English translation and Korean lesson with the lyrics of MAMA by BTS, from the 2016 album Wings.
Produced by: Primary, Pdogg
Written by: j-hope, Primary, Pdogg
Find it here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Music • Amazon Music
Verse 1:
Time travel 2006년의 해
Time travel. The year 2006.
년 = a year
-의 = indicates possession, like ‘s in English (년의)
해 = year (Used differently than 년. Use 년 to say “for 7 years” “in 3 years”, etc. Use 해 to say “this year”, “the year is almost over” etc.)
춤에 미쳐 엄마 허리띠를 졸라맸지
I was crazy for dance. Mom tightened her belt.
(To tighten one’s belt is an expression meaning to be determined to live frugally when one’s economic situation isn’t great.)
춤 = dance
-에 at, on, in X (춤에)
미치다 = to be crazy
엄마 = mom
허리띠 = a belt
졸라매다 = to tighten
-지 = adds a nuance of “you know”, “isn’t it?” (졸라맸지)
아빠 반대에도 매일 달려들 때
When I threw myself into it every day, despite Dad’s objections,
아빠 = dad
반대 = opposition, objection
-도 = in spite of X (반대에도)
매일 = every day
달려들다 = to fling oneself into, to pounce at
때 = the point in time where something happens
아랑곳하지 않고 띄워주신 꿈의 조각배
she paid no heed, and set my little boat of dreams afloat.
아랑곳하다 = to concern oneself with, to heed
-지 않다 = to not do X (아랑곳하지 않고)
띄우다 = to launch, to set afloat, to let fly
-어주다 / -아주다 = adds a nuance of “for” or “as a favour to” the person to/for whom the action is being done. (띄워주신)
-시 = added to verbs/adjective when the person you’re speaking about deserves high respect (띄워주신)
꿈 = a dream
조각배 = a small boat
But 몰랐지 엄마의 큰 보탬이
But I didn’t realize Mom’s huge support
모르다 = to not know
크다 = to be big
보탬 = aid, support
펼쳐 있는 지름길 아닌 빚을 쥔 이 꿈의 길
wasn’t a shortcut laid before us, but this path of dreams fill with debt.
펼치다 = to spread open, unfold
-어 있다 / -어 있다 = conjugates a verb into a passive state. IE: Not “This door is being unlocked.” but “this door is unlocked” (펼쳐 있는)
지름길 = a shortcut (지름 = diameter + 길 = path/road)
아니다 = to not be X (X being the preceding word
빚 = debt
쥐다 = to grasp, to clutch
이 = this, these
길 = a road, a path
(Always) 문제의 money 어머닌 결국
(Always) The problem was money. In the end, mother
문제 = a problem
어머니 = mother
결국 = finally, in the end
(Go away) 타지로 일하러 가셨어
(Go away) went out of town to work.
타지 = a different province, a different part of the country
-로 = to X (타지로)
일하다 = to work
-러 / -으러 = to go to do X (일하러)
가다 = to go
전화로 듣는 엄마의 목소리는 선명하고
Mom’s voice was so clear on the phone, and
전화 = a phone, a phone call
듣다 = to hear
목소리 = a voice
선명하다 = to be clear, distinct
-고 = X and (선명하고)
기억나는 건
what I remember
기어나다 = to remember
그때 엄마의 강인함이 내겐 변화구.
is that Mom’s strength was a breaking ball for me back then.
그 = that, those
강인함 = strength, tenacity
내 = I, me, my
에게 = to X, for X (내게)
변화구 = a breaking ball
정말로 꼭 성공해야겠다고 결심하고
Seriously, I resolved to succeed no matter what, and
정말로 = really, truly
꼭 = for sure, without fail, no matter what
성공하다 = to succeed
결심하다 = to decide, to resolve
그 다짐 하나로
with that one promise
다짐 = a pledge, a promise, a resolution
하나 = one
-로 / -으로 = with, via X (하나로)
지금의 아들로
I became the son I am now.
지금 = now
아들 = a son
-로 / -으로 = into X (as in, to turn into) (아들로)
Chorus:
Hey mama
이젠 내게 기대도 돼 언제나 옆에
Now you can lean on me. Always by your side.
이제 = now
기대다 = to lean on, to depend on
-아도 되다 / -어도 되다 = “You can do X”, “It’s ok if you do X” (기대도 돼)
언제나 = always
옆 = beside
Hey mama
내게 아낌없이 주셨기에 버팀목이었기에
Because you gave to me unsparingly. Because you were my pillar.
아낌없이 = generously, unsparingly
주다 = to give
-기에 = “because X”, used to explain a reason why one is doing something (주셨기에)
버팀목 = a wooden support, a brace
Hey mama
이젠 아들내미 믿으면 돼 웃으면 돼
Now you can trust your little boy. You can smile.
아들내미 = an affectionate way to refer to one’s son
믿다 = to trust, believe in
-으면 되다 / -면 되다 = Used to suggest one can or should do X (믿으면 돼)
웃다 = to smile, to laugh
Hey mama
Hey mama
Verse 2:
Hey mama
I’m sorry mama
하늘같은 은혜 이제 알아서 mama
for only realizing your sky-high goodness now, mama.
하늘 = a sky
-같다 = to be like X (하늘같다)
은혜 = favour, kindness, grace
알다 = to know
-아서 / -어서 = because X (알아서)
Hey mama
So thanks mama
내게 피와 살이 되어주셔서 mama
For becoming my flesh and blood, mama.
피 = blood
-와 / -과 = “and” when followed by another noun. “with” in all other cases. (피와)
살 = flesh, fat
되다 = to become
기억해 mom?
Do you remember, mom?
기억하다 = to remember
문흥동 히딩크 PC방, 브로드웨이 레스토랑
Munheungdong Hiddink Internet Cafe, Broadway Restaurant?
가정 위해 두 발 뛰는 베테랑
A veteran of being run off her feet for her family.
가정 = family
위하다 = to be for X, for the benefit of X (X being the preceding noun)
두 = two
발 = a foot
뛰다 = to run, to jump
베테랑 = a veteran
실패는 성공의 어머니 어머니
Failure is the mother, mother of success.
실패 = failure
성공 = success
그런 열정과 성심을 배워
I follow your example of passion and sincerity.
그렇다 = to be like that
열정 = passion, ardor
성심 = sincerity
배우다 = to learn, to emulate
Wanna be wanna be
이제 나도 어른이 될 때
Now it’s time for me to become an adult too.
-도 = X too, even X (나도)
어른 = an adult
새싹에 큰 거름이 되었기에
Because you were such a great fertilizer to this sprout,
(새싹 mean “sprout”, but also “child” or “children” like the English expression “little sprouts”)
새싹 = a sprout, a shoot
거름 = fertilizer
꽃이 되어 그대만의 꽃길이 될게
I become a flower. I’ll become a path of flowers just for you.
You walking on way way way.
꽃 = a flower
그대 = “you” affectionately
-만 = just X, only X(그대만의)
꽃길 = a flower path. This is a Korean expression very similar to “a bed of roses”. To walk down a flower path means to have a happy future free from trouble.
-게 / -을게 = “I’ll do X” with an added nuance of “unless you object” or “if that’s ok with you” (될게)
Chorus:
Hey mama
이젠 내게 기대도 돼 언제나 옆에
Now you can lean on me. Always by your side.
Hey mama
내게 아낌없이 주셨기에 버팀목이었기에
Because you gave to me unsparingly. Because you were my pillar.
Hey mama
이젠 아들내미 믿으면 돼 웃으면 돼
Now you can trust your little boy. You can smile.
Hey mama
Hey mama
Bridge:
세상을 느끼게 해준 그대가 만들어준 숨
The breath you gave me that allowed me to feel the world.
세상 = a world
니끼다 = to feel
-게 하다 = to make/let X happen (느끼게 하다)
만들다 = to make
숨 = a breath
오늘따라 문득 더 안고 싶은 품
The embrace that today I suddenly want to return even more.
오늘따라 = today of all days, today especially
문득 = suddenly
더 = more
안다 = to hug
-고 싶다 = to want to do X (안고 싶은)
품 = bosom/embrace (a word really only used into connection with embracing)
땅 위 그 무엇이 높다 하리오
Higher than anything on land.
땅 = land
위 = the top of something
무엇 = what, something, anything (context-dependent)
높다 = to be high
하늘 밑 그 무엇이 넓다 하리오
Wider than anything under the sky.
밑 = the bottom of something, the area under something
넓다 = to be wide, broad
오직 하나 엄마 손이 약손
The one and only “Mom’s hand is a hand of healing.”
(엄마 손이 약손 are the first words of a song sometimes sung by mothers in Korea while rubbing their child’s belly when the child has a stomachache)]
오직 = exclusively, only
손 = a hand
약 = medicine
그대는 영원한 나만의 placebo
You’re an eternal placebo just for me.
I love mom
영원하다 = to be unchanging, to be eternal
Chorus:
Hey mama
이젠 내게 기대도 돼 언제나 옆에
Now you can lean on me. Always by your side.
Hey mama
내게 아낌없이 주셨기에 버팀목이었기에
Because you gave to me unsparingly. Because you were my pillar.
Hey mama
이젠 아들내미 믿으면 돼 웃으면 돼
Now you can trust your little boy. You can smile.
Hey mama
Hey mama
Hey mama
이젠 내게 기대도 돼 언제나 옆에
Now you can lean on me. Always by your side.
Hey mama
내게 아낌없이 주셨기에 버팀목이었기에
Because you gave to me unsparingly. Because you were my pillar.
Hey mama
이젠 아들내미 믿으면 돼 웃으면 돼
Now you can trust your little boy. You can smile.
Hey mama
Hey mama
