English translation and Korean lesson with the lyrics of BTS Cypher Pt.2: Triptych, from the 2014 album Skool Luv Affair.
Produced by: Supreme Boi
Written by: Supreme Boi, RM, j-hope, SUGA
Find it here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Music • Amazon Music
Chorus:
누구 때문에? 제이홉 때문에
Because of who? Because of j-hope.
누구 = who
때문에 = because of X (X being the preceding noun)
누구 때문에? 랩몬 때문에
Because of who? Because of Rap Mon.
다시 누구 때문에? 슈가 때문에
Again, because of who? Because of SUGA.
모든 스타일과 흐름은 다 방탄 때문에
All the style and flow is because of Bangtan.
모든 = every
-과 / -와 = “and” when followed by an accompanying noun. Otherwise “with” (스타일과)
흐름 = flow
다 = all, everything, everyone
Verse 1 (j-hope):
21세기 한류를 이끌 애들의 또 시작된 놀이
A game begun again by the future leaders of the 21st century Hallyu.
세기 = a generation
이끌다 = to lead
애 = a guy, a person (casual tone)
-들 = makes a noun plural (애들의)
-의 = indicates possession like ‘s in English (애들의)
또 = once again, additionally
시작되다 = to start, to be starting
놀이 = a game
우린 일곱 마리 늑대, 함성이란 양들을 몰이.
We’re seven wolves, we steer the sheep called cheers.
우리 = we, us, our
일곱 = seven
마리 = a word used for counting animals
늑대 = a wolf
함성 = cheers, shouts
-이란 = called X (함성이란)
양 = a sheep
몰다 = to drive, to steer
지금부터 보이는 고장 난 랩들 견인해가지
We’re towing away the busted raps we see from now on.
지금 = now
-부터 = from X, since X (지금부터)
보이다 = to be seen, to be visible
고장나다 = to be broken
견인해가다: 견인하다 = to tow + 가다 = to go
-지 = adds a nuance of “you know” or “right?” (견인해가지)
우린 계속 진격, 비트 위의 거인
We keep advancing, giants on the beat.
계속 = continually, “keep”
진격 = an advance
위 = the top of something
거인 = a giant
방탄 싸이퍼 right here, 싸이코 right here
Bangtan cypher right her, psycho right here
링에 누가 있건 우린 다 이겨, rap fighter right here
No matter who’s in the ring, we beat them all. Rap fighter right here.
-에 = at X, on X (링에)
누가 = who, someone
있다 = to be found, to exist
이기다 = to win
난 hi여 넌 bye여 불난 타이어 우린 달려
I’m hi, you’re bye, a burnt tire, we’re running.
나 = I, me
너 = you
불 = fire
나다 = to come up, to occur
달리다 = to run
Fire, hot choir, 대중가요 잡을 싸이여
Fire, hot choir, I’ll capture the pop music scene like Psy.
대중가요 = the pop music scene
잡다 = to grab, to hold
내 랩 거대한 떡대 니 귀에다가 대놓고 bug that
My rap is a giant. It’s gets up in your face and right in your ears and bug that.
(If you listen really well, you can probably hear that “bug” isn’t really how he’s pronouncing that word…)
거대하다 = to be huge
니 = you (alternate spelling of 네)
귀 = an ear
-에다가 = on top of X, in addition to X (귀에다가)
대다 = to bring something right close to something else
-아놓다 / -어놓다 = to do X and leave it in that state (대놓고)
역대로 격해진 우리만의 폭행
The attack is ours alone, and it’s gotten fiercer than ever.
역대 = successive generations
격하다 = to be fierce, vehement
-아지다 / -어지다 = makes an adjective transitional. IE: “to be fierce” becomes “to be getting fierce/fiercer” (격해진)
-만 = just X, only X (우리만의)
폭행 = assault, attack
긴 말 필요 없이 랩으로 설명해
No need for long speeches. I explain through my rap.
길다 = to be long
말 = words, speech
필요 = a need
없이 = without
-으로 / -로 = via X, using X (랩으로)
설명하다 = to explain
BTS, follow the leader 지금부터 go해
BTS, follow the leader, from now on we go.
