they don't know 'bout us — BTS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync대체 뭐가 달랐냐고 자꾸 물어dae·che mwo·ga dal·lan·nya·go ja·kku mu·reoThey keep asking what was so differentListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
BTS's “they don't know 'bout us” is about a group worn down by outsiders who judge them and demand explanations they cannot give. They shrug off the gossip and the talk of success, insisting they are just seven ordinary people who feel no different than before. Beneath the swagger and weariness sits a softer wish to offer love to anyone who truly wants to know them, with a voice so soothing it could calm the sea.
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.
대체 뭐가 달랐냐고 자꾸 물어Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): dae·che mwo·ga dal·lan·nya·go ja·kku mu·reo
Meaning: They keep asking what was so different
Words in this line- 대체dae·cheon earth, exactly
- 뭐가mwo·gawhat (subj.)
- 달랐냐고dal·lan·nya·gowas different, (they ask)
- 자꾸ja·kkurepeatedly
- 물어mu·reoask
Word for word: Overall what was different, saying, constantly ask
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 대체 alone means 'overall', but in a question it intensifies: 'what on earth?'. The ending -냐고 reports someone else's question, and 자꾸 ('constantly') adds weariness at the repetition.
쟤넨 이거 땜에 떴어, 내가 맞아 (they don't-)Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jyae·nen i·geo ttae·me tteo·sseo, nae·ga ma·ja thay dohnt
Meaning: Those guys blew up because of this, I'm right (they don't-)
Words in this line- 쟤넨jyae·nenthose kids/guys
- 이거i·geothis
- 땜에ttae·mebecause of
- 떴어,tteo·sseo,rose to fame
- 내가nae·gaI (subj.)
- 맞아ma·jaam right
Word for word: Those-guys this because-of floated, I right
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 떴어 literally means 'floated up/rose', but about people it means 'became famous'. 땜에 is slangy 'because of', and 맞아 ('correct') becomes 'I'm right'. Together it reads as a confident street remark.
항상 쉬운 길만 찾기 바빠 괜시리 (ay)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): hang·sang swi·un gil·man chat·kki ba·ppa gwaen·si·ri ay
Meaning: Always busy looking for the easy way, for nothing (ay)
Words in this line- 항상hang·sangalways
- 쉬운swi·uneasy
- 길만gil·manonly the road
- 찾기chat·kkifinding
- 바빠ba·ppabusy
- 괜시리gwaen·si·rineedlessly
Word for word: Always easy road-only finding busy needlessly
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 바빠 means 'busy', but ironically: busy only with finding shortcuts. 괜시리 means 'needlessly'. The particle -만 ('only') adds reproach.
몰라도 돼, 뭘 또 굳이 알려 하니? Ah (yeah, they don't-)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): mol·la·do dwae, mwol tto gu·ji al·lyeo ha·ni? Ah ye·ah they dohnt
Meaning: You don't have to know — why would you even try to find out?
Words in this line- 몰라도mol·la·doeven not knowing
- 돼,dwae,it's okay
- 뭘mwolwhat
- 또ttoagain
- 굳이gu·jinecessarily
- 알려al·lyeoto find out
- 하니?ha·ni?do you try?
Word for word: Even not knowing, it becomes; what again stubbornly to-find-out do you? Ah (yeah, they don't-)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 몰라도 돼 word for word is "even not knowing, it becomes", but it is a set phrase meaning "you don't need to know". 굳이 on its own means "stubbornly/necessarily" and adds a reproachful tone: "why bother?". The ending 하니 turns it into a casual, scolding question.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “they don't know 'bout us” — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 걔넨 | gyae·nen | those kids |
| 기세지 | gi·se·ji | it's swagger |
| 나는 | na·neun | I (topic) |
| 나도 | na·do | me too |
| 대답해 | dae·da·pae | answer |
| 몰라 | mol·la | don't know |
| 뺀질이 | ppaen·ji·ri | slippery slacker |
| 사람 | sa·ram | people |
| 설명해 | seol·myeong·hae | explain |
| 쉽게 | swip·kke | easily |
| 알기 | al·gi | to understand |
| 영웅스러운 | yeong·ung·seu·reo·un | heroic |
| 오지랖들은 | o·ji·rap·tteu·reun | busybodies |
| 일곱인데 | il·go·bin·de | seven, but |
| 존재 | jon·jae | being |
| 줄까 | jul·kka | shall I do for you |
| 중에 | jung·e | among |
| 촌놈 | chon·nom | country bumpkin |
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Questions about “they don't know 'bout us”
What is “they don't know 'bout us” by BTS about?
BTS's “they don't know 'bout us” is about a group worn down by outsiders who judge them and demand explanations they cannot give.
What does “대체 뭐가 달랐냐고 자꾸 물어” mean in “they don't know 'bout us”?
They keep asking what was so different. 대체 alone means 'overall', but in a question it intensifies: 'what on earth?'.
What does “쟤넨 이거 땜에 떴어, 내가 맞아 (they don't-)” mean in “they don't know 'bout us”?
Those guys blew up because of this, I'm right (they don't-). 떴어 literally means 'floated up/rose', but about people it means 'became famous'.
How do you pronounce “항상 쉬운 길만 찾기 바빠 괜시리 (ay)”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “hang·sang swi·un gil·man chat·kki ba·ppa gwaen·si·ri ay”: that's how it's actually sung by BTS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “they don't know 'bout us” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sunwoo goes through all 53 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official audio (album track)
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Credits and sources
- Artist
- BTS
- Album
- ARIRANG · track 11 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.