 너에게 오직Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): Whoo na gi·ppeu·meul neu·kkyeot·tta·myeon neo·e·ge o·jik
Meaning: If I ever felt joy, it was only with you
Words in this line- 나naI
- 기쁨을gi·ppeu·meuljoy
- 느꼈다면neu·kkyeot·tta·myeonif I felt
- 너에게neo·e·geto you
- 오직o·jikonly
Word for word: Whoo, I, joy if felt, to you only
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The ending 느꼈다면 is 'felt' plus 다면 'if', so literally it is an 'if' clause with no result. 너에게 means 'to you', hinting that you are the source. The actual meaning: I only ever knew real joy with you.
세상이 우릴 갈라놓을 때 yeah yeahListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): se·sang·i u·ril gal·la·no·eul ttae yeah yeah
Meaning: When the world tries to tear us apart (yeah, yeah)
Words in this line- 세상이se·sang·ithe world
- 우릴u·rilus
- 갈라놓을gal·la·no·eulto split apart
- 때ttaewhen
Word for word: World us split-and-put when
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 갈라놓다 combines 'to split' with 놓다 'to put', together meaning 'to drive apart'. 세상 literally means 'world', here standing for everyone and everything that interferes with the couple. 때 'when' leads into the next line.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Please” — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 가시밭길쯤은 | ga·si·bat·kkil·jjeu·meun | a thorny path, as for |
| 걸음 | geo·reum | step |
| 결국엔 | gyeol·gu·gen | in the end |
| 곳이라면 | go·si·ra·myeon | if it's a place |
| 그대 | geu·dae | you |
| 기댈래 | gi·dael·lae | want to lean |
| 넘치니 | neom·chi·ni | overflows |
| 다가설게 | da·ga·seol·kke | I'll move closer |
| 돌고 | dol·go | turning |
| 돌아서 | do·ra·seo | going around |
| 따라가리 | tta·ra·ga·ri | I'll follow |
| 서로의 | seo·ro·ui | each other's |
| 세게 | se·ge | strongly |
| 쉽게 | swip·kke | easily |
| 안에 | a·ne | in |
| 안을게 | a·neul·kke | I'll hug |
| 염원하며 | yeo·mwon·ha·myeo | longing |
| 영원히 | yeong·won·hi | forever |
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Questions about “Please”
What is “Please” by BTS about?
BTS's “Please” is a plea from someone ready to do anything to stay beside the person he loves, even when the world keeps pushing them apart.
What does “함께해줘 나의 worst day” mean in “Please”?
Be with me on my worst day. 함께해주다 is built from 함께 ('together'), 하다 ('do') and 주다 ('give'), i.e.
What does “세상은 말야 항상 우리 사이를 막지” mean in “Please”?
You know, the world always comes between us. 말야 comes from 말이야, a conversational filler like 'you know', not literally 'words'.
How do you pronounce “Whoo 나 기쁨을 느꼈다면 너에게 오직”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “Whoo na gi·ppeu·meul neu·kkyeot·tta·myeon neo·e·ge o·jik”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Please” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Hyunwoo goes through all 58 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 13 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.