Ready to love — SEVENTEEN: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync우리 사이란 친구로는 모자라 난 (can we?)u·ri sa·i·ran chin·gu·ro·neun mo·ja·ra nan kan we·eBeing just friends isn't enough for me (can we?)Play the first verse with translationNo sign-upWhat does “Ready to love” by SEVENTEEN mean?
SEVENTEEN's “Ready to love” is about someone who feels ready to move past friendship and asks the person he loves to stay with him. His heart beats faster than ever, and she becomes his escape and his purpose. Together they imagine running hand in hand away from the world, with feelings that grow as the days pile up and no wish to waste any more time.
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.
우리 사이란 친구로는 모자라 난 (can we?)Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): u·ri sa·i·ran chin·gu·ro·neun mo·ja·ra nan kan we·e
Meaning: Being just friends isn't enough for me (can we?)
Words in this line- 우리u·riwe
- 사이란sa·i·ranrelationship
- 친구로는chin·gu·ro·neunas friends
- 모자라mo·ja·rais lacking
- 난nanI
Word for word: Our relationship as-friends-at-least is lacking I (can we?)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 사이 on its own means 'gap, space between', and with 'we' it means 'the relationship between us'. 모자라다 means 'to be short of', so friendship is 'not enough'. The particle -는 in 친구로는 adds contrast: as friends it's too little, so something more is wanted.
세상의 반대로 run away, 내 손을 잡아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): se·sang·ui ban·dae·ro run away, nae so·neul ja·ba
Meaning: Run away against the whole world, take my hand.
Words in this line- 세상의se·sang·uiof the world
- 반대로ban·dae·roagainst
- 내naemy
- 손을so·neulhand
- 잡아ja·bahold
Word for word: World's opposite-as run away, my hand hold.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 반대로 literally means 'in the opposite way', but here it means 'in defiance'. 세상의 반대로 is 'against the whole world'. 잡아 means 'grab, hold', so 'hold my hand' is an invitation to run together.
숨이 차오를 듯이 내 맘 가득 채울 수 있게 그럴 수 있게Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): su·mi cha·o·reul tteu·si nae mam ga·deuk chae·ul ssu it·kke geu·reol ssu it·kke
Meaning: So I can fill my heart to the brim, as if my breath were swelling up
Words in this line- 숨이su·mibreath
- 차오를cha·o·reulwill swell
- 듯이tteu·sias if
- 내naemy
- 맘mamheart
- 가득ga·deukfull
- 채울chae·ulto fill
- 수ssuability
- 있게it·kkeso that there is
- 그럴geu·reolthat kind
- 수ssuability
- 있게it·kkeso that there is
Word for word: Breath will fill up as-if my heart fully fill ability so-there-is (that ability so-there-is)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 숨 alone means 'breath' and 차오르다 means 'to rise and fill', but together they evoke a feeling so full it takes your breath away. 맘 is the casual word for 'heart', not just 'mind'. The tail 수 있게 literally says 'so that there is ability', which in natural English is simply 'so I can'.
내 눈이 널 보는 순간 다 알고 있어Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nae nu·ni neol bo·neun sun·gan da al·go i·sseo
Meaning: The moment my eyes look at you, I know everything
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 눈이nu·nieyes
- 널neolyou
- 보는bo·neunlooking
- 순간sun·ganmoment
- 다daeverything
- 알고al·goknow
- 있어i·sseoam (doing)
Word for word: My eyes you looking moment all knowing am
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 알고 있어 splits into 'knowing, am', but together it simply means 'I know, I understand'. 다 means 'all' and 순간 means 'moment', and the combination carries the feel of 'one glance is enough'. The Korean 'you-looking moment' turns into the English clause 'the moment my eyes look at you'.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Ready to love” — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 갈수록 | gal·ssu·rok | the more it goes |
| 감정도 | gam·jeong·do | feelings too |
| 곁에 | gyeo·te | beside |
| 기분을 | gi·bu·neul | mood |
| 내게 | nae·ge | to me |
| 너만 | neo·man | only you |
| 느낀 | neu·kkin | felt |
| 달릴게 | dal·lil·kke | I'll run |
| 대답을 | dae·da·beul | answer |
| 말해 | ma·rae | speak |
| 맘을 | ma·meul | heart |
| 몰랐어 | mol·la·sseo | didn't know |
| 믿어 | mi·deo | trust |
| 빠른 | ppa·reun | fast |
| 속도가 | sok·tto·ga | speed |
| 심장의 | sim·jang·ui | of heart |
| 이리 | i·ri | this |
| 처음 | cheo·eum | first time |
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Questions about “Ready to love”
What is “Ready to love” by SEVENTEEN about?
SEVENTEEN's “Ready to love” is about someone who feels ready to move past friendship and asks the person he loves to stay with him.
What does “우리 사이란 친구로는 모자라 난 (can we?)” mean in “Ready to love”?
Being just friends isn't enough for me (can we?). 사이 on its own means 'gap, space between', and with 'we' it means 'the relationship between us'.
What does “세상의 반대로 run away, 내 손을 잡아” mean in “Ready to love”?
Run away against the whole world, take my hand. 반대로 literally means 'in the opposite way', but here it means 'in defiance'.
How do you pronounce “숨이 차오를 듯이 내 맘 가득 채울 수 있게 그럴 수 있게”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “su·mi cha·o·reul tteu·si nae mam ga·deuk chae·ul ssu it·kke geu·reol ssu it·kke”: that's how it's actually sung by SEVENTEEN, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Ready to love” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Taejun goes through all 43 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
- SEVENTEEN
- 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.