Attention — NewJeans: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in syncYou see 여기 보이니You see yeo·gi bo·i·niYou see? Can you see here?Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
NewJeans' “Attention” is about a girl with a crush who wants the one she likes to finally notice her. She gathers her courage, plans to bump into him as if by accident, and hopes he'll turn and look back. Her fluttering heart and her wish never to wake from this dreamy feeling give the song a shy but determined, playful glow.
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.
You see 여기 보이니Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): You see yeo·gi bo·i·ni
Meaning: You see? Can you see here?
Words in this line- 여기yeo·gihere
- 보이니bo·i·nivisible
Word for word: you see here visible
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version drops the question ending built into 보이니 (can you see / is it visible, with -니 marking a question), so "visible" reads like a flat label instead of an actual question. It means the singer is asking whether the other person notices something right here. Key word: 보이니 (can you see?, -니 = casual question ending).
가끔은 정말 헷갈리지만 분명한 건Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ga·kkeu·meun jeong·mal het·kkal·li·ji·man bun·myeong·han geon
Meaning: Sometimes I'm really confused, but one thing is clear
Words in this line- 가끔은ga·kkeu·meunsometimes
- 정말jeong·malreally
- 헷갈리지만het·kkal·li·ji·manconfused
- 분명한bun·myeong·hanclear
- 건geonis
Word for word: sometimes really confused clear is
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version drops the subject and tacks the verb ending onto "확실한 건" oddly because Korean marks "but" and topic with endings/particles rather than separate words. It means despite confusion, one thing stays clear. 헷갈리다 means to be confused, and 분명한 건 means "the clear thing is."
널 우연히 마주친 척할래 못 본 척 지나갈래Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neol u·yeon·hi ma·ju·chin cheo·kal·lae mot bon cheok ji·na·gal·lae
Meaning: I'll pretend to run into you by chance, and pretend not to see you as I walk by
Words in this line- 널neolyou
- 우연히u·yeon·hiby chance
- 마주친ma·ju·chinrun into
- 척할래cheo·kal·laepretend to
- 못motnot
- 본bonseen
- 척cheokpretend
- 지나갈래ji·na·gal·laepass by
Word for word: you by chance run into pretend to not seen pretend pass by
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version strings two mirrored "pretend to..." clauses without pronouns or connectors, which Korean handles via parallel verb endings (-ㄹ래). It describes putting on a casual front: acting surprised to see them, then acting like you didn't notice. 우연히 means "by chance" and 못 본 척 means "pretending not to have seen."
난 사탕을 찾는 baby (baby), 내 맘은 설레이지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nan sa·tang·eul chan·neun baby (baby), nae ma·meun seol·le·i·ji
Meaning: I'm like a baby looking for candy, my heart flutters
Words in this line- 난nanI
- 사탕을sa·tang·eulcandy
- 찾는chan·neunlooking for
- 내naemy
- 맘은ma·meunheart
- 설레이지seol·le·i·jiflutters
Word for word: I candy looking for baby baby my heart flutters
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version transplants Korean's object-first order ("candy looking-for baby") straight into English, which just isn't how English sentences build. It compares the speaker's eager, fluttering feeling to a baby searching for candy. 설레이다 means to flutter with excitement, and 찾는 means "looking for."
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Attention” — NewJeans. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 가까이 | ga·kka·i | closer |
| 걸어가 | geo·reo·ga | walk |
| 고개를 | go·gae·reul | head |
| 깨워주지 | kkae·wo·ju·ji | wake |
| 꿈에서 | kku·me·seo | from the dream |
| 나로 | na·ro | with me |
| 나와 | na·wa | come out |
| 내맘은 | nae·ma·meun | my heart |
| 너야겠어 | neo·ya·ge·sseo | it has to be you |
| 네눈치 | ne·nun·chi | your gaze |
| 다가가 | da·ga·ga | I come |
| 돌려 | dol·lyeo | turn |
| 돌아서면 | do·ra·seo·myeon | if (you) turn away |
| 들켰었나 | deul·kyeo·sseon·na | was exposed |
| 만들겠어 | man·deul·ge·sseo | make |
| 보면 | bo·myeon | when (I) see |
| 아는 | a·neun | know |
| 온통 | on·tong | all |
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Questions about “Attention”
What is “Attention” by NewJeans about?
NewJeans' “Attention” is about a girl with a crush who wants the one she likes to finally notice her.
What does “You see 여기 보이니” mean in “Attention”?
You see? Can you see here? The literal version drops the question ending built into 보이니 (can you see / is it visible, with -니 marking a question), so "visible" reads like a flat label…
What does “가끔은 정말 헷갈리지만 분명한 건” mean in “Attention”?
Sometimes I'm really confused, but one thing is clear. The literal version drops the subject and tacks the verb ending onto "확실한 건" oddly because Korean marks "but" and topic with endings/particles rather than…
How do you pronounce “널 우연히 마주친 척할래 못 본 척 지나갈래”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “neol u·yeon·hi ma·ju·chin cheo·kal·lae mot bon cheok ji·na·gal·lae”: that's how it's actually sung by NewJeans, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Attention” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Chaea goes through all 47 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
- NewJeans
- Official video
- HYBE LABELS · 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.