Bad Boy — Red Velvet: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync아닌 척해도 넌 ooh ooh oh-eh-oh-eh-oha·nin cheo·kae·do neon ooh ooh oh-eh-oh-eh-ohEven pretending you're not, you still give inListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
Red Velvet's “Bad Boy” follows a self-assured girl who notices an aloof, stylish guy and decides to reel him in on her own terms. She treats it as a game she never loses, teasing him with a challenge while he drifts into something like a spell and a crowd cheers her on. Playful and cocky, it ends with her win and a hint of boredom at how easily he gave in.
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.
아닌 척해도 넌 ooh ooh oh-eh-oh-eh-ohListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): a·nin cheo·kae·do neon ooh ooh oh-eh-oh-eh-oh
Meaning: Even pretending you're not, you still give in
Words in this line- 아닌a·ninnot
- 척해도cheo·kae·doeven pretending
- 넌neonyou
Word for word: Not-being pretend-even.though you ooh ooh (oh-eh-oh-eh-oh)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: -(으)ㄴ 척하다 is a fixed grammar pattern for 'act like ~': 아닌 alone just means 'not,' 척하다 alone means 'to pretend,' and 해도 adds 'even if.' The line never states what's hidden — the 'ooh ooh' carries that part.
잠깐 이리 와봐 너에게만 할 말이 있어Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jam·kkan i·ri wa·bwa neo·e·ge·man hal ma·ri i·sseo
Meaning: Wait, come here — I have something to say only to you
Words in this line- 잠깐jam·kkanwait a sec
- 이리i·rihere
- 와봐wa·bwacome (try)
- 너에게만neo·e·ge·manonly to you
- 할halto say (future)
- 말이ma·riword (subj)
- 있어i·sseothere is
Word for word: Moment here come-try to.you-only to.say word exists
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 잠깐 literally means 'a moment,' used here as 'wait a second.' 와봐 is 'come' (와) plus the softening suffix -봐 ('try coming'). 할 말이 있어 literally 'there exists a word to say' — the existential construction Koreans use for 'I have something to say,' not a direct 'I will say.'
가까이 좀 와 고갤 숙여 키를 낮춰봐Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ga·kka·i jom wa go·gael su·gyeo ki·reul nat·chwo·bwa
Meaning: Come a little closer, lower your head, make yourself shorter
Words in this line- 가까이ga·kka·icloser
- 좀joma little
- 와wacome
- 고갤go·gaelyour head
- 숙여su·gyeolower/bow
- 키를ki·reulyour height
- 낮춰봐nat·chwo·bwalower (try)
Word for word: Close a.little come head-obj lower height-obj lower-try
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 낮춰봐 literally says 'lower your height' — not about actual height, it's asking the person to crouch/lean down lower, in a flirty, whisper-in-the-ear context.
너도 알게 될 거야 (뭘까?) 알 거야 (말해)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neo·do al·ge doel kkeo·ya (mwol·kka?) al kkeo·ya (ma·rae)
Meaning: You'll find out too, you definitely will
Words in this line- 너도neo·doyou too
- 알게al·gecome to know
- 될doelwill become
- 거야kkeo·ya[will be]
- (뭘까?)(mwol·kka?)what could it be?
- 알alknow
- 거야kkeo·ya[will be]
- (말해)(ma·rae)tell (me)
Word for word: You-too come.to.know-will (what-ka?) will.know (say)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 알게 되다 literally means 'to become (such that) you know' — knowledge as a gradual change of state, not a single act of finding out. The bracketed bits are quick interjected questions, as if someone cuts in, making the line read like a back-and-forth exchange rather than one voice.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Bad Boy” — Red Velvet. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 같아 | ga·ta | is the same |
| 거기서 | geo·gi·seo | there |
| 거봐 | geo·bwa | see/look |
| 내기를 | nae·gi·reul | a bet |
| 당겨볼까 | dang·gyeo·bol·kka | shall we pull |
| 따라와 | tta·ra·wa | follow me |
| 맞아 | ma·ja | that's right! |
| 모두 | mo·du | everyone |
| 밀고 | mil·go | pushing |
| 쉽겐 | swip·kken | so easily |
| 시작할게 | si·ja·kal·kke | I'll start |
| 신경 | sin·gyeong | care |
| 오지 | o·ji | come |
| 이미 | i·mi | already |
| 재미없잖아 | jae·mi·eop·jja·na | it's no fun |
| 해볼까 | hae·bol·kka | shall we try |
| 홀린 | hol·lin | entranced |
| 환호해 | hwan·ho·hae | cheer |
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Questions about “Bad Boy”
What is “Bad Boy” by Red Velvet about?
Red Velvet's “Bad Boy” follows a self-assured girl who notices an aloof, stylish guy and decides to reel him in on her own terms.
What does “아닌 척해도 넌 ooh ooh oh-eh-oh-eh-oh” mean in “Bad Boy”?
Even pretending you're not, you still give in. -(으)ㄴ 척하다 is a fixed grammar pattern for 'act like ~': 아닌 alone just means 'not,' 척하다 alone means 'to pretend,' and 해도 adds 'even if.' The line never states…
What does “잠깐 이리 와봐 너에게만 할 말이 있어” mean in “Bad Boy”?
Wait, come here — I have something to say only to you. 잠깐 literally means 'a moment,' used here as 'wait a second.' 와봐 is 'come' (와) plus the softening suffix -봐 ('try coming').
How do you pronounce “가까이 좀 와 고갤 숙여 키를 낮춰봐”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “ga·kka·i jom wa go·gael su·gyeo ki·reul nat·chwo·bwa”: that's how it's actually sung by Red Velvet, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Bad Boy” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Haein goes through all 60 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
- Red Velvet
- 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.