What
하다 = to go
Verse 2 (RM):
난 랩 와이퍼, 완전 싸이코,
I’m a rap wiper, a complete psycho.
완전 = complete, completely
내가 다이서라면 임마 난 다이스 다 있어
If I’m a dicer, dude, I have all the dice.
내 = I, me, my
-면 / -으면 = if/when X (다이서라면)
임마 = dude, man
싸이퍼
Cypher.
니가 nice면 임마 난 nicer
If you’re nice, dude, I’m nicer.
니가 프라이드면 임마 난 크라이슬러
If you’re pride, dude, I’m a Chrysler.
that mean imma priceless
니들이 뭔데 내 랩에 니들의 식견으로 점수를 매겨, rapper?
Who are you to grade my rap based on your judgement, rapper?
뭐 = what
식견 = discernment, judgment
점수 = a score, point
매기다 = to rank, to value
여긴 원피스, 난 흰수염
This is One Piece, I’m Whitebeard.
여기 = here
너넨 그냥 긴수염, 한 마디로 메기여
You’re all just long beards, in a word, you’re catfish.
(메기여 sound almost identical to 멕여 – slang for 먹여 – which technically means to feed someone, but is used in context like this to mean to hit someone, screw someone over, etc. For example if you wanted to punch someone, you might say you’d feed them your fist. So the second meaning of this sentence could be “I do you in/screw you over with a single word.”)
너네 = you (plural)
그냥 = just
수염 = facial hair
한 = one
마디 = a word, a phrase, a bar
멕이다 = to feed (먹이다)
Bucket
히히하하 뛰뛰빵빵 시속 300 나가
Hee hee ha ha. Beep beep. I’m going 300 kms/hour.
시속 = speed per hour
나가다 = to go, to go out
절차탁마의 절차 밟았으,
I followed the steps, polishing myself.
절차탁마 = the act of cutting and polishing things like precious stones. Also, applying oneself well to one’s studies.
절차 = proceedings, steps
밟다 = to step
안 가리고 싹다 잡아 툼스톤
With no discrimination I get them all, Tombstone.
안 = to not do/be X (X being the accompanying verb/adjective)
가리다 = to discriminate, to be picky
-고 = X and (가리고)
Knock knock knock out
Fire in the hole beat
BING BING POW POW
넌 울며 찾아가지 니네 아빠
You cry and look for your dad.
울다 = to cry
-며 / -으며 = while X (울며)
찾아가다 = to go visit, to go find
아빠 = dad
시시각각 랩 민짜들의 목을 죄여오는 내 voice, PC방 마감
My voice has been strangling every one of the rap minors. Closing time at the gaming cafe.
(A PC방 is a hangout for young people with lots of computers and comfortable seating for gaming, and a counter where you can order food. These are very common in South Korea. And according to SK law, minors cannot be in a PC방 after 10 pm.)
시시각각 = each and every
민짜 = a minor (slang)
목 = a neck
죄이다 = to constrict, to tighten
-아오다 / -어오다 = to have been doing X until now, so far (죄여오는)
방 = a room
마감 = closing time, a deadline
여긴 왕국, 나는 킹 너는 덤
This is a kingdom. I’m a king. You’re a throw-in.
(덤 means an extra, a freebie. But of course it also sounds like the English word “dumb”.)
왕국 = a kingdom
덤 = an extra, a freebie
짝 씹어 삼켜 넌 버블껌
I chew you up and swallow. You’re bubble gum.
(씹다 – meaning “to chew” – is also slang for dissing someone. Hobi uses it this same way in the first verse of MIC Drop.)
씹다 = to chew
삼키다 = to swallow
뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈 위에 타는 놈
The man riding the man who’s flying over the running man,
(“Above a running man is a flying man” is an idiom. The meaning is that no matter how good you are, there’s always someone who’s better.)
뛰다 = to run, to jump
놈 = a guy
날다 = to fly
타다 = to ride
그게 나야 beat 비보다 나쁜 놈
that’s me, beat. A guy more bad than Rain.
