BTTF — NCT DREAM: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync시간을 시간을 뚫어내 난 왔어si·ga·neul si·ga·neul ttu·reo·nae na nwa·sseoI broke through time, through time, and I'm herePlay the first verse with translationNo sign-upWhat does “BTTF” by NCT DREAM mean?
NCT DREAM's “BTTF” is a time-travel adventure in which they tear through time and claim the present moment as the future. An alarm, a lightning spark and jumbled space-time land them somewhere unimaginable, yet they hold the scales of time in their hands, sure that nothing will change who they are. The title is short for a time-travel phrase, and the mood is bold and playful.
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.
시간을 시간을 뚫어내 난 왔어Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): si·ga·neul si·ga·neul ttu·reo·nae na nwa·sseo
Meaning: I broke through time, through time, and I'm here
Words in this line- 시간을si·ga·neultime
- 시간을si·ga·neultime
- 뚫어내ttu·reo·naepierce through
- 난naI
- 왔어nwa·sseocame
오래된? 아니, 맨 처음 느낀 듯한 moment ah yeahListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): o·rae·doen? a·ni, maen cheo·eum neu·kkin deu·tan moment ah yeah
Meaning: Old? No, a moment that feels like the very first (ah, yeah)
Words in this line- 오래된?o·rae·doen?old
- 아니,a·ni,no
- 맨maenvery
- 처음cheo·eumfirst time
- 느낀neu·kkinfelt
- 듯한deu·tanas if
느낀 (felt) + 듯한 (like) together mean 'as if felt', a soft hedge.
짜릿해, 내 손에 달린 먼 시간의 저울Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jja·ri·tae, nae so·ne dal·lin meon si·ga·nui jeo·ul
Meaning: Thrilling, the scales of distant time are in my hands
Words in this line- 짜릿해,jja·ri·tae,thrilling
- 내naemy
- 손에so·nein hand
- 달린dal·linhanging on
- 먼meondistant
- 시간의si·ga·nuiof time
- 저울jeo·ulscale
짜릿해 describes an electric shiver of excitement and thrill at once. 저울 is a scale: whoever holds it decides which way time tips.
Turn it back, 그리고 우리 마주하게 될 때Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): Turn it back, geu·ri·go u·ri ma·ju·ha·ge doel ttae
Meaning: Turn it back, and when we face each other
Words in this line- 그리고geu·ri·goand then
- 우리u·riwe
- 마주하게ma·ju·ha·gecome face to face
- 될doelwill come to
- 때ttaetime when
Lyrics © their rights holders. “BTTF” — NCT DREAM. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가진 | ga·jin | having |
| 거라고 | geo·ra·go | that it will be |
| 걱정하지 | geok·jjeong·ha·ji | worry |
| 건지 | geon·ji | whether |
| 걸어볼까 | geo·reo·bol·kka | shall I try |
| 경고음 | gyeong·go·eum | warning sound |
| 귓속을 | gwit·sso·geul | inside the ear |
| 기억의 | gi·eo·gui | of memory |
| 나야 | na·ya | it's me |
| 낯설지 | nat·sseol·ji | unfamiliar |
| 바로 | ba·ro | exactly |
| 빛나는 | bin·na·neun | shining |
| 새겼지 | sae·gyeot·jji | carved, right |
| 서다 | seo·da | to stand |
| 순간에 | sun·ga·ne | in the moment |
| 시간 | si·gan | time |
| 이름을 | i·reu·meul | name |
| 지금이 | ji·geu·mi | now |
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Questions about “BTTF”
What is “BTTF” by NCT DREAM about?
NCT DREAM's “BTTF” is a time-travel adventure in which they tear through time and claim the present moment as the future.
What does “시간을 시간을 뚫어내 난 왔어” mean in “BTTF”?
I broke through time, through time, and I'm here.
What does “오래된? 아니, 맨 처음 느낀 듯한 moment ah yeah” mean in “BTTF”?
Old? No, a moment that feels like the very first (ah, yeah).
How do you pronounce “짜릿해, 내 손에 달린 먼 시간의 저울”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “jja·ri·tae, nae so·ne dal·lin meon si·ga·nui jeo·ul”: that's how it's actually sung by NCT DREAM, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “BTTF” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Eunsu goes through all 66 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 DREAM
- 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.