Don't Wanna Cry — SEVENTEEN: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync울고 싶지 않아ul·go sip·jji a·naI don't want to cry.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
SEVENTEEN's “Don't Wanna Cry” is about losing the person who mattered most and fighting back tears while searching for them. The singer walks a once-familiar road that now feels strange, sure the loved one is close and about to appear, while tears blur everything. Pretending to be fine and saying things they don't mean, they admit the heart won't obey the head, feeling half empty alone; the song stays raw and pleading, hoping for a reunion.
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.
울고 싶지 않아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ul·go sip·jji a·na
Meaning: I don't want to cry.
Words in this line- 울고ul·gocry
- 싶지sip·jjiwant
- 않아a·nanot
Word for word: Cry not want.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: A simple negation of desire. A refrain repeated to emphasize the speaker's determination to hold back emotion.
너 하나만 아끼던 날 두고서 어디 간 거니Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): neo ha·na·man a·kki·deon nal du·go·seo eo·di gan geo·ni
Meaning: You, the only one I cherished—where did you go?
Words in this line- 너neoyou
- 하나만ha·na·manonly one
- 아끼던a·kki·deoncherish
- 날nalme
- 두고서du·go·seoleave
- 어디eo·diwhere
- 간gango
- 거니geo·niquestion
Word for word: You one-only cherish-was I leave-and where go thing?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '너 하나만 아끼던 날' literally 'me who cherished only you alone' — emphasizes the exclusivity of love. '두고서' (left) and '간 거니' (where did you go) create contrast between the speaker's devotion and the beloved's departure.
낯설지 않은 길 이 길이 낯설다Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nat·sseol·ji a·neun gil i gi·ri nat·sseol·da
Meaning: A familiar path, yet this path feels unfamiliar.
Words in this line- 낯설지nat·sseol·jiunfamiliar
- 않은a·neunnot
- 길gilpath
- 이ithis
- 길이gi·ripath
- 낯설다nat·sseol·daunfamiliar
Word for word: Unfamiliar not path, this path unfamiliar.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '낯설지 않은 길' literally means 'not unfamiliar path,' but contextually it's a paradox: the path is known yet feels alien. '이 길이 낯설다' repeats and confirms this contradiction. It's a metaphor for losing one's bearings in life.
절반이 없는데 어떻게 하나로 살아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jeol·ba·ni eom·neun·de eo·tteo·ke ha·na·ro sa·ra
Meaning: How can I live when half is missing?
Words in this line- 절반이jeol·ba·nihalf
- 없는데eom·neun·deis missing
- 어떻게eo·tteo·kehow
- 하나로ha·na·roas one
- 살아sa·ralive
Word for word: Half does not exist, how do I as one whole live?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The phrase 절반이 없는데 (half is missing) metaphorically means the loss of a loved one. 하나로 살아 (live as one whole) implies that without this person, life is impossible—they were one complete unit.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Don't Wanna Cry” — SEVENTEEN. 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 | seem |
| 거기 | geo·gi | there |
| 거짓말이라도 | geo·jin·ma·ri·ra·do | even lies |
| 기다리다 | gi·da·ri·da | wait |
| 나타날 | na·ta·nal | appear |
| 눈물은 | nun·mu·reun | tears |
| 돌아와 | do·ra·wa | come back |
| 듣지 | deut·jji | listen |
| 마냥 | ma·nyang | just |
| 많지만 | man·chi·man | many, but |
| 말들로 | mal·deul·lo | words |
| 말을 | ma·reul | word |
| 맘에 | ma·me | in heart |
| 맘이 | ma·mi | heart |
| 보고 | bo·go | see |
| 생각처럼 | saeng·gak·cheo·reom | like I think |
| 찾아가야 | cha·ja·ga·ya | find and go |
| 해야 | hae·ya | have to |
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Questions about “Don't Wanna Cry”
What is “Don't Wanna Cry” by SEVENTEEN about?
SEVENTEEN's “Don't Wanna Cry” is about losing the person who mattered most and fighting back tears while searching for them.
What does “울고 싶지 않아” mean in “Don't Wanna Cry”?
I don't want to cry. A simple negation of desire.
What does “너 하나만 아끼던 날 두고서 어디 간 거니” mean in “Don't Wanna Cry”?
You, the only one I cherished—where did you go? '너 하나만 아끼던 날' literally 'me who cherished only you alone' — emphasizes the exclusivity of love.
How do you pronounce “낯설지 않은 길 이 길이 낯설다”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “nat·sseol·ji a·neun gil i gi·ri nat·sseol·da”: that's how it's actually sung by SEVENTEEN, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Don't Wanna Cry” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Jaemin goes through all 42 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
- SEVENTEEN
- Official video
- SEVENTEEN · 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.