THUNDER — SEVENTEEN: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync달라진 동공을 희한하다고 다 놀려대면 어때dal·la·jin dong·gong·eul hui·han·ha·da·go da nol·lyeo·dae·myeo neo·ttaeSo what if everyone teases my changed pupils as strange?Play the first verse with translationNo sign-upWhat does “THUNDER” by SEVENTEEN mean?
SEVENTEEN's “THUNDER” is about a sudden jolt of inspiration that rattles them and leaves them feeling changed. Their body and wiring go haywire, others call them strange, and they shrug it off, saying they aren't chasing fantasies. Phones keep ringing, rumors and crowds gather, and they invite everyone to let loose on a hot night, riding a tingling, electric high.
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.
달라진 동공을 희한하다고 다 놀려대면 어때Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): dal·la·jin dong·gong·eul hui·han·ha·da·go da nol·lyeo·dae·myeo neo·ttae
Meaning: So what if everyone teases my changed pupils as strange?
Words in this line- 달라진dal·la·jinchanged
- 동공을dong·gong·eulpupils
- 희한하다고hui·han·ha·da·goas strange
- 다daall
- 놀려대면nol·lyeo·dae·myeoif they tease
- 어때neo·ttaeso what
Word for word: Changed pupils-object strange-that all if-tease, how?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 어때 on its own means how is it, but after 면 in 놀려대면 어때 it means what if, so what. 희한하다 means strange or uncanny and 놀려대다 means to keep teasing. The word 다 (all) lumps every mocker into one crowd the singer brushes off.
이게 꿈이라면 그게 더 아쉬울 것만 같은데Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): i·ge kku·mi·ra·myeon geu·ge deo a·swi·ul kkeon·man ga·teun·de
Meaning: If this is a dream, that would be the bigger pity
Words in this line- 이게i·gethis
- 꿈이라면kku·mi·ra·myeonif a dream
- 그게geu·gethat
- 더deomore
- 아쉬울a·swi·ulregrettable
- 것만kkeon·manas if
- 같은데ga·teun·deit seems
Word for word: This if-dream, that more regrettable only-as-if-seems
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 꿈이라면 means if it's a dream, 아쉽다 means regrettable or wanting more, and 것만 같다 means it seems that. Together: if this turns out to be a dream, I'd feel it most keenly. The 은데 ending leaves the sentence hanging and adds a wistful sigh no single word holds.
계속 걸려 오는 전화벨 소리Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gye·sok kkeol·lyeo o·neun jeon·hwa·bel so·ri
Meaning: The phone just keeps ringing.
Words in this line- 계속gye·sokcontinuously
- 걸려kkeol·lyeoincoming
- 오는o·neuncoming
- 전화벨jeon·hwa·belphone bell
- 소리so·risound
Word for word: Continuously hung coming phone-bell sound.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 걸려 오다 in parts is 'be hung' plus 'come', but together it is the set phrase for an incoming call. 계속 means 'continuously' and 전화벨 means 'phone bell'. Together: the calls never stop.
우리는 뜬구름 운전하지 않아 걱정 마시게Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): u·ri·neun tteun·gu·reu mun·jeon·ha·ji a·na geok·jjeong ma·si·ge
Meaning: We don't chase pipe dreams, so don't you worry.
Words in this line- 우리는u·ri·neunwe
- 뜬구름tteun·gu·reufloating cloud
- 운전하지mun·jeon·ha·jidrive
- 않아a·nadon't
- 걱정geok·jjeongworry
- 마시게ma·si·gedon't (please)
Word for word: We floating-clouds do not drive, worry do not do.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: On their own 뜬구름 is a 'floating cloud' and 운전하다 is 'to drive'. Together the image says they don't steer by pipe dreams but act on a plan. 마시게 is an old-fashioned gentle 'please don't', so the line sounds like calm reassurance.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “THUNDER” — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 그때 | geu·ttae | then |
| 기분 | gi·bun | feeling |
| 날뛰어 | nal·ttwi·eo | run wild |
| 놓게 | no·ke | put (set) |
| 덤이야 | deo·mi·ya | it's a bonus |
| 따끔해요 | tta·kkeum·hae·yo | it stings |
| 떠올라 | tteo·ol·la | comes to mind |
| 뜨거우니까 | tteu·geo·u·ni·kka | because it's hot |
| 마치 | ma·chi | just like |
| 모여봐 | mo·yeo·bwa | gather |
| 밤은 | ba·meun | night |
| 번개처럼 | beon·gae·cheo·reom | like lightning |
| 번쩍 | beon·jjeok | flash |
| 보자 | bo·ja | let's try |
| 어떡해 | eo·tteo·kae | what do I do |
| 열일곱 | yeo·ril·gop | seventeen |
| 영감도 | yeong·gam·do | inspiration too |
| 찾아왔다 | cha·ja·wat·tta | came to find |
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Questions about “THUNDER”
What is “THUNDER” by SEVENTEEN about?
SEVENTEEN's “THUNDER” is about a sudden jolt of inspiration that rattles them and leaves them feeling changed.
What does “달라진 동공을 희한하다고 다 놀려대면 어때” mean in “THUNDER”?
So what if everyone teases my changed pupils as strange? 어때 on its own means how is it, but after 면 in 놀려대면 어때 it means what if, so what.
What does “이게 꿈이라면 그게 더 아쉬울 것만 같은데” mean in “THUNDER”?
If this is a dream, that would be the bigger pity. 꿈이라면 means if it's a dream, 아쉽다 means regrettable or wanting more, and 것만 같다 means it seems that.
How do you pronounce “계속 걸려 오는 전화벨 소리”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “gye·sok kkeol·lyeo o·neun jeon·hwa·bel so·ri”: that's how it's actually sung by SEVENTEEN, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “THUNDER” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Hyunwoo goes through all 39 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.