English translation and Korean lesson with the lyrics of Her by BTS, from the 2017 album Love Yourself 承 ‘Her’.
Produced by: SUGA, Slow Rabbit
Written by: SUGA, Slow Rabbit, RM, j-hope
Find it here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Music • Amazon Music
Verse 1 (RM):
The world is a complex
We wus lookin’ for love
나도 그냥 그런 사람들 중 하나였어
I too was just one of those people.
나 = I, me
-도 = X too, even X (나도)
그냥 = just
그렇다 = to be like that
사람 = a person
-들 = makes a noun plural (사람들)
중 = among, in the middle of, amidst
하나 = one
진짜 사랑인지 뭔지 믿지도 않으면서
While not really believing in love or anything,
진짜 = real
사랑 = love
뭐 = what, something (context-dependent)
믿다 = to believe in
-지 않다 = to not do X (믿지도 않으면서)
-으면서 / -면서 = while X (않으면서)
습관처럼 사랑하고 싶다 지껄였던
out of habit I babbled about wanting to love.
습관 = a habit
-처럼 = like X (습관처럼)
사랑하다 = to love
-고 싶다 = to want to do X (사랑하고 싶다)
지껄이다 = to babble, chatter
But I found myself
The whole new myself
나도 헷갈려 대체 어떤 게 진짜 난지
Even I’m confused about which one is the real me.
헷갈리다 = to be confused
대체 = “__in the world”, “__the heck”, etc.
어떤 = which, what kind of
게 = a thing
Did I realize I’m a book after meeting you?
너 = you
만나다 = to meet
-고 = X and (만나고)
내 = I, me, my
책 = a book
알다 = to know
-ㄹ까 / -을까 = used to wonder to oneself about something (걸까)
아님 니가 내 책장을 넘긴 걸까
Or did you turn my page?
아님 = or (shortened spelling of 아니면)
니 = you (alternate spelling of 네)
책장 = the page of a book
넘기다 = to go over, to turn
Damn
어쨌든 난 네게 최고의 남자길 원해
Anyway, I want to be the best man for you.
어쨌든 = anyway,
네 = you
-에게 = to X, for X (네게)
최고 = the best
-의 = indicates possession, like ‘s in English (최고의)
남자 = a man
원하다 = to want
아마 당연해 넌 내게 이 세계 그 자체였기에
That’s probably natural, since to me you were the world itself.
아마 = probably
당연하다 = to be natural, reasonable
이 = this, these
세계 = world
그 = that, those
자체 = itself
-기에 = “because X”. Used to give a reason why one is doing something (자체였기에)
죽을 거면 꼭 나와 같이 죽겠다던 때
When you said that if I died, you’d die together with me
죽다 = to die
-면 / -으면 = if/when X (거면)
꼭 = certainly, without fail, to make sure to do something
-와 / -과 = “and” when followed by another noun, “with” in all other cases (나와)
같이 = together
때 = the point in time when something happens
니가 원하는 내가 되기로 God I swore to myself
God, I swore to myself that I’d become who you wanted me to be.
되다 = to become
-기로 = to decide to do X (Full principle is -기로 하다) (되기로)
So many complex
But I’m lookin’ for love
가짜 나라도 좋아 니가 안아준다면
Even if I’m a fake version of me, it’s fine if you’re holding me.
가짜 = fake
-라도 / -이라도 = used to indicate that even though X isn’t the best option, it’ll do (나라도)
좋다 = to be good
안다 = to hug, to embrace
-아주다 / -어주다 = adds a nuance of “as a favour to” or “for” someone (안아준다면)
-다면 = if X (안아준다면)
넌 내게 시작이자 결말 자체니까
Because to me you’re the beginning and the very end.
시작 = a start, a beginning
-이자 / -자 = used with nouns. Sort of like “and”. Used to say that something is 2 things at once. (시작이자)
결말 = an end, a conclusion
-니까 / -이니까 = because it’s X (자체니까)
니가 날 끝내주라
Be the one to end me.
끝내다 = to end something
-라 = “Do X” (끝내주라)
Chorus:
내 모든 wonder 에 대한 answer
The answer to my every wonder,
모든 = every
-에 대하다 = about X
I call you her, her
Cuz you’re my tear, tear
내 모든 wonder 에 대한 answer
The answer to my every wonder,
I call you her, her
Cuz you’re my tear, tear
Verse 2 (SUGA):
어쩌면 나는 너의 진실이자 거짓일지 몰라
I might be your truth and your lie.
어쩌면 = Maybe, perhaps
진실 = truth
거짓 = a lie
모르다 = to not know
어쩌면 당신의 사랑이자 증오
I might be your love and your hatred.
당신 = “you” – high respect version. Don’t use this until you’ve learned how. It’s usage is complicated.
증오 = hatred
어쩌면 나는 너의 원수이자 벗
I might be your enemy and your friend.
원수 = an enemy
벗 = a friend
당신의 천국이자 지옥 때론 자랑이자 수모
Your heaven and your hell, sometimes your boasting and your humiliation.
천국 = heaven
지옥 = hell
때론 = sometimes
자랑 = boasting, showing off, being proud
수모 = humiliation, disgrace
난 절대 가면을 벗지 못해
I can’t ever take the mask off
절대 = never
가면 = a mask
벗다 = to take something off
-지 못하다 = to not be able to do X (벗지 못해)
이 가면 속의 난 니가 아는 걔가 아니기에
because the me inside this mask isn’t the guy you know.
속 = the inside of something
걔 = that guy
아니다 = to not be X (X being the preceding noun)
오늘도 make up to wake up and dress up to mask on
Today again, make up to wake up and dress up to mask on
오늘 = today
당신이 사랑하는 내가 되기 위해
to become the me that you love.
위하다 = for X (X being the preceding noun)
당신이 사랑하는 걔가 되기 위해서
To become the guy that you love.
그 좋아하던 XX도 끊었지 그저 당신을 위해서
I even quit XX, which I liked a lot, just for you.
끊다 = to break off, sever, quit
-지 = adds of a nuance of “you know”, or “don’t’ you agree?” (끊었지)
그저 = just
싫어하는 옷도 과도한 메이크업도
Clothes I don’t like, excessive makeup,
싫어하다 = to dislike
옷 = clothing
과도하다 = to be excessive
당신의 웃음과 행복이 곧 내 행복의 척도
and pretending that your laughter and happiness are my happiness.
웃음 = a smile, laughter
행복 = happiness
곧 = soon, right away
척 = pretense, pretending
이런 내가 이런 내가 당신의 사랑 받을 자격 있을까
Could this version of me, this version of me, be worthy of receiving your love?
이렇다 = to be like this
받다 = to receive
자격 = a qualification
언제나 당신의 최고가 되기 위해 노력을 해
I always try to be the best for you.
언제나 = always, whenever
노력하다 = to try, to make an effort
이런 모습은 몰랐음 해
I don’t want to know this side of me.
모습 = appearance, form
-았음 하다 / -었음 하다 = “I hope X” (몰랐음 해)
Chorus:
내 모든 wonder 에 대한 answer
The answer to my every wonder,
I call you her, her
Cuz you’re my tear, tear
내 모든 wonder 에 대한 answer
The answer to my every wonder,
I call you her, her
Cuz you’re my tear, tear
Verse 3 (j-hope):
늘 그랬듯이 mask on
Just like always, mask on
늘 = always
듯 = as X, as if X (X being the preceding/attached noun or clause)
환호로 날 반겨주는 her
when meeting her, and she welcomes me with cheers.
환호 = cheers
-로 / -으로 = with X, via X, through X (환호로)
반기다 = to welcome, to greet
그대만의 별. 아무 일 없이 빛나면서도
I’m a star for you alone. Even though I shine like it’s nothing,
그대 = “you” affectionately
-만 = just X, only X (그대만의)
별 = a star
아무 = none, not any
일 = a thing, a matter
없다 = to not be found, not exist
일 없다 = an expression meaning “it’s nothing”, “it’s not a big deal”, “it’s all fine”
빛나다 = to shine
가장 빛나야 할 시간에 난 mask off
when I need to shine the brightest, I take my mask off.
가장 = the most (as in , “the most beautiful”, not “most days I sleep in”)
-아야 하다 / -어야 하다 = to have to do X (빛나야 할)
시간 = time
-에 = at X, on X (시간에)
Lost star 내 짐을 내려놔 어둠을 즐겨
A lost star, I set down my burden and enjoy the darkness,
짐 = a burden, load, luggage
내려놓다 = to put down (내리다 = to go down + 놓다 = to put something on something)
어둠 = darkness
즐기다 = to enjoy
죽일 듯이 쏴대는 조명도 없으니 ye
without the bright light blaring at me as if it’ll kill me, ye.
죽이다 = to kill
쏴대다 = to shoot down on, shoot at (쏘다 = to shoot + 대다 = to aim, to target)
조명 = lighting, light
-으니 / -니 = because X, since X (없으니)
그저 맘 가는 대로
Just as I like,
맘 = one’s heart, mind. In the metaphorical, not the anatomical sense. (Short for 마음)
가다 = to go
대로 = in the manner of X, like X
감 닿는 대로, 날 안 잡는 대로
following my feelings, without taking hold of myself.
감 = sense, feeling
닿다 = to reach, to touch
안 = to not do X (X being the accompanying verb)
잡다 = to take in one’s hand, to hold
Tick tock the dark is over
다시 너의 최고가 되기 위해
In order to become the best for you again,
다시 = again
내 자신을 붙잡어
I get a hold of myself.
자신 = oneself
붙잡다 = to get a hold off
사랑은 사람을 미치게 해
Love makes people go crazy.
미치다 = to be crazy
-게 하다 = to make X happen (미치게 해)
그래 미친놈의 각오
Yeah, the determination of a lunatic.
그래 = yeah, okay, sure
미친놈 = a crazy guy, a crazy person
각오 = determination, resolve
가장 나다운 식에 대입을 하고
I swap myself into the formula that fits me best,
-답다 = to resemble X (나다운)
식 = a way, a formula
대입하다 = to substitute
전부인 너를 위해 내가 내린 해답을 줘
and to you, who are everything, I give the answer that I come up with.
전부 = everything
내리다 = to draw a conclusion
해답 = an answer
주다 = to give
그걸 사랑해주는 너
You love it.
그로 인해 노력하는 나
As a result, I try harder.
-로 인하다 = due to X, as a result of X (그로 인해)
니 존재로 새로운 의미를 찾고 빛을 내는 밤
Through your existence the night takes on new meaning, and light shines.
존재 = existence
새롭다 = to be new
의미 = meaning, significance
찾다 = to find, to look for
빛 = light (in the abstract, not like a source of light)
내다 = to put, appear
밤 = a night
난 알았어 어둠이 끝나도 내겐 넌 아침이란 걸
I know. Even though the darkness ends, for me you are the morning.
You woke me up
끝나다 = to end
아침 = morning
Chorus:
내 모든 wonder 에 대한 answer
The answer to my every wonder,
I call you her, her
Cuz you’re my tear, tear
내 모든 wonder 에 대한 answer
The answer to my every wonder,
I call you her, her
Cuz you’re my tear, tear