(Reference: Bad Guy by Rain)
그 = that, those
게 / 것 = a thing
비 = rain
-보다 = compared to X, more than X (비보다)
나쁘다 = to be bad
난 걸레처럼 널기만 해 갖고 논 다음
After just hanging you up like a rag and toying with you,
걸레 = a rag (slang usage: a slut)
-처럼 = like X (걸레처럼)
널다 = to hang
-기만 하다 = to only do X (널기만 해)
갖다 = to have
놀다 = to play
다음 = next
니 고막을 찢어 단번에 boom boom boom
I immediately tear apart your eardrums. boom boom boom
고막 = an eardrum
찢다 = to tear, to rip
단번에 = immediately, at once
이건 내 새벽의 저주,
This is my curse of dawn.
(새벽의 저주 is the Korean title for the movie Dawn of the Dead)
이 = this, these
새벽 = dawn, the small hours of the morning
저주 = a curse
악몽, 폭행, 연쇄살인, 강도, doom doom doom
nightmares, assualt, serial murder, robbery, doom doom doom.
악몽 = a nightmare
연쇄살인 = serial murder
강도 = a robbery
넌 친구 없는 카톡, 볼 일 없어
You’re a Kakao Talk with no friends, I don’t have anything to do with you.
(볼 일 없어 literally means “I have no occasion/event to see [you].” 일 also means “1”, and in the Kakao Talk messaging app – which is the most widely used messaging app in South Korea – when you send a message to an individual, a little “1” will appear next to it indicating that 1 person in this chat has not seen the message. The 1 disappears when the message is read. So the alternate meaning of this line is “You’re a Kakao Talk with no friends. There are no ‘1’s for you to see.”)
친구 = a friend
없다 = to not be found, not exist
보다 = to see, to look at
일 = an event, occasion (Second meaning: the number 1)
벌써 지렸니? 미안 화장실 없어
Did you already wet yourself? Sorry, there’s no bathroom.
(Going back to the previous line, 볼 일 보다 can mean “to do one’s business” in the bathroom.)
벌써 = already
지리다 = to wet oneself
미안 = sorry
화장실 = a washroom
내가 지금 명령해 mic 놓고 일어서
I command you now, put down the mic and stand up.
명령하다 = to command
놓다 = to put something down
일어서다 = to stand up
넌 그냥 천 해, 왜냐하면 넌 실 없어
You’re just lowly. Why? Because you’re ridiculous.
(Wordplay: the 천 in 천 해 can also mean “fabric” and the 실 in 실 없어 can also mean “thread”. This will come up a little further on in the lyrics.)
천하다 = to be lowly, vulgar
천 = fabric
왜냐하면 = because (literally, “if you ask why”)
실 = thread
실 없다 = to be silly, vain
난 널 밀쳐내 니가 너무 싫어서
I push you away, because I hate you so much.
밀치다 = to push
너무 = too, so
싫다 = to dislike, to hate
-어서 / -아서 = beucase X (싫어서)
나는 바느질 좀 잘해, 실 천해
I’m pretty good at sewing. I practice what I preach.
(실 천해 literally means “to do thread and fabric” but 실천해 means to put words into action, make something become reality.)
바느질 = needlework
좀 = a little, a bit
잘하다 = to do something well
실천하다 = to turn something into reality, put words into action
나 지금 으르렁대, 너 좀 위험해
I’m snarling now, you’re in a bit of danger.
으르렁대다 = to growl, to snarl
위험하다 = to be dangerous
넌 그냥 연 해 말했잖아 실 없어
Just fly a kite. I told you, there’s no thread.
연 = a kite
말하다 = to say, to speak
-잖아 = used when saying something the listener already knows or should already know (말했잖아)
하늘로 올라가 올라가 찢어져
Up, up into the sky, and then it rips.
하늘 = a sky
-로 / -으로 = to X, toward X (하늘로)
올라가다 = to go up (오르다 = to ascend + 가다 = to go)
bucket 주석, 난 널 잊었어
Bucket, Joosuc, I forgot you.
(Ref: Joosuc – “I Forgot You” feat. Ailee.)
잊다 = to forget
나의 목소리, 나의 헤게모니
My voice, my hegemony,
목소리 = a voice
일부터 십까지 싹 다 내가 키웠어
I raised them all from one to ten.
