NCT 127
Sticker — NCT 127: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync내 옆에 너 꼭 붙어 있어봐nae yeo·pe neo kkok bu·teo i·sseo·bwaStay right beside me, hold on tightListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
NCT 127's “Sticker” is a swaggering love song in which the group vow to stay stuck to the one they adore and make her the star of their story. They tell her to ignore a tiring world, trust them, and let her heart lead, promising a story only the two of them write. Gravity-like attraction and a private party with her as the only VIP keep the mood cocky but sweet.
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.
내 옆에 너 꼭 붙어 있어봐Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): nae yeo·pe neo kkok bu·teo i·sseo·bwa
Meaning: Stay right beside me, hold on tight
Words in this line- 내naemy/with me
- 옆에yeo·pebeside
- 너neoyou
- 꼭kkoktightly
- 붙어bu·teostick
- 있어봐i·sseo·bwatry staying
Word for word: My beside-at you tightly stick-and exist-try
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '붙어 있어봐' literally 'try being stuck,' functions as a casual invitation 'stay close to me,' not a literal instruction to stick.
들어 봐봐 이건 절대 입에 발린 말이 아니야Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): deu·reo bwa·bwa i·geon jeol·ttae i·be bal·lin ma·ri a·ni·ya
Meaning: Listen, this is absolutely not just sweet talk
Words in this line- 들어deu·reolisten
- 봐봐bwa·bwacome on
- 이건i·geonthis
- 절대jeol·ttaeabsolutely
- 입에i·beon the lips
- 발린bal·linsmeared
- 말이ma·riwords
- 아니야a·ni·yaaren't
Word for word: Listen try, this absolutely mouth-smeared word not-is.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '입에 발린 말' literally means 'words smeared onto the lips' — the Korean idiom for flattery or empty sweet talk, like the English 'lip service.' Translated word-for-word it comes out as the nonsensical 'mouth-smeared word.'
커져 왔던 내 모든 감정들은 널 맞이하기 위한 것Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): keo·jyeo wat·tteon nae mo·deun gam·jeong·deu·reun neol ma·ji·ha·gi wi·han geot
Meaning: Every feeling that's been growing in me was meant to welcome you
Words in this line- 커져keo·jyeohave grown
- 왔던wat·tteonhad been
- 내naemy
- 모든mo·deunevery
- 감정들은gam·jeong·deu·reunfeelings
- 널neolyou
- 맞이하기ma·ji·ha·gito welcome
- 위한wi·hanfor the sake of
- 것geotthing
Word for word: Grown-bigger-had-been my all feelings-topic you welcome-for thing
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '위한 것' literally means 'a thing meant for' — a grammar tail turning 'welcoming you' into the entire purpose behind those feelings; in English it collapses into a simple 'to.'
말해 뭐해 이미 우린 정해져 있는 걸Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ma·rae mwo·hae i·mi u·rin jeong·hae·jyeo in·neun geol
Meaning: No need to say it — we're already meant to be
Words in this line- 말해ma·raesay
- 뭐해mwo·haewhat's the point
- 이미i·mialready
- 우린u·rinwe
- 정해져jeong·hae·jyeodecided
- 있는in·neunbeing
- 걸geolthing that
Word for word: Say what-for already we (the thing that's already decided)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: «말해 뭐해» is idiomatic for "what's the point of saying it" (literally "say, what are you doing"), a rhetorical "no need to say." The grammar tail «정해져 있는 걸» (것을→걸) adds a casual, fated "it's already decided" feeling no single word carries alone.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Sticker” — NCT 127. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
A line from the song with one word missing: listen, then pick the right word. Mingyu checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Mingyu about this song
Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask MingyuSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 내려가 | nae·ryeo·ga | write it down |
| 너니까 | neo·ni·kka | because it's you |
| 너만 | neo·man | only you |
| 너와 | neo·wa | you and (I) |
| 대로 | dae·ro | as |
| 말곤 | mal·gon | other than |
| 말이야 | ma·ri·ya | I'm telling you |
| 맞다면 | mat·tta·myeon | if right |
| 붙여 | bu·chyeo | stick |
| 사랑한단 | sa·rang·han·dan | that I love |
| 세게 | se·ge | firmly |
| 세상은 | se·sang·eun | the world |
| 신경 | sin·gyeong | nerves/attention |
| 아껴 | a·kkyeo | save |
| 아픈 | a·peun | hurting/troublesome |
| 역사만 | yeok·ssa·man | only (our) history |
| 작품의 | jak·pu·mui | of (my) work |
| 주인공은 | ju·in·gong·eun | the main character |
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Questions about “Sticker”
What is “Sticker” by NCT 127 about?
NCT 127's “Sticker” is a swaggering love song in which the group vow to stay stuck to the one they adore and make her the star of their story.
What does “내 옆에 너 꼭 붙어 있어봐” mean in “Sticker”?
Stay right beside me, hold on tight. '붙어 있어봐' literally 'try being stuck,' functions as a casual invitation 'stay close to me,' not a literal instruction to stick.
What does “들어 봐봐 이건 절대 입에 발린 말이 아니야” mean in “Sticker”?
Listen, this is absolutely not just sweet talk. '입에 발린 말' literally means 'words smeared onto the lips' — the Korean idiom for flattery or empty sweet talk, like the English 'lip service.' Translated…
How do you pronounce “커져 왔던 내 모든 감정들은 널 맞이하기 위한 것”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “keo·jyeo wat·tteon nae mo·deun gam·jeong·deu·reun neol ma·ji·ha·gi wi·han geot”: that's how it's actually sung by NCT 127, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Sticker” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Mingyu goes through all 77 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
- NCT 127
- 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.