CEREMONY — Stray Kids: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync경험치는 수많은 trophygyeong·heom·chi·neun su·ma·neun trophyMy experience points are loads of trophiesListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
Stray Kids' “CEREMONY” is a victory-lap song about a group celebrating their success after doubt and unfair criticism. They picture trophies, a bridal bouquet, a ring and an acceptance speech, and treat the bashing as a run-up that launched them higher. Left in a desert at the start, they now stand in the spotlight, busy and a little dazed, yet cheerful and unbothered.
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.
경험치는 수많은 trophyListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gyeong·heom·chi·neun su·ma·neun trophy
Meaning: My experience points are loads of trophies
Words in this line- 경험치는gyeong·heom·chi·neunexperience points
- 수많은su·ma·neuncountless
경험치 is game-style 'XP', framing life as levelling up a character.
받아 내 상 마치 부케Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ba·da nae sang ma·chi bu·ke
Meaning: Take my prize like a bridal bouquet
Words in this line- 받아ba·dareceive
- 내naemy
- 상sangaward
- 마치ma·chijust like
- 부케bu·kebouquet
상 is 'award' and 부케 is a bridal bouquet: receiving the prize is pictured as catching the wedding bouquet.
봐라 내 두 손은 두둑해Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): bwa·ra nae du so·neun du·du·kae
Meaning: Look, my hands are full
Words in this line- 봐라bwa·ralook
- 내naemy
- 두dutwo
- 손은so·neunhands
- 두둑해du·du·kaestuffed full
두둑하다 means 'plump, stuffed': hands full of prizes or money.
바쁠 때 눈코 뜰 새가 없대 but that's okayListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ba·ppeul ttae nun·ko tteul sae·ga eop·ttae but that's okay
Meaning: They say I'm too busy to even look around, but that's okay
Words in this line- 바쁠ba·ppeulbusy
- 때ttaewhen
- 눈코nun·koeyes and nose
- 뜰tteulopen
- 새가sae·gagap
- 없대eop·ttaethere's none, they say
눈코 뜰 새 없다 literally means 'no time to open eyes and nose', i.e. too busy to catch a breath. The ending -대 means 'they say'.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “CEREMONY” — Stray Kids. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 갈지 | gal·jji | will go |
| 근처는 | geun·cheo·neun | vicinity |
| 도움닫기 | do·um·dat·kki | run-up |
| 밖이야 | ba·kki·ya | is outside |
| 반지 | ban·ji | ring |
| 발생이야 | bal·saeng·i·ya | occurs |
| 버젓이 | beo·jeo·si | brazenly |
| 북적해 | buk·jjeo·kae | crowded |
| 상태는 | sang·tae·neun | condition |
| 소감을 | so·ga·meul | thoughts, speech |
| 소리 | so·ri | sound, voice |
| 소음 | so·eum | noise |
| 어디까지 | eo·di·kka·ji | how far |
| 억까는 | eok·kka·neun | unfair bashing |
| 언제나 | eon·je·na | always |
| 엄청나 | eom·cheong·na | enormous |
| 여기저기 | yeo·gi·jeo·gi | here and there |
| 예상 | ye·sang | expectation |
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Questions about “CEREMONY”
What is “CEREMONY” by Stray Kids about?
Stray Kids' “CEREMONY” is a victory-lap song about a group celebrating their success after doubt and unfair criticism.
What does “경험치는 수많은 trophy” mean in “CEREMONY”?
My experience points are loads of trophies.
What does “받아 내 상 마치 부케” mean in “CEREMONY”?
Take my prize like a bridal bouquet.
How do you pronounce “봐라 내 두 손은 두둑해”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “bwa·ra nae du so·neun du·du·kae”: that's how it's actually sung by Stray Kids, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “CEREMONY” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Hyunwoo goes through all 67 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
- JYP Entertainment · 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.