십 = ten
-까지 = to X, until X (십까지)
키우다 = to raise
나 온 세상을 내 혀 위에 올려다 놓지
I place the whole world on my tongue.
온 = entire, whole
세상 = a world
혀 = a tongue
올리다 = to put something up on something
큰 데서 놀아, I ain’t spittin low sh
I play in the big leagues, I ain’t spittin low sh-
크다 = to be big
데 = a place
-에서 = in X, inside X (데서)
On the CD, 아님 TV,
On the CD, or TV,
아님 = or (shortened form of 아니면)
you can see me, envy me, it’s a pity, gee gee
Beat I’mma monster I rap with a prospect,
yeah I rap with a mindset I’m a suspect
Sucka where yo rhymes at where you lines at?
I’m da king, I’m the god so where ma emperors at?
I parachute on my Neverland,
I’mma peter pan, so this will never end
You know when I ride on my G5 yYou sit first class and satisfy and I keep giggling
Keep gigglin, keep jigglin,
Bring yo booking mic beat 한판 붙어볼래?
Bring yo booking mic beat. You want to fight?
판 = a round, a match
붙다 = to stick
-어보다 / -아보다 = to give X a try, to see about doing X. Read more here. (붙어볼래)
-ㄹ래 / -을래 = When used in question form it means “Would you like to do X?” / ”Shall we do X?” (붙어볼래)
자부심과 이상한 신념뿐인 신병 걸린 형들은
Guys chronically ill will with nothing but pride and strange convictions,
자부심 = self-respect, pride
이상하다 = to be strange, weird
신념 = a belief, a conviction
-뿐 = only X, nothing but X (신념뿐인)
신병 = a sickness
걸리다 = to catch (a sickness)
형 = a word used by males to refer to their older brother or to an older male with whom they are close
8마디면 헤벌레
astonished by 8 bars.
늙은 애벌레, 더 더 더 더러 이
Old caterpillars. d-d-d-dirty.
늙다 = to be old
애벌레 = a caterpillar
더럽다 = to be dirty
Beat 줄게 한 번 해봐 버 버 버러지들아
I’ll give you this beat, give it a try you p-p-pests.
주다 = to give
-ㄹ게 / -을게 = “I’ll do X” with an added nuance of “unless you object” or “if you don’t mind” (줄게)
번 = a time, an occurrence
버러지 = an insect
랩이나 좀 잘하고 떠들어
At least rap properly before you talk
-이나 = X or something, at least X (랩이나)
떠들다 = to talk, to clamor
니넨 랩 못하게 해야 돼, 법으로
You should be forbidden to rap by law.
못하다 = to not be able to do X
-게 하다 = to make it so that X is the case (못하게 해야)
-야 되다 = to have to do X (해야 돼)
법 = a law
Chorus:
누구 때문에? 제이홉 때문에
Because of who? Because of j-hope.
누구 때문에? 랩몬 때문에
Because of who? Because of Rap Mon.
다시 누구 때문에? 슈가 때문에
Again, because of who? Because of SUGA.
우리 셋이 모여서 새 시대를 외쳐
The three of us come together and cry out the new generation.
셋 = three
모이다 = to assemble, to gather
새 = new
외치다 = to cry out
제이홉 때문에
Because of j-hope.
누구 때문에? 랩몬 때문에
Because of who? Because of Rap Mon.
다시 누구 때문에? 슈가 때문에
Again, because of who? Because of SUGA.
이 beat 위에 다음 타자가 랩을 해
The next batter raps on this beat.
타자 = a batter
Verse 3 (SUGA):
내 도메인 dopeman.com
My domain is dopeman.com
마이크로 여럿 혼냈지
I’ve told a lot of people off with my mic.
여럿 = many
혼내다 = to scold, to tell someone off
언행은 족쇄 같어
Words and actions that are like shackles.
언행 = words and actions
족쇄 = shackles
같다 = to be like X (X being the preceding noun)
내 죄명은 혀로 폭행
I’m charged with assault of the tongue.
죄명 = the charge brought against someone
신앙심이 가득한 덕에 넌 태생부터 겁나 모태
Thanks to the fact that you’re filled with piety, you’ve really been that way since birth.
