Russian Roulette — Red Velvet: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync피해 가려고만 하니 왜pi·hae ga·ryeo·go·man ha·ni waeWhy do you only try to avoid it?Play the first verse with translationNo sign-upWhat does “Russian Roulette” by Red Velvet mean?
Red Velvet's “Russian Roulette” is about a girl playing a sweet, risky game of love with someone who treats romance lightly. Her own heart races in a dark, secretive night as that person keeps drifting closer and dodging serious talk, yet she holds the button and the key, sure they will end up in her hands. It feels flirty, dizzy and a little dangerous.
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.
피해 가려고만 하니 왜Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): pi·hae ga·ryeo·go·man ha·ni wae
Meaning: Why do you only try to avoid it?
Words in this line- 피해pi·haeavoiding
- 가려고만ga·ryeo·go·manonly trying to go
- 하니ha·nido you
- 왜waewhy
Word for word: Avoiding go-trying-only do-you why
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 피하다 means to avoid, 가다 means to go, and 려고 means trying to, so 피해 가다 together means to sidestep. The particle 만 (only) sharpens the accusation: all you ever do is dodge. The 하니 왜 form is a challenge rather than a neutral why.
꿈꿀 때조차 나를 찾게 돼Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): kkum·kkul ttae·jo·cha na·reul chat·kke dwae
Meaning: Even in your dreams, you'll end up looking for me
Words in this line- 꿈꿀kkum·kkuldreaming
- 때조차ttae·jo·chaeven when
- 나를na·reulme
- 찾게chat·kketo look for
- 돼dwaecome to be
Word for word: Dreaming even-when me to-look-for becomes.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 꿈꿀 때 is literally when dreaming, and 조차 adds even. 찾게 돼 reads as looking-for becomes, but -게 되다 means you end up doing it without choosing. The sense is that the pull toward me is stronger than your will.
아찔하게 겨눈 Russian RouletteListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): a·jji·ra·ge gyeo·nun Russian Roulette
Meaning: A dizzyingly aimed Russian Roulette
Words in this line- 아찔하게a·jji·ra·gedizzyingly
- 겨눈gyeo·nunaimed
Word for word: Dizzyingly aimed Russian Roulette
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 아찔하다 on its own means 'to feel dizzy', but in songs it also carries 'thrillingly scary'. 겨누다 means 'to aim', usually a weapon. Together with roulette it paints love as a dangerous game where you are already in the crosshairs.
이토록 깊은 꿈이 넌 처음일걸Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): i·to·rok kki·peun kku·mi neon cheo·eu·mil·kkeol
Meaning: You've probably never had a dream this deep
Words in this line- 이토록i·to·rokthis much
- 깊은kki·peundeep
- 꿈이kku·midream
- 넌neonyou
- 처음일걸cheo·eu·mil·kkeolfirst time, I bet
Word for word: This-much deep dream you first-time probably-is.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 이토록 (this much) and 깊은 (deep) merely describe depth, and 처음 is just "first time". The ending -일걸 adds a slightly smug guess, "I bet it is". That tail is why the literal version sounds clumsy while the real line is a teasing remark.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Russian Roulette” — Red Velvet. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask RenaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가벼움일 | ga·byeo·u·mil | lightness (is) |
| 거려 | geo·ryeo | thumps |
| 거야 | geo·ya | it will be |
| 겨눠 | gyeo·nwo | aim |
| 그림자조차 | geu·rim·ja·jo·cha | even the shadow |
| 길을 | gi·reul | the way |
| 날카로운 | nal·ka·ro·un | sharp |
| 남은 | na·meun | remaining |
| 내게 | nae·ge | to me |
| 다가오지 | da·ga·o·ji | come closer |
| 달콤한 | dal·kom·han | sweet |
| 마지막 | ma·ji·mak | last |
| 맡기게 | mat·kki·ge | entrust |
| 빨라지는데 | ppal·la·ji·neun·de | getting faster, but |
| 순간까지 | sun·gan·kka·ji | until the moment |
| 온통 | on·tong | entirely |
| 이미 | i·mi | already |
| 커지는 | keo·ji·neun | growing |
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Questions about “Russian Roulette”
What is “Russian Roulette” by Red Velvet about?
Red Velvet's “Russian Roulette” is about a girl playing a sweet, risky game of love with someone who treats romance lightly.
What does “피해 가려고만 하니 왜” mean in “Russian Roulette”?
Why do you only try to avoid it? 피하다 means to avoid, 가다 means to go, and 려고 means trying to, so 피해 가다 together means to sidestep.
What does “꿈꿀 때조차 나를 찾게 돼” mean in “Russian Roulette”?
Even in your dreams, you'll end up looking for me. 꿈꿀 때 is literally when dreaming, and 조차 adds even.
How do you pronounce “아찔하게 겨눈 Russian Roulette”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “a·jji·ra·ge gyeo·nun Russian Roulette”: that's how it's actually sung by Red Velvet, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Russian Roulette” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena goes through all 70 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.