After You — Stray Kids: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync멈출 수 없어meom·chul ssu eop·sseoI can't stopListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
Stray Kids’ “After You” is about a chance meeting that leaves them breathless and sleepless, and changes how the world looks. Clumsy first words, a heart racing like at nineteen and sparks that fly like in a comic leave them frozen in place. Where days once blurred into one dark routine, they now chase this person down every road, ready to dive into those ocean-deep eyes to get close.
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.
멈출 수 없어Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): meom·chul ssu eop·sseo
Meaning: I can't stop
Words in this line- 멈출meom·chulto stop
- 수ssuway/ability
- 없어eop·sseothere isn't
Word for word: To stop way is-not.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 멈출 is 'to stop', 수 is 'a way', and 없어 is 'there is none'. The set pattern '-ㄹ 수 없다' turns 'no way to stop' into the natural 'I can't stop'.
원해 너의 걸음의 방향이 나와 같기를Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): won·hae neo·ui geo·reu·mui bang·hyang·i na·wa gat·kki·reul
Meaning: I want your steps to head the same way as mine
Words in this line- 원해won·haeI want
- 너의neo·uiyour
- 걸음의geo·reu·muiof steps
- 방향이bang·hyang·idirection
- 나와na·wawith me
- 같기를gat·kki·reulto be the same
같다 means 'to be the same', and the ending '-기를' adds a wish: 'may it be so'. Together: 'I hope it is the same'.
서툰 내 첫마디는 멋없이 어색해Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): seo·tun nae cheon·ma·di·neun meo·deop·ssi eo·sae·kae
Meaning: My clumsy first words come out awkward and uncool
Words in this line- 서툰seo·tunclumsy
- 내naemy
- 첫마디는cheon·ma·di·neunfirst word
- 멋없이meo·deop·ssiuncoolly
- 어색해eo·sae·kaeawkward
Word for word: Clumsy my first word without-coolness awkward.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 서툰 means unskilled, 첫마디 is 'first word', 멋없이 is 'without style', and 어색해 is 'awkward'. 멋없이 literally lacks 'cool', but it says the speaker sounds uncool and stiff. Together it paints nervous embarrassment at a first conversation.
좀 더 뛰게 해줘 nineteen 때처럼Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jom deo ttwi·ge hae·jwo nineteen ttae·cheo·reom
Meaning: Make my heart race harder, like when I was nineteen
Words in this line- 좀joma bit
- 더deomore
- 뛰게ttwi·geto race
- 해줘hae·jwomake (for me)
- 때처럼ttae·cheo·reomlike the time
뛰다 means 'to run/jump' and also 'to pound' for a heart. 뛰게 해줘 is 'make it pound'.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “After You” — Stray Kids. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가자고 | ga·ja·go | let's go on |
| 감정들이 | gam·jeong·deu·ri | feelings |
| 구르는구나 | gu·reu·neun·gu·na | I'm stamping, I realize |
| 눈과 | nun·gwa | eye and |
| 눈치의 | nun·chi·ui | of tact-reading |
| 달라 | dal·la | is different |
| 마주치지 | ma·ju·chi·ji | meet |
| 만들어 | man·deu·reo | making |
| 만화처럼 | man·hwa·cheo·reom | like a comic |
| 매일 | mae·il | every day |
| 머릿속의 | meo·rit·sso·gui | in the mind |
| 발만 | bal·man | only feet |
| 불같은 | bul·ga·teun | fiery |
| 사이 | sa·i | between |
| 속에 | so·ge | inside |
| 싸움 | ssa·um | fight |
| 어떤 | eo·tteon | any |
| 와도 | wa·do | even when it comes |
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Questions about “After You”
What is “After You” by Stray Kids about?
Stray Kids’ “After You” is about a chance meeting that leaves them breathless and sleepless, and changes how the world looks.
What does “멈출 수 없어” mean in “After You”?
I can't stop. 멈출 is 'to stop', 수 is 'a way', and 없어 is 'there is none'.
What does “서툰 내 첫마디는 멋없이 어색해” mean in “After You”?
My clumsy first words come out awkward and uncool. 서툰 means unskilled, 첫마디 is 'first word', 멋없이 is 'without style', and 어색해 is 'awkward'.
How do you pronounce “원해 너의 걸음의 방향이 나와 같기를”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “won·hae neo·ui geo·reu·mui bang·hyang·i na·wa gat·kki·reul”: that's how it's actually sung by Stray Kids, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “After You” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Hyunwoo goes through all 47 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
- Stray Kids
- Official video
- Stray Kids · 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.