Sticky — NCT WISH: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
What does “Sticky” by NCT WISH mean?
NCT WISH’s “Sticky” is a sweet, feverish tropical love song about wanting to cling to someone with no space left between them. Mango flavors, a sweltering island, flushed ears and sweaty palms show how dizzy the attraction is, while sleepless tropical nights and a thick dream of the loved one keep them restless.
What the song is about
They call the pair an odd but fitting mix, and the mood stays playful and high.
NCT WISH performs at 2026 MAMA
Fri, Nov 20 · 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.
후끈해 목이 타는 이 감정Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): hu·kkeun·hae mo·gi ta·neun i gam·jeong
Meaning: This feeling is burning hot and leaves my throat parched.
Words in this line- 후끈해hu·kkeun·haeit's hot
- 목이mo·githroat
- 타는ta·neunburning
- 이ithis
- 감정gam·jeongfeeling
Word for word: Hot, throat burning this feeling.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 목 means 'throat' and 타다 means 'to burn', but 목이 타다 together means 'to be parched with thirst'. Here it is a thirst for closeness and love, not water.
빨개진 귓불까지 감출 수는 없는걸Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ppal·gae·jin gwit·ppul·kka·ji gam·chul ssu·neu neom·neun·geol
Meaning: I can't even hide my reddened earlobes.
Words in this line- 빨개진ppal·gae·jinreddened
- 귓불까지gwit·ppul·kka·jieven earlobes
- 감출gam·chulto hide
- 수는ssu·neuway
- 없는걸neom·neun·geolthere isn't
Word for word: Reddened even earlobes to hide way not-there you know.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 수가 없다 literally 'there is no way' simply means 'it's impossible'. The tail -는걸 adds a shy, admitting tone, like 'what can I do'. Red earlobes give away embarrassment and a crush.
너란 진득한 꿈 깨기는 무리Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neo·ran jin·deu·kan kkum kkae·gi·neun mu·ri
Meaning: A thick, sticky dream called you — impossible to wake from
Words in this line- 너란neo·rancalled you
- 진득한jin·deu·kansticky
- 꿈kkumdream
- 깨기는kkae·gi·neunwaking up
- 무리mu·ritoo much
무리 means 'too much, unreasonable'; 깨기는 무리 = 'waking up is out of the question'.
이건 Dessert 따위 아닌 진짜Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): i·geon Dessert tta·wi a·nin jin·jja
Meaning: This isn't some mere dessert, it's the real thing
Words in this line- 이건i·geonthis
- 따위tta·withe likes of
- 아닌a·ninnot being
- 진짜jin·jjathe real thing
따위 is a dismissive 'and the like / something like', and 진짜 means 'real'. Together: 'not some dessert thing, but the real deal'.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Sticky” — NCT WISH. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Song facts
- Lines
- 92
- Key lines explained
- 4
- Words explained
- 18
- Length
- 3:29
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 곁에선 | gyeo·te·seon | beside |
| 내린 | nae·rin | descended |
| 눈앞은 | nu·na·peun | before my eyes |
| 느낌 | neu·kkim | feeling |
| 달콤한 | dal·kom·han | sweet |
| 떨어져 | tteo·reo·jeo | drips |
| 마치 | ma·chi | just like |
| 망고 | mang·go | mango |
| 무더운 | mu·deo·un | sweltering |
| 상큼하고 | sang·keum·ha·go | fresh and |
| 샛노랑 | saen·no·rang | bright yellow |
| 섬에 | seo·me | on the island |
| 손에 | so·ne | in hand |
| 아찔한 | a·jji·ran | dizzying |
| 열이 | yeo·ri | fever |
| 이끌림 | i·kkeul·lim | attraction |
| 쥐는 | jwi·neun | grasping |
| 질척거려 | jil·cheok·kkeo·ryeo | cling |
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Questions about “Sticky”
What is “Sticky” by NCT WISH about?
NCT WISH’s “Sticky” is a sweet, feverish tropical love song about wanting to cling to someone with no space left between them. Mango flavors, a sweltering island, flushed ears and sweaty palms show how dizzy the attraction is, while sleepless tropical nights and a thick dream of the loved one keep them restless. They call the pair an odd but fitting mix, and the mood stays playful and high.
What does “후끈해 목이 타는 이 감정” mean in “Sticky”?
In “Sticky” by NCT WISH, “후끈해 목이 타는 이 감정” means: This feeling is burning hot and leaves my throat parched. 목 means 'throat' and 타다 means 'to burn', but 목이 타다 together means 'to be parched with thirst'. Here it is a thirst for closeness and love, not water.
What does “빨개진 귓불까지 감출 수는 없는걸” mean in “Sticky”?
In “Sticky” by NCT WISH, “빨개진 귓불까지 감출 수는 없는걸” means: I can't even hide my reddened earlobes. 수가 없다 literally 'there is no way' simply means 'it's impossible'. The tail -는걸 adds a shy, admitting tone, like 'what can I do'. Red earlobes give away embarrassment and a crush.
How do you pronounce “너란 진득한 꿈 깨기는 무리”?
“너란 진득한 꿈 깨기는 무리” from “Sticky” by NCT WISH is romanized as “neoran jindeukan kkum kkaegineun muri”: that is how it is actually sung, sound changes included, not the textbook spelling.
Where can I see every line of “Sticky” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Hyunwoo goes through all 92 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 ↗
How we make these breakdowns
theIDOL builds every breakdown with AI assistance and automated checks, and publishes a page only after it passes them. An AI model writes the meaning of each line and the word-by-word glosses from the song's timed lyrics. The pronunciation comes from our own rule-based Korean transcriber, which spells how the words sound when sung, sound changes included, not a letter-by-letter romanization. Pages that fail the audio-sync or translation checks are not published, and we quote only a few key lines. If you spot a mistake, write to support@theidol.ai and we will fix it.
Credits and sources
- Artist
- NCT WISH
- 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.