What You Want — CORTIS: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in syncWell 이마에 피도 안 말랐을 때 계획한 행보 what you wantWell i·ma·e pi·do an mal·la·sseul ttae gye·hoe·kan haeng·bo what you wantWell, when blood was still fresh on my forehead, I planned this pathPlay the first verse with translationNo sign-upWhat does “What You Want” by CORTIS mean?
CORTIS's “What You Want” is a restless song about refusing to settle and reaching for everything life might offer. They sound tired of a flat, ordinary stretch of days, ready to leave home, fill a passport with stamps, and jump a fence rather than turn back. The mood is loud, playful and teenage, with a wish for the whole world to learn their name.
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.
Well 이마에 피도 안 말랐을 때 계획한 행보 what you wantListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): Well i·ma·e pi·do an mal·la·sseul ttae gye·hoe·kan haeng·bo what you want
Meaning: Well, when blood was still fresh on my forehead, I planned this path
Words in this line- 이마에i·ma·eon forehead
- 피도pi·doblood
- 안annot
- 말랐을mal·la·sseuldried
- 때ttaewhen
- 계획한gye·hoe·kanplanned
- 행보haeng·bopath
Word for word: well on forehead blood not dried when planned path what you want
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version is clumsy because Korean stacks the whole description before the thing it describes: "blood-not-dried-when planned path." The idiom 이마에 피도 안 말랐을 때 means "when still very young and green." Key words: 이마 (forehead), 말랐을 때 (when it had dried), 행보 (course of action, path).
적당히론 배가 차지 않아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jeok·ttang·hi·ron bae·ga cha·ji a·na
Meaning: Moderation is not enough, I'm never satisfied
Words in this line- 적당히론jeok·ttang·hi·ronmoderation
- 배가bae·gabelly
- 차지cha·jifills
- 않아a·nanot
Word for word: moderation belly fills not
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version is clumsy because Korean puts the topic first and the negative at the end: "moderation-by belly fills not." The idiom 배가 차다 (belly fills) means feeling satisfied. It means: a little is never enough for me. Key words: 적당히 (moderately), 배가 차지 않아 (belly doesn't fill, never satisfied).
난 걍 돌아갈 바엔 바로 넘어버려 담장 what you want?Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nan gyang do·ra·gal ppa·en ba·ro neo·meo·beo·ryeo dam·jang wot·yu·wont
Meaning: I'd rather jump over the fence than just go back
Words in this line- 난nanI
- 걍gyangjust
- 돌아갈do·ra·galgo back
- 바엔ppa·eninstead of
- 바로ba·roright
- 넘어버려neo·meo·beo·ryeojump over
- 담장dam·jangfence
Word for word: I just go back instead of right jump over fence what you want?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version is clumsy because Korean puts the "instead of" part (바엔) before the action, so the "go back" and "jump" ideas get tangled. The line means "I'd rather leap the wall than turn back." Key words: 걍 is slangy short for 그냥, "just"; 돌아갈 바엔 means "rather than going back"; 담장 is "fence."
난 원해 다시 뛰게 할 무언갈 나의 심장 what you want?Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): na nwon·hae da·si ttwi·ge hal mu·eon·gal na·ui sim·jang wot·yu·wont
Meaning: I want something that makes my heart beat again
Words in this line- 난naI
- 원해nwon·haewant
- 다시da·siagain
- 뛰게ttwi·gebeat
- 할halmake
- 무언갈mu·eon·galsomething
- 나의na·uimy
- 심장sim·jangheart
Word for word: I want again beat make something my heart what you want?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version is clumsy because Korean puts the whole description "make my heart beat again" before the thing it describes, so "something" lands at the end. The line means "I want something that revives my heart." Key words: 뛰게 할 means "that will make (it) beat/run," and 무언갈 is a shortened "something."
Lyrics © their rights holders. “What You Want” — CORTIS. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask YoungjaeSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 나도 | na·do | I too |
| 도장 | do·jang | stamp |
| 됐어 | dwae·sseo | enough |
| 들이켜 | deu·ri·kyeo | gulp |
| 떠나 | tteo·na | leave |
| 똑같아 | ttok·kka·ta | the same |
| 마치 | ma·chi | like |
| 명예 | myeong·ye | fame |
| 바라던 | ba·ra·deon | desired |
| 배송 | bae·song | delivery |
| 새벽 | sae·byeok | dawn |
| 소리쳐 | so·ri·chyeo | shout |
| 야밤 | ya·bam | late night |
| 이젠 | i·jen | now |
| 집을 | ji·beul | home |
| 쫓았었던 | jjo·cha·sseot·tteon | chased |
| 찍어 | jji·geo | stamp |
| 하마 | ha·ma | hippo |
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Questions about “What You Want”
What is “What You Want” by CORTIS about?
CORTIS's “What You Want” is a restless song about refusing to settle and reaching for everything life might offer.
What does “Well 이마에 피도 안 말랐을 때 계획한 행보 what you want” mean in “What You Want”?
Well, when blood was still fresh on my forehead, I planned this path. The literal version is clumsy because Korean stacks the whole description before the thing it describes: "blood-not-dried-when planned path." The idiom 이마에…
What does “적당히론 배가 차지 않아” mean in “What You Want”?
Moderation is not enough, I'm never satisfied. The literal version is clumsy because Korean puts the topic first and the negative at the end: "moderation-by belly fills not." The idiom 배가 차다 (belly…
How do you pronounce “난 걍 돌아갈 바엔 바로 넘어버려 담장 what you want?”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “nan gyang do·ra·gal ppa·en ba·ro neo·meo·beo·ryeo dam·jang wot·yu·wont”: that's how it's actually sung by CORTIS, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “What You Want” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Youngjae goes through all 46 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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Credits and sources
- Artist
- CORTIS
- Official video
- CORTIS · 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.