(Play on words: The translation I’ve given above is technically correct, but it’s not the way the listener is intended to hear the line. 모태 means “from right out of the womb” but is pronounced the same as “못 해” which means to not be able to do something. So if you hear this line before reading what the actual lyrics are, it sounds like “넌 태생부터 겁나 못 해.” which means, “You’ve been incredibly inept since birth.”)
신앙심 = piety
가득하다 = to be filled with
덕에 = thanks to X (shortened form of 덕분에)
태생 = one’s birth
겁나다 = to be scared. Often used as an adjective meaning VERY. Like some might say in English, “He’s scary talented.”
모태 = right from the womb
이 비트 위에서 엄살 부리면 넌 그냥 조퇴해
If you’re going to be a crybaby on this beat, just head home early.
(Censoring trick: 조퇴해 is what’s written in the official lyrics, but what SUGA actually raps is “좆 돼”. It literally means “become a dick” but figuratively means to be f***ed up.)
엄살 = making a big deal out of nothing, exaggerating one’s pain or hardship
부리다 = to behave a certain way
조퇴하다 = to leave work or school early
힙합 꼰대들 목에 힘들어 간 것 좀 보세
Take a look at those hip hop dinosaurs with their sore necks.
꼰대 = a derogatory word used to refer to someone who is either ancient, stubbornly traditional and old-fashioned in their thinking, or both.
힘들다 = to be hard, tiring
니가 지하에서 놀 때 BTS 지상에서 노네
While you play underground, BTS plays above ground.
지하 = underground
때 = a point in time
지상 = above ground
-네 = adds a nuance of surprise or amazement (노네)
밤새 잠 퍼질러 잔 너에 비해
Compared to you, sprawled out asleep all night,
(To sleep with one’s legs stretched is a Korean idiom meaning that one is free from worry, at ease.)
I’m workaholic shopaholic
니 fan 보다 많은 pen 과소비 하며 all in
I’m all in, overspending on pens. I’ve got more of those than you’ve got fans.
밤새 = overnight, all night
잠 = sleep
퍼지다 = to spread out
잠 자다 = to sleep
-에 비하다 = compared to X (너에 비해)
차면 goal in
When I kick, it’s goal in.
차다 = to kick
goal in I’m ballin
니 랩 들으면 토 쏠림
When I hear your rap I bend over and puke.
듣다 = to hear, to listen
토 = throwing up
쏠리다 = to bend over
니 여친도 홀리는 내 목소린 좀 꼴림
My voice even bewitches your girlfriend. It turns people on.
여친 = girlfriend (shortened form of 여자친구)
홀리다 = to be bewitched
꼴리다 = to be horny, turned on
작업실 내 놀이터고 파트너는 펜 종이
The studio is my playground and my partner is a pen and paper.
작업실 = a studio, a workroom
놀이터 = a playground
종이 = paper
호의가 권리인 줄 아는 너흰 속히 마이크를 내려 놓길
You who think you’re entitled to courtesy, quickly lower your mics, please.
호의 = goodwill, courtesy
권리 = rights, claim
줄 알다 = to think X
너희 = you
속히 = quickly
내리다 = to lower
내가 해라면 너는 달
If I’m the sun you’re the moon,
해 = the sun
달 = a moon
내가 뜰 때면 지니까
because when I rise, you set.
뜨다 = to rise
지다 = to set
-니까 / -으니까 = because X (지니까)
힙합 진품명품 새끼들아
You hip-hop appraising bastards
(진품명품 is a Korean television show along the same vein as “Antiques Road Show” where people can bring old items in and get them appraised.)
진품 = a genuine article
명품 = a masterpiece
새끼 = a bastard
거품 위에서 내려와
Come down from the bubbles.
거품 = a bubble
내려오다 = to come down (내리다 = to lower + 오다 = to come)
야 이 개구쟁이들아
Hey, you rascals.
야 = hey
개구쟁이 = a rascal, a mischievous child
개구진 니 랩은 그냥 신세 타령
Your stinking rap is just a ballad of bemoaning your circumstances.
