NAM WOO HYUN
DEVIL — NAM WOO HYUN: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync다 알고 있다는 표정으로da al·go it·tta·neun pyo·jeong·eu·roWith a look that says you know it allListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
NAM WOO HYUN’s “DEVIL” is about falling for a dangerous, deceiving lover the singer can’t resist, even while sensing it will end in ruin. Red light, perfume, broken mirror shards and a midnight game that keeps restarting build the scene, while a heart burning hot and a mind turning cold leave the singer unable to tell love from punishment. In the end, an endless thirst brings a quiet plea to be set free.
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.
다 알고 있다는 표정으로Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): da al·go it·tta·neun pyo·jeong·eu·ro
Meaning: With a look that says you know it all
Words in this line- 다daall
- 알고al·goknowing
- 있다는it·tta·neunthat is
- 표정으로pyo·jeong·eu·rowith expression
다 알고 있다는 turns the clause 'I know it all' into a modifier of 'expression': a look that says 'I know everything'.
끝내 날 삼켜버릴 눈빛Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): kkeun·nae nal sam·kyeo·beo·ril nun·bit
Meaning: A gaze that will swallow me whole in the end
Words in this line- 끝내kkeun·naein the end
- 날nalme
- 삼켜버릴sam·kyeo·beo·rilwill swallow up
- 눈빛nun·bitgaze
멈출 수도 없잖아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): meom·chul ssu·do eop·jja·na
Meaning: After all, we can't even stop
Words in this line- 멈출meom·chulto stop
- 수도ssu·doeven possibility
- 없잖아eop·jja·nathere isn't, right
없다 alone means 'not exist', 수 means 'possibility' and 도 means 'even'. Together 멈출 수도 없다 is 'can't even stop', and the tail -잖아 adds 'you know how it is', a tone of helpless reproach.
네가 준 구원을 베어 문 순간Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ni·ga jun gu·wo·neul be·eo mun sun·gan
Meaning: The moment I bit into the salvation you gave me
Words in this line- 네가ni·gayou (subject)
- 준jungave
- 구원을gu·wo·neulsalvation
- 베어be·eobiting off
- 문munheld in mouth
- 순간sun·ganmoment
베어 물다 means to take a bite of something, so salvation is pictured as a forbidden fruit.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “DEVIL” — NAM WOO HYUN. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask TaejunSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가슴 | ga·seum | chest |
| 가장 | ga·jang | most |
| 갈증이 | gal·jeung·i | thirst |
| 같아 | ga·ta | seems like |
| 거울 | geo·ul | mirror |
| 검은 | geo·meun | black |
| 깊이 | gi·pi | deeply |
| 날개 | nal·gae | wings |
| 너는 | neo·neun | you (topic) |
| 머린 | meo·rin | head, though |
| 붉게 | bul·kke | redly |
| 숨겨놔 | sum·gyeo·nwa | hide away |
| 숨겨봐도 | sum·gyeo·bwa·do | even if I hide |
| 심장은 | sim·jang·eun | heart (topic) |
| 아래 | a·rae | under |
| 위태롭게 | wi·tae·rop·kke | precariously |
| 차가워져 | cha·ga·wo·jyeo | gets cold |
| 타오르고 | ta·o·reu·go | burns and |
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Questions about “DEVIL”
What is “DEVIL” by NAM WOO HYUN about?
NAM WOO HYUN’s “DEVIL” is about falling for a dangerous, deceiving lover the singer can’t resist, even while sensing it will end in ruin.
What does “다 알고 있다는 표정으로” mean in “DEVIL”?
With a look that says you know it all.
What does “끝내 날 삼켜버릴 눈빛” mean in “DEVIL”?
A gaze that will swallow me whole in the end.
How do you pronounce “멈출 수도 없잖아”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “meom·chul ssu·do eop·jja·na”: that's how it's actually sung by NAM WOO HYUN, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “DEVIL” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Taejun 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
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- NAM WOO HYUN
- Official video
- 1theK (원더케이) · 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.