The Meaning Behind TXT's "New Rules" | Korean Lesson for MOA
1. The Feeling of the Song: A Korean Fan's Perspective 🎵
"New Rules" is the ultimate stress-reliever song for me. As a Korean who went through a very structured school system, this song is pure catharsis. It captures the frustration of being stuck in a repetitive life, defined by the "lines" of a math problem or the strict rules of society. There's a playful, almost mischievous energy to it—the desire to turn an escalator into a slide isn't about causing real harm, but about finding freedom and fun in a world that feels too serious. It’s the perfect soundtrack for wanting to break free and be a little bit of a "troublemaker," which is a very relatable feeling for young people here. It's also one of the most exciting songs to do the fanchant for at a concert! Let's all shout it together at the next concert: 'Sangsik!' (Common Sense!) 🤘
2. Full Lyrics (Korean/Romanized/English) 📜
Yeah, I think I'm feeling alright 아니면 아니었나, Hey (Yeah, I think I'm feeling alright animyeon anieonna, Hey) Yeah, I think I'm feeling alright, or maybe not, Hey
반복의 수학시간 선들에 갇힌 내 삶 (banbogui suhaksigan seondeure gachin nae salm) Repetitive math class, my life trapped in lines
왼발 오른발이면 오른발 왼발이 편해 (oenbal oreunbarimyeon oreunbal oenbari pyeonhae) If it's left foot, right foot, I'm more comfortable with right foot, left foot
왜 이런지는 나도 몰라 세상 모든 게 선악과 (Yum-yum) (wae ireonjineun nado molla sesang modeun ge seonakgwa (Yum-yum)) I don't know why I'm like this, everything in the world is the fruit of good and evil (Yum-yum)
잠긴 옥상엔 더 괜히 가고 싶어 (jamgin oksang-en deo gwaenhi gago sipeo) I want to go to the locked rooftop for no reason
정해진 문자 말투 난 지겨워, 지겨워 (jeonghaejin munja maltu nan jigyeowo, jigyeowo) I'm sick of, sick of the set texting style
(왜) 페북 인스타에선 (왜) 쌤이 왜 이렇게 많아? ((wae) pebuk inseuta-eseon (wae) ssaemi wae ireoke mana?) (Why) on Facebook, Instagram (why) are there so many teachers?
(왜, 왜) 수업이 왜 이렇게 많아? 다 비켜, 비켜줘 ((wae, wae) sueobi wae ireoke mana? da bikyeo, bikyeojwo) (Why, why) are there so many classes? Move, get out of the way
나 벌받을 게 뻔해도 더 짜릿한 걸 원해 갖다 줘 (na beolbadeul ge ppeonhaedo deo jjarithan geol wonhae gatda jwo) Even if it's obvious I'll be punished, I want something more thrilling, bring it to me
넘지 말라면 I want it 하지 말라면 I do it, Stupid but 난 (neomji mallamyeon I want it haji mallamyeon I do it, Stupid but nan) If they say don't cross it, I want it, if they say don't do it, I do it, Stupid but I
펑크이고 싶어 (peongkeuigo sipeo) I want to be punk
Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go (Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go) Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go
Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go (펑크이고 싶어) (Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go (peongkeuigo sipeo)) Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go (I want to be punk)
펑크이고 싶어 (peongkeuigo sipeo) I want to be punk
Where we go? where we go? Where we go? Don't know (Where we go? where we go? Where we go? Don't know) Where we go? where we go? Where we go? Don't know
Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go (Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go) Let me go, let me go, let me go, go, go
에스컬레이터는 미끄럼틀이 되고 (eseukeolleiteoneun mikkeureomteuri doego) The escalator becomes a slide
기대지 말라면 기대고 (gidaeji mallamyeon gidaego) If they say don't lean, I lean
Trouble, trouble, let me go (Trouble, trouble, let me go) Trouble, trouble, let me go
나의 투명한 족쇄를 깨고 룰을 만들어 새로 (naui tumyeonghan jokswaereul kkaego rureul mandeureo saero) Breaking my transparent shackles, I make new rules
I'm troublemaker, let me go (I'm troublemaker, let me go) I'm troublemaker, let me go
네가 좋아하는 상식 (상식) 그건 누구의 상식 (상식) (nega joahaneun sangsik (sangsik) geugeon nuguui sangsik (sangsik)) The common sense you like (common sense), whose common sense is that (common sense)
검증받고 왔니 뭐 어디 석사님 박사님께? (geomjeungbatgo wanni mwo eodi seoksanim baksanimkke?) Did you get it verified by some master's or doctor's degree holder?