(구지다 – the verb in 개구진 above – is a dialect version of 구리다, meaning to stink, to suck.)
개- = A slang modifier. “Freaking X” / “Damn X” (개구지다)
구지다 = to stink (Nonstandard form of 구리다)
신세 = conditions, circumstances
타령 = a traditional Korean ballad. Also used idiomatically to mean harping on something, singing the same old song
니가 기다려온 시간 쉬다 오렴
It’s the time you’ve been waiting for. Take a rest before you come.
기다리다 = to wait
시간 = a time
쉬다 = to rest
오다 = to come
니가 가라 하와이 집에 가렴
Go to Hawaii. Go home.
(This is a famous line from the 2001 Korean movie 친구 [friend]).
집 = a house, a home
내가 어디까지 가나 봐라
Watch how far I go.
어디 = where, somewhere
썩은 뿌릴 싹 다 갈아엎어
I plough up all the rotten roots.
썩다 = to rotten
뿌리 = a root
갈아엎다 = to plough
모두 한판 예상하지 못한 파란
I’m the upset nobody expected in the game,
모두 = everyone, everything
예상하다 = to expect, to foresee
-지 못하다 = to not be able to do X (예상하지 못한)
파란 = an upset in a game
노력 없이 한탄만 해대며 막상 꼴에 음악 한답시고 놀 때
while you’re playing around, saying it’s for the music, but in reality you’re just whining without making an effort.
노력 = effort
한탄 = a lamentation, a sigh
막상 = actually, in reality
꼴 = the state of something, the look of something
음악 = music
알바 자리나 더 알아봐라
Just look for another part-time job.
알바 = part time work (short form of 아르바이트)
자리 = a position, a spot
더 = more
알아보다 = to look into
너의 짧고 가느다란 커리어로는 하나마나겠지만
It may not be up to you with your short, thin career, but
짧다 = to be short
가느다랗다 = to be thing
하나 마나 = whether or not you do X, the outcome will be the same
-지만 = X but (겠지만)
꼭 살아남아 꾸준히 쭉 썩어
make sure you survive and steadily rot.
꼭 = for sure, without fail
살아남다 = to survive
꾸준히 = steadily, steadfastly
아마 니들 꼬리표는 아마추어 같은 인생
Your tag will probably say, “A life like an amateur”.
아마 = probably
꼬리표 = a tag, a label
인생 = one’s life
너희 랩은 아나바다
Your rap is anabada,
(See the link for an explanation of anabada. Short version: It’s an acronym for a phrase that means “save, share, trade, and reuse.”)
아껴 쓰고 나눠 쓴 flow를 받아쓰고 또 그걸 다시 쓰는 너
you who take and reuse someone else’s precious flow, and then do it again.
(Note that while 아나바다 is an acronym for something, as explained above, SUGA uses each of its four syllables here as well to create his own definition of the acronym. 아껴 … 나눠 … 받아쓰고 …다시)
아끼다 = to save
쓰다 = to sue
나누다 = to share
받다 = to receive
다시 = again
Hey beat 쪽 팔린 줄 알어 너
Hey beat. You know you’re a disgrace.
쪽 팔리다 = to be embarrassed, disgraced
알다 = to know
24마디에 너는 자리 펴고 앓아 누워
24 bars make you lie down sick.
펴다 = to unfold, to lay out
앓다 = to suffer, be afflicted
눕다 = to lie down
니 덩치에 비해 랩은 가냘퍼
Your rap is fragile compared to your build.
덩치 = one’s build, frame
가냘프다 = to be feeble, fragile
니 부모처럼 널 볼 때마다 맘 아퍼
Just like your parents, my heart hurts every time I see you.
부모 = parents
-마다 = every X (때마다)
맘 = one’s heart/mind – in the metaphorical, not the anatomical sense (shortened form of 마음)
아프다 = to hurt, to be sick
난 니 음악의 커리어 동맥에 마침표를 그어
I mark the end of the artery of your music career.
(SUGA literally says, “I’ll put a period at the end of…” This is a Korean idiom for bringing something to an end.)
동맥 = an artery
마침표 = a period (the punctuation)
긋다 = to draw, to mark
