TNT — CORTIS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
What does “TNT” by CORTIS mean?
“TNT” by CORTIS is about teenage homebodies who find their spark at a studio computer and turn into an explosive force. A lit fire, throbbing veins and cannon-shot hits give way to a countdown that launches them like a missile from Seoul's airports to New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo.
What the song is about
The mood is cocky and restless, with all-night dancing and a nod to Sinawi keeping Seoul wired.
CORTIS performs at 2026 MAMA
Sat, Nov 21 · Kyocera Dome Osaka. Every performer’s songs, day by day, with English translation and meaning.
2026 MAMA performers’ songs →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.
방구석 매일 밤 다섯 철부지 (철부지)Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): bang·gu·seong mae·il bam da·seot cheol·bu·ji (cheol·bu·ji)
Meaning: Holed up at home every night, five clueless kids.
Words in this line- 방구석bang·gu·seongroom corner
- 매일mae·ilevery day
- 밤bamnight
- 다섯da·seotfive
- 철부지cheol·bu·jiclueless kid
- (철부지)(cheol·bu·ji)echo ad-lib
Word for word: Room-corner, every-day night, five not-knowing-the-seasons (not-knowing-the-seasons).
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 방구석 literally means 'room corner' but implies being cooped up at home like a shut-in. 철부지 joins 철 (season, common sense) and 부지 (not knowing): 'one who doesn't know the seasons', i.e. a naive youngster. Together they paint five green kids locked in a room for their music.
밤새워 시나위 (시나위)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): bam·sae·wo si·na·wi (si·na·wi)
Meaning: Up all night, with Sinawi.
Words in this line- 밤새워bam·sae·wostaying up all night
- 시나위si·na·wiSinawi
- (시나위)(si·na·wi)echo ad-lib
Word for word: Spending the night awake, Sinawi (Sinawi).
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 밤새워 comes from 밤 'night' and 새우다 'to stay up through', so it means 'staying awake all night'. 시나위 on its own is a shamanic music term and the name of a famous rock band. Together the line vows to jam all night in that wild, improvised spirit.
N.Y., L.A., 도쿄, 바다 건너 휘잉 hooListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): N.Y., L.A., do·kyo, ba·da geon·neo hwi·ing hoo
Meaning: N.Y., L.A., Tokyo, whooshing across the sea (hoo)
Words in this line- 도쿄,do·kyo,Tokyo
- 바다ba·dasea
- 건너geon·neoacross
- 휘잉hwi·ingwhoosh
Word for word: N.Y., L.A., Tokyo, sea crossing whoosh (hoo)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 바다 means 'sea' and 건너 'across', together meaning 'over the ocean'. 휘잉 is a whoosh sound that conveys speed. The cities are listed to show worldwide reach.
핏줄 빠딱, 한밤 폭발 같은 drumsListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): pit·jjul ppa·ttak, han·bam pok·ppal ga·teun drums
Meaning: Veins bulging, drums like a midnight explosion
Words in this line- 핏줄pit·jjulveins
- 빠딱,ppa·ttak,taut
- 한밤han·bamdead of night
- 폭발pok·ppalexplosion
- 같은ga·teunlike
Word for word: Blood-vessel taut, dead-of-night explosion like drums
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 핏줄 means 'blood vessel', 빠딱 is an expressive word for 'taut, standing up', and 한밤 is 'dead of night'. Together: the drums make veins bulge and sound like a blast at midnight. Literally it is a pile of images, but in meaning it is one feeling of raw power.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “TNT” — CORTIS. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Song facts
- Lines
- 32
- Key lines explained
- 4
- Words explained
- 18
- Length
- 3:04
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask YoungjaeSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 거의 | geo·ui | almost |
| 고개 | go·gae | head |
| 김포공항 | gim·po·gong·hang | Gimpo Airport |
| 까딱거릴 | kka·ttak·kkeo·ril | bobbing |
| 깨어난 | kkae·eo·nan | awakened |
| 대포 | dae·po | cannon |
| 바로 | ba·ro | right away |
| 벌스 | beol·seu | verse |
| 불을 | bu·reul | fire (obj.) |
| 서울시 | seo·ul·si | Seoul city |
| 신들린 | sin·deul·lin | possessed |
| 열어 | yeo·reo | opening |
| 제껴 | je·kkyeo | fling |
| 좌표 | jwa·pyo | coordinates |
| 찍고 | jjik·kko | marking |
| 찍듯 | jjik·tteut | as if shooting |
| 찍어 | jji·geo | shoot, stamp |
| 춤을 | chu·meul | dance (obj.) |
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Questions about “TNT”
What is “TNT” by CORTIS about?
“TNT” by CORTIS is about teenage homebodies who find their spark at a studio computer and turn into an explosive force. A lit fire, throbbing veins and cannon-shot hits give way to a countdown that launches them like a missile from Seoul's airports to New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo. The mood is cocky and restless, with all-night dancing and a nod to Sinawi keeping Seoul wired.
What does “방구석 매일 밤 다섯 철부지 (철부지)” mean in “TNT”?
In “TNT” by CORTIS, “방구석 매일 밤 다섯 철부지 (철부지)” means: Holed up at home every night, five clueless kids. 방구석 literally means 'room corner' but implies being cooped up at home like a shut-in. 철부지 joins 철 (season, common sense) and 부지 (not knowing): 'one who doesn't know the seasons', i.e. a naive youngster. Together they paint five green kids locked in a room for their music.
What does “밤새워 시나위 (시나위)” mean in “TNT”?
In “TNT” by CORTIS, “밤새워 시나위 (시나위)” means: Up all night, with Sinawi. 밤새워 comes from 밤 'night' and 새우다 'to stay up through', so it means 'staying awake all night'. 시나위 on its own is a shamanic music term and the name of a famous rock band. Together the line vows to jam all night in that wild, improvised spirit.
How do you pronounce “N.Y., L.A., 도쿄, 바다 건너 휘잉 hoo”?
“N.Y., L.A., 도쿄, 바다 건너 휘잉 hoo” from “TNT” by CORTIS is romanized as “N.Y L.A dokyo, bada geonneo hwiing hoo”. In the recording it sounds like “N.Y., L.A., do·kyo, ba·da geon·neo hwi·ing hoo”: that is how it is actually sung, sound changes included, not the textbook spelling.
Where can I see every line of “TNT” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Youngjae goes through all 32 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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How we make these breakdowns
theIDOL builds every breakdown with AI assistance and automated checks, and publishes a page only after it passes them. An AI model writes the meaning of each line and the word-by-word glosses from the song's timed lyrics. The pronunciation comes from our own rule-based Korean transcriber, which spells how the words sound when sung, sound changes included, not a letter-by-letter romanization. Pages that fail the audio-sync or translation checks are not published, and we quote only a few key lines. If you spot a mistake, write to support@theidol.ai and we will fix it.
Credits and sources
- Artist
- CORTIS
- 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.