BTS · Korean · 39 words

ARIRANG, Part 1

ARIRANG, released in March 2026, is BTS's first album made after all seven members finished their military service, and it takes its name from the traditional folk song sampled on the opening track. Part 1 follows the album's loud front half, from the reunion party of “Body to Body” through the burnout confession of “Merry Go Round.” The Korean here is mostly casual spoken language: verbs for moving, dancing and throwing things out, blunt everyday adverbs, and the words the members reach for when they brag, and when they admit they are tired.

Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
치우다	to put away; to clear away	총 칼 키보드 다 좀 치워Guns, knives, keyboards — put them all away
인생	life; one's life	인생은 짧아Life is short
내려놓다	to put down; to let go of something you've been holding onto	뭘 체면 따져 내려놔Why worry about saving face? Just let it go
가까이	close; nearby	좀 더 가까이 와Come a little closer
달	the moon	저기 저 달에 닿게So we can reach that moon up there
감다	to close (one's eyes)	두 눈을 감지 않을 이 밤This night, when we won't close our eyes
겨레	one's people; the Korean people as a shared bloodline (a warm, traditional word)	솟구치는 겨레의 마음The heart of our people surging up
뛰다	to jump; to run	뛰어 미친놈인 듯Jumping around like a madman
굳이	needlessly; going out of one's way to do something	굳이 말 안 해도 알잖아You already know without me having to say it
부수다	to smash; to break something apart	때려 부숴 like hooliganSmash it up like a hooligan
비키다	to move aside; to get out of the way	시간 됐으니 좀 비켜It's time, so step aside
얼쑤	a shout of encouragement used to hype up a performer in traditional Korean music	Me everywhere, 얼쑤Me everywhere — eolssu!
지루하다	to be boring; tedious	지루하고 따분해It's boring and dull
빠르다	to be fast; quick	시간은 참 빨라Time really does go fast
도대체	on earth; in the world (adds exasperation to a question)	도대체 뭘 더 고민해What on earth is there left to agonize over?
부럽다	to be envious; to envy someone	우릴 부러워하네They're so envious of us
배우다	to learn	우리 보고 배워놔Watch us and learn
벗다	to take off (shoes, clothes)	신발은 벗어놔Take your shoes off
밤새우다	to stay up all night	매일 밤새워대Pulling all-nighters every single day
뜨겁다	to be hot (to the touch); to be intense	뜨거워 뜨거워It's hot, it's hot
무섭다	to be scary; frightening	무서워 무서워It's scary, it's scary
한겨울	midwinter; the dead of winter	한겨울에도Even in the dead of winter
필요 없다	to not need something; to be unnecessary	필요 없어You won't need it
춤을 추다	to dance	춤을 춰Dance
고민하다	to worry over; to mull something over	뭘 고민해What's there to worry about?
뛰어들다	to dive in; to throw oneself into something	번지 뛰어들어Dive in like a bungee jump
사실	actually; the truth is	사실 안 웃기지Actually, it's not funny
붙이다	to light (a fire); to stick something on	불을 붙여 brand newLight it up, brand new
기분	mood; how one feels	기분 마치 brand newThe feeling is like brand new
여기저기	here and there; all over the place	여기저기 또 한 번Here and there, one more time
버리다	to throw away; to discard	이젠 버려Throw it out now
여유	room to spare; a relaxed, unhurried composure	여유 있게 다시Taking it easy, back at it again
일상	daily life; everyday routine	매일 같은 일상The same routine every day
척하다	to pretend to be (something one isn't)	다들 괜찮은 척Everyone pretending they're fine
웃다	to smile; to laugh	웃고 있지Everyone's smiling
멈추다	to stop; to come to a halt	멈출 수 없는 춤A dance I can't stop
생각하다	to think; to have something on one's mind	생각하지 말잔 생각The thought that I shouldn't be thinking
꿈	a dream (both while asleep and something you chase)	꿈을 끌 순 없나Can't I just switch this dream off?
행복하다	to be happy	행복하니Are you happy?