RUN — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync다시 run, run, run, 난 멈출 수가 없어da·si run, run, run, nan meom·chul ssu·ga eop·sseoI run again, run, run — I can't stopListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BTS's “RUN” is about a devoted lover who keeps chasing someone who is slipping away, even though it hurts. The singer sees that person as a sun he can't live without, and treats the pain of wounded feet, sweat and tears as a price he gladly pays. Withered branches, dried petals and a butterfly followed through a dream give the song a bittersweet, stubborn feel, where loving without being loved back still seems like enough.
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.
다시 run, run, run, 난 멈출 수가 없어Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): da·si run, run, run, nan meom·chul ssu·ga eop·sseo
Meaning: I run again, run, run — I can't stop
Words in this line- 다시da·siagain
- 난nanI
- 멈출meom·chulto stop
- 수가ssu·gaway/means
- 없어eop·sseothere is none
Word for word: Again run run run I stop way-is-not
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 수 alone means 'way' or 'means' and 없어 means 'there is none'. Together 수가 없어 means 'there's simply no way I can'. The particle -가 adds emphasis, so it feels like 'I really cannot', not a flat 'can't'.
땀인지 눈물인지, 나 더는 분간 못해 (오)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): tta·min·ji nun·mu·rin·ji, na deo·neun bun·gan mo·tae (o)
Meaning: Sweat or tears, I can't tell anymore
Words in this line- 땀인지tta·min·jisweat or
- 눈물인지,nun·mu·rin·ji,tears or
- 나naI
- 더는deo·neunanymore
- 분간bun·gandistinguishing
- 못해mo·taecan't do
- (오)(o)oh
Word for word: Sweat-whether tears-whether, I more distinguishing can't do (oh)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: -인지 means 'whether', so two in a row make 'whether sweat or tears'. 분간 못해 is literally 'can't do distinguishing', which in natural English is 'can't tell the difference'.
마치 나비를 쫓듯 꿈 속을 헤매듯 너의 흔적을 따라가Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ma·chi na·bi·reul jjot·tteut kkum so·geul he·mae·deut neo·ui heun·jeo·geul tta·ra·ga
Meaning: As if chasing a butterfly, as if wandering in a dream, I follow your traces
Words in this line- 마치ma·chias if
- 나비를na·bi·reulbutterfly
- 쫓듯jjot·tteutas if chasing
- 꿈kkumdream
- 속을so·geulinside
- 헤매듯he·mae·deutas if wandering
- 너의neo·uiyour
- 흔적을heun·jeo·geultrace
- 따라가tta·ra·gafollow
Word for word: Just-like butterfly chasing-as, dream inside wandering-as, your trace follow.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: -듯 means 'as if', so 쫓듯 and 헤매듯 are 'as if chasing', 'as if wandering'. 흔적 is 'trace' and 따라가 is 'go along after'; together it is a hopeless pursuit of someone as elusive as a butterfly.
길을 알려줘, 날 좀 멈춰줘, 날 숨 쉬게 해줘Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): gi·reul al·lyeo·jwo, nal jom meom·chwo·jwo, nal sum swi·ge hae·jwo
Meaning: Show me the way, stop me, let me breathe
Words in this line- 길을gi·reulthe way
- 알려줘,al·lyeo·jwo,tell me
- 날nalme
- 좀jomplease
- 멈춰줘,meom·chwo·jwo,stop
- 날nalme
- 숨sumbreath
- 쉬게swi·geto breathe
- 해줘hae·jwolet me
Word for word: Way inform, me a-bit stop, me breath breathe make-for-me.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 알려줘 and 멈춰줘 end in 줘, 'do it for me', making them pleas. 숨 쉬게 해줘 is literally 'make me breathe', but means 'let me breathe', the cry of someone who is suffocating.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “RUN” — 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. Mingyu checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Mingyu 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 MingyuSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가득해도 | ga·deu·kae·do | even if full |
| 가질 | ga·jil | to have |
| 것밖엔 | geot·ppa·kken | other than the act |
| 괜찮아 | gwaen·cha·na | it's fine |
| 나니까 | na·ni·kka | since I am |
| 넘어져도 | neo·meo·jyeo·do | even if I fall |
| 늦었어 | neu·jeo·sseo | it's late |
| 다쳐도 | da·chyeo·do | even if hurt |
| 뛰게 | ttwi·ge | to run |
| 바보 | ba·bo | fool |
| 사랑하는 | sa·rang·ha·neun | loving |
| 어쩔 | eo·jjeol | what to do |
| 어차피 | eo·cha·pi | anyway |
| 없다 | eop·tta | there is none |
| 욕해 | yo·kae | curse |
| 운명아 | un·myeong·a | fate! |
| 이것밖에 | i·geot·ppa·kke | nothing but this |
| 족해 | jo·kae | am content |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “RUN” 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 “RUN”
What is “RUN” by BTS about?
BTS's “RUN” is about a devoted lover who keeps chasing someone who is slipping away, even though it hurts.
What does “다시 run, run, run, 난 멈출 수가 없어” mean in “RUN”?
I run again, run, run — I can't stop. 수 alone means 'way' or 'means' and 없어 means 'there is none'.
What does “땀인지 눈물인지, 나 더는 분간 못해 (오)” mean in “RUN”?
Sweat or tears, I can't tell anymore. -인지 means 'whether', so two in a row make 'whether sweat or tears'.
How do you pronounce “마치 나비를 쫓듯 꿈 속을 헤매듯 너의 흔적을 따라가”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “ma·chi na·bi·reul jjot·tteut kkum so·geul he·mae·deut neo·ui heun·jeo·geul tta·ra·ga”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “RUN” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Mingyu goes through all 56 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
- 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.