Born to be Wild (Feat. 박진영) – English Lyrics

• By: JYP, Hyoyeon, Min, Jo Kwon

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wild /waɪld/ B1	adjective - (of a person or their behavior) uncontrolled, unruly, or uninhibited; untamed.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - (informal) extremely enthusiastic or excited; mad or insane.
born /bɔːrn/ A1	verb - (past participle of bear) existing as a result of birth; naturally having a particular quality or character from birth.
시간 /ɕi.ɡan/ A1	noun - time; duration.
아깝다 /a.k͈ap̚.t͈a/ B1	adjective - to be a pity; to be regrettable; to be too precious or valuable to waste.
놀다 /nol.da/ A1	verb - to play; to hang out; to have fun.
무리 /mu.ɾi/ B1	noun - a group of people or animals; a crowd; a crew.
흔들다 /hɯn.dɯl.da/ A2	verb - to shake; to sway; to swing.
몸 /mom/ A1	noun - body; physical self.
준비되다 /jun.bi.dwe.da/ A2	verb - to be ready; to be prepared.
말하다 /mal.ha.da/ A1	verb - to speak; to say; to tell.
피 /pʰi/ B1	noun - blood (the red liquid in the bodies of people and animals).
쳐다보다 /tɕʰʌ.da.bo.da/ B1	verb - to look at intently; to stare at; to gaze at.
신기하다 /ɕin.ɡi.ha.da/ B2	adjective - to be amazing; to be fascinating; to be wondrous; to be strange or curious in a surprising way.
눈 /nun/ A1	noun - eye (the organ of sight).
두렵다 /du.ɾjʌp̚.t͈a/ B1	adjective - to be afraid; to be scared; to fear.
어머니 /ʌ.mʌ.ni/ A1	noun - mother (a polite or formal term for one's mother).
지르다 /tɕi.ɾɯ.da/ B1	verb - to shout; to yell; to scream (often used with '소리' meaning 'sound' to form '소리 지르다').

Key Grammar Structures

• 더 이상은 눈치 보지 마 우리

  ➔ 더 이상 (-지 마)

  ➔ The phrase "더 이상" means "no longer" or "anymore." When combined with the negative imperative verb ending "-지 마" (don't do), it forms a strong prohibition or advice to "not do something anymore." Here, it means "Don't mind what others think 'anymore'."

• 흘러가는 시간이 아깝잖아

  ➔ -아/어 가다 + -잖아

  ➔ "-(으)러 가다" (often shortened to "-어 가다" when describing a process) indicates a continuous or progressive action, similar to "keep doing" or "go on doing." The ending "-잖아" is used to confirm something that the speaker assumes the listener already knows or agrees with, often translated as "you know" or "isn't it?" So, "흘러가는 시간이 아깝잖아" means "Time is passing 'by', you know (and it's a waste)."

• 노는 거라면 우리 무리

  ➔ -는 거라면

  ➔ "-는 거라면" is a conditional expression formed by nominalizing a verb with "-는 것" (the act of doing) and adding "-이라면" (if it is). It sets a premise or topic, meaning "if it's about X" or "if it's the case that X." Here, "노는 거라면" means "If it's about 'partying' (or having fun), our group is the best."

• 둘째가라면 서럽잖아

  ➔ 둘째가라면 서럽다 (idiom)

  ➔ This is a common Korean idiom "둘째가라면 서럽다" (literally: 'it would be sad if one came in second'). It means that someone is so good at something that they are virtually unmatched, or 'second to none'. Combined with "-잖아", it confirms this fact as something the listener should know. Here, it conveys that their group is exceptionally good at 'partying'.

• 우리가 누군지 말해 줄까

  ➔ -ㄴ/은/는지 + -아/어 주다 + -ㄹ까

  ➔ This line combines three significant grammar points: "-ㄴ/은/는지" is used to embed an indirect question (who we are). "-아/어 주다" indicates an action done for the benefit or favor of someone else (to tell for you). Lastly, "-ㄹ까" is a common interrogative ending asking for the listener's opinion or suggesting an action (shall I/should I tell). Together, it means "Shall I tell you 'who we are'?"

• 이렇게 태어난 걸 어떻게 해

  ➔ -ㄴ/은/는 것 + 어떻게 해?

  ➔ "-ㄴ/은/는 것" is a nominalizer that turns a verb or adjective into a noun phrase, meaning 'the fact that' or 'the thing that'. When combined with "어떻게 해?" (what to do? / what can be done?), it expresses a sense of helplessness, resignation, or the inability to change a situation. Here, "이렇게 태어난 걸 어떻게 해" implies "What can I do about 'being born this way'?" (it's unchangeable).

• 몸속에 뭐가 있나 봐

  ➔ -나 보다

  ➔ "-나 보다" is used to express conjecture or inference based on observation, perception, or general feeling. It conveys a sense of "it seems like," "I guess," or "I suppose." It's often used when the speaker is not entirely sure but has a strong hunch. Here, "몸속에 뭐가 있나 봐" means "It seems like there's 'something in my body' (making me act this way)."

• 내가 어렸을 때부터 이랬대

  ➔ -았/었을 때부터 + -대 (-다고 해)

  ➔ "-았/었을 때부터" means "from the time when..." and indicates the starting point of a continuous state or action in the past. "-대" is a contracted form of "-다고 해," which is the informal reported speech ending for verbs. It means "(someone) said that..." Here, "내가 어렸을 때부터 이랬대" means "(They) said I've been 'like this since I was little'."

• 엄마도 어이없으셨대

  ➔ -으셨대 (-으셨다고 해)

  ➔ "-으셨대" is the contracted form of "-으셨다고 해," which combines the honorific past tense ending "-(으)시-" (for respecting the subject) with the reported speech ending "-다고 해" (said that). This shows that the speaker is reporting what a respected person (mother) said or felt, indicating a past state or reaction with respect. Here, "엄마도 어이없으셨대" means "(They said) my mom 'was also dumbfounded' (respectfully)."

• 하지만 몸이 가만 있질 않아

  ➔ -질 않다 (variation of -지 않다)

  ➔ "-질 않다" is a colloquial and somewhat emphatic variation of the standard negative ending "-지 않다." While both mean "not do/be," "-질 않다" often implies a stronger or more deliberate negation, or it can simply be a more natural-sounding conversational form, especially when the object particle "-을/를" is dropped and combined directly with the verb stem. Here, "몸이 가만 있질 않아" means "My body 'just won't stay still'."