Monster — EXO: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync그래 널 훔쳐 탐닉해geu·rae neol hum·chyeo tam·ni·kaeYeah, I steal you, indulge in youListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “Monster,” EXO sing as a feared figure who creeps into a woman's heart and asks her to accept a dangerous, obsessive love. The singer admits to being impatient and far from gentle, someone who once disliked her but now wants her, and who is sure she cannot truly turn him away. Part reassurance, part warning, the mood stays dark and coaxing, with promises to leave a permanent mark on her.
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.
그래 널 훔쳐 탐닉해Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): geu·rae neol hum·chyeo tam·ni·kae
Meaning: Yeah, I steal you, indulge in you
Words in this line- 그래geu·raeyeah
- 널neolyou
- 훔쳐hum·chyeosteal
- 탐닉해tam·ni·kaeindulge
Word for word: Yeah you steal, indulge
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 탐닉하다 means 'to indulge/wallow in', and English needs an object ('in you') that Korean leaves implicit from context.
전율이 와 네 삶을 다 뒤집어 버리는게Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jeo·nyu·ri wa ne sal·meul da dwi·ji·beo beo·ri·neun·ge
Meaning: A thrill hits, completely turning your life upside down
Words in this line- 전율이jeo·nyu·ria thrill/shiver
- 와wacomes
- 네neyour
- 삶을sal·meullife (obj)
- 다daall/completely
- 뒤집어dwi·ji·beoflip over
- 버리는게beo·ri·neun·ge(the act of) doing it fully
Word for word: A thrill comes, your life all flip-throw.away-the.thing.that.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 버리다 after -아/어 (뒤집어 버리다) doesn't mean 'throw away' — it intensifies completion ('flip completely, irreversibly'). -는게 nominalizes the whole clause into 'the thing that does this to your life'.
근데 네 진심은 왜 결국에 날 거부 못해Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geun·de ne jin·si·meun wae gyeol·gu·ge nal geo·bu mo·tae
Meaning: But why, in the end, can't your heart reject me?
Words in this line- 근데geun·debut
- 네neyour
- 진심은jin·si·meuntrue feelings
- 왜waewhy
- 결국에gyeol·gu·gein the end
- 날nalme (obj)
- 거부geo·burefusal
- 못해mo·taecan't (do)
Word for word: But your true-heart why in.the.end me refusal cannot-do.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 진심 literally 'true heart' — genuine feelings; 거부 못해 ('refusal cannot') turns the noun 거부 into a verb phrase via 못해: she wants to resist but her real feelings won't let her — a classic 'can't help falling for the monster' twist.
네겐 안티노미 같은 난 네 존재의 일부 How we doListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ne·gen an·ti·no·mi ga·teun nan ne jon·jae·ui il·bu How we do
Meaning: To you, I'm like a paradox — part of your existence. (How we do)
Words in this line- 네겐ne·genfor you
- 안티노미an·ti·no·miantinomy
- 같은ga·teunlike/similar to
- 난nanI
- 네neyour
- 존재의jon·jae·uiof existence
- 일부il·bupart
Word for word: To-you antinomy-like I your existence-of part (How we do?)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '안티노미' borrows the philosophical term 'antinomy' — an unsolvable contradiction — giving the line a cold, bookish tone. The bracketed '(How we do?)' isn't a literal question; it's a boastful hip-hop ad-lib meaning something like 'that's how we roll.'
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Monster” — EXO. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 가슴은 | ga·seu·meun | (my) heart |
| 가지고 | ga·ji·go | taking/toying |
| 각인된 | ga·gin·doen | engraved |
| 감춰진 | gam·chwo·jin | hidden |
| 놀아 | no·ra | play |
| 놓을거야 | no·eul·kkeo·ya | will leave it |
| 뒤집고 | dwi·jip·kko | turn over |
| 들어갈게 | deu·reo·gal·kke | I'll go in |
| 뛰니 | ttwi·ni | pounds |
| 맘속에 | mam·so·ge | inside heart |
| 맘으로 | ma·meu·ro | into (your) heart |
| 망쳐 | mang·chyeo | ruin |
| 무너트리고 | mu·neo·teu·ri·go | tear down |
| 살래 | sal·lae | I'll live |
| 삼켜 | sam·kyeo | swallow |
| 심장이 | sim·jang·i | heart |
| 영원히 | yeong·won·hi | forever |
| 죽어도 | ju·geo·do | even if I die |
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Questions about “Monster”
What is “Monster” by EXO about?
In “Monster,” EXO sing as a feared figure who creeps into a woman's heart and asks her to accept a dangerous, obsessive love.
What does “그래 널 훔쳐 탐닉해” mean in “Monster”?
Yeah, I steal you, indulge in you. 탐닉하다 means 'to indulge/wallow in', and English needs an object ('in you') that Korean leaves implicit from context.
What does “전율이 와 네 삶을 다 뒤집어 버리는게” mean in “Monster”?
A thrill hits, completely turning your life upside down. 버리다 after -아/어 (뒤집어 버리다) doesn't mean 'throw away' — it intensifies completion ('flip completely, irreversibly').
How do you pronounce “근데 네 진심은 왜 결국에 날 거부 못해”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “geun·de ne jin·si·meun wae gyeol·gu·ge nal geo·bu mo·tae”: that's how it's actually sung by EXO, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Monster” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Youngjae goes through all 68 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
- EXO
- Official video
- SMTOWN · 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.