내가 만든 상식 (상식) Do it what I like it (like it) (naega mandeun sangsik (sangsik) Do it what I like it (like it)) The common sense I made (common sense), Do it what I like it (like it)
핸들 내가 잡지 I'm troublemaker (haendeul naega japji I'm troublemaker) I grab the handle, I'm a troublemaker
나 벌받을 게 뻔해도 더 짜릿한 걸 원해 갖다 줘 (na beolbadeul ge ppeonhaedo deo jjarithan geol wonhae gatda jwo) Even if it's obvious I'll be punished, I want something more thrilling, bring it to me
넘지 말라면 I want it (말라면 I want it) 하지 말라면 I do it (말라면 I do it) Stupid but 난 (Yeah yeah) (neomji mallamyeon I want it (mallamyeon I want it) haji mallamyeon I do it (mallamyeon I do it) Stupid but nan (Yeah yeah)) If they say don't cross it, I want it (if they say, I want it), if they say don't do it, I do it (if they say, I do it), Stupid but I (Yeah yeah)
펑크이고 싶어 (peongkeuigo sipeo) I want to be punk
펑크이고 싶어 (peongkeuigo sipeo) I want to be punk
I think I'm feeling right (I think I'm feeling right) I think I'm feeling right
I'm trouble maker let me go (I'm trouble maker let me go) (I'm trouble maker let me go (I'm trouble maker let me go)) I'm trouble maker let me go (I'm trouble maker let me go)
I think I'm feeling all right 아니면 아니었나 (Yeah) (I think I'm feeling all right animyeon anieonna (Yeah)) I think I'm feeling all right, or maybe not (Yeah)
반복의 수학시간 (Oh) 선들에 갇힌 내 삶 (banbogui suhaksigan (Oh) seondeure gachin nae salm) Repetitive math class (Oh), my life trapped in lines
쉿 왼발 오른발이면 (Hoo) 쉿 오른발 왼발이 편해 (swit oenbal oreunbarimyeon (Hoo) swit oreunbal oenbari pyeonhae) Shh, if it's left foot, right foot (Hoo), shh, I'm more comfortable with right foot, left foot
왜 이런지는 나도 몰라 (Yeah) 세상 모든 게 선악과 (Oh) (wae ireonjineun nado molla (Yeah) sesang modeun ge seonakgwa (Oh)) I don't know why I'm like this (Yeah), everything in the world is the forbidden fruit (Oh)
3. Key Expressions Breakdown ✍️
Expression 1: A Life in Lines
The Lyric: 선들에 갇힌 내 삶 (seondeure gachin nae salm)
Literal Translation: My life trapped in lines.
Natural Translation: My life, trapped by lines/boundaries.
The word 선 (seon) simply means "line," but here it's a powerful metaphor. For Korean students, it immediately brings to mind the lines on exam papers, the lines in a math textbook, or the lines you have to stand in at school. It represents all the rules, boundaries, and expectations that confine them. So, being 'trapped in lines' isn't just a visual image; it's a feeling of being suffocated by a rigid and repetitive system.
Grammar Point: ~에 갇힌 (~e gachin) is the passive form. `가두다` (gaduda) means "to trap someone," so `갇히다` (gachida) means "to be trapped." The `~ㄴ` ending turns it into a modifier for `내 삶` (my life).
Bonus: This feeling of escaping a confined space is a recurring theme. In "Run Away," they escape the school to a magical place, literally breaking free from the "lines" of their everyday life.
Expression 2: The Forbidden Fruit
The Lyric: 세상 모든 게 선악과 (sesang modeun ge seonakgwa)
Literal Translation: Everything in the world is the fruit of good and evil.
Natural Translation: Everything in the world is like the forbidden fruit.
선악과 (seonakgwa) is the Korean word for the "fruit of the knowledge of good and evil" from the Bible. In a modern context, it's used to describe something that is tempting but forbidden, something that forces you to choose between "good" (obeying) and "evil" (disobeying). The lyric implies a frustration with a world where everything fun and desirable is labeled as bad or off-limits by adults, making the simple act of having fun feel like a sin.
Grammar Point: This is a simple `A는 B이다` (A is B) sentence structure. `세상 모든 게` (everything in the world) is A, and `선악과` (forbidden fruit) is B.
Bonus: The theme of temptation and breaking taboos is explored in a darker, more mature way in "Devil by the Window" and "Good Boy Gone Bad."
Expression 3: Transparent Shackles
The Lyric: 나의 투명한 족쇄를 깨고 (naui tumyeonghan jokswaereul kkaego)
Literal Translation: Breaking my transparent shackles.
Natural Translation: Breaking free from my invisible chains.
The combination of 투명한 (tumyeonghan - transparent) and 족쇄 (jokswae - shackles) is very powerful. Shackles are heavy and visible. But "transparent shackles" refers to the invisