MANIAC — Stray Kids: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync정상인 척 다들 힘 좀 빼jeong·sang·in cheok da·deul him jom ppaeAll of you pretending to be normal — ease up a bit.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
Stray Kids' “MANIAC” is about a group of people who hide their unstable true selves behind a polite, smiling, normal-looking surface. They see danger in every street and fear what would happen if the lid came off, while kindness gets taken for granted and turns toxic. Instead of fighting it, they embrace being out of control, and the mood is defiant, wild and darkly playful.
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.
정상인 척 다들 힘 좀 빼Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jeong·sang·in cheok da·deul him jom ppae
Meaning: All of you pretending to be normal — ease up a bit.
Words in this line- 정상인jeong·sang·innormal
- 척cheokpretense
- 다들da·deuleveryone
- 힘himstrength/tension
- 좀joma bit
- 빼ppaeremove/relax
Word for word: Normal-person pretend, everyone strength a-bit let-out
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 'Pretend to be normal' (정상인 척) + 'ease up' (힘 좀 빼) = the pressure to hide one's true self behind a facade of normalcy. 힘 빼다 literally means 'to let the strength out', i.e. relax, stop forcing it.
호의가 계속되면 권리인 줄 아네 toxicListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ho·ui·ga gye·sok·ttoe·myeon gwol·li·in jul a·ne toxic
Meaning: If kindness continues, people think it's their right—toxic.
Words in this line- 호의가ho·ui·gakindness, favor (subject)
- 계속되면gye·sok·ttoe·myeonif it continues
- 권리인gwol·li·inright, prerogative
- 줄jul(auxiliary verb)
- 아네a·nethink, believe
Word for word: Kindness-if continues-then right-as think toxic.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 호의 (kindness, favor) + 계속되면 (if it continues) + 권리인 줄 아네 (think it's a right) — a psychological pattern: free service becomes expectation, expectation becomes demand. toxic — this poisons relationships.
내가 걷는 이 거리는 다 지뢰밭Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nae·ga geon·neun i geo·ri·neun da ji·roe·bat
Meaning: The street I walk on is all minefield.
Words in this line- 내가nae·gaI
- 걷는geon·neunwalk
- 이ithis
- 거리는geo·ri·neunstreet
- 다daall
- 지뢰밭ji·roe·batminefield
Word for word: Street which I walk all minefield.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: "내가 걷는 이 거리는 다 지뢰밭" — a metaphor for life as a minefield. It's not just danger but invisible threat at every step. The phrase conveys constant tension and uncertainty, where any moment could be the last.
가득해 두 눈은 lunatic 모든 감각이 날 서 있지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ga·deu·kae du nu·neun lunatic mo·deun gam·ga·gi nal seo it·jji
Meaning: Both eyes full, lunatic, all my senses are on edge.
Words in this line- 가득해ga·deu·kaefull
- 두duboth
- 눈은nu·neuneyes
- 모든mo·deunall
- 감각이gam·ga·gisenses
- 날naledge (날 서다 = be on edge)
- 서seostand
- 있지it·jjibe
Word for word: Full both eyes, lunatic, all senses edge-standing.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '가득해 두 눈은' — eyes full (of what? madness, passion, despair). '모든 감각이 날 서 있지' literally 'all senses stand in me', but '서 있다' in this context means 'be in tension, be ready to explode'. 'Lunatic' — a person controlled by the moon, who lost reason. The final line emphasizes maximum tension and readiness for collapse.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “MANIAC” — Stray Kids. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
A line from the song with one word missing: listen, then pick the right word. Jian checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Jian about this song
Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask JianSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 걸어 | geo·reo | walk, go |
| 것처럼 | geot·cheo·reom | like, as if |
| 결국 | gyeol·guk | eventually |
| 나사 | na·sa | screw, bolt |
| 다침 | da·chim | fell, got hurt |
| 돌아버리겠지 | do·ra·beo·ri·get·jji | lose my mind, go crazy |
| 돌지 | dol·ji | won't respond, won't react |
| 똑같지 | ttok·kkat·jji | the same |
| 미쳐 | mi·chyeo | going crazy |
| 보다가 | bo·da·ga | while watching |
| 비정상 | bi·jeong·sang | abnormal, anomalous |
| 빠진 | ppa·jin | loose, missing |
| 속여 | so·gyeo | fool |
| 순진하게만 | sun·jin·ha·ge·man | only naively |
| 언제 | eon·je | when |
| 웃어 | u·seo | laugh, laughing |
| 집단 | jip·ttan | group, collective |
| 투성이 | tu·seong·i | full of, all |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “MANIAC” go to your study notebook with spaced review, so they come back right before you forget them.
Create a free accountWith Google, Apple or email · 10 seconds
Questions about “MANIAC”
What is “MANIAC” by Stray Kids about?
Stray Kids' “MANIAC” is about a group of people who hide their unstable true selves behind a polite, smiling, normal-looking surface.
What does “정상인 척 다들 힘 좀 빼” mean in “MANIAC”?
All of you pretending to be normal — ease up a bit. 'Pretend to be normal' (정상인 척) + 'ease up' (힘 좀 빼) = the pressure to hide one's true self behind a facade of normalcy.
What does “호의가 계속되면 권리인 줄 아네 toxic” mean in “MANIAC”?
If kindness continues, people think it's their right—toxic. 호의 (kindness, favor) + 계속되면 (if it continues) + 권리인 줄 아네 (think it's a right) — a psychological pattern: free service becomes expectation, expectation…
How do you pronounce “내가 걷는 이 거리는 다 지뢰밭”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “nae·ga geon·neun i geo·ri·neun da ji·roe·bat”: that's how it's actually sung by Stray Kids, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “MANIAC” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Jian goes through all 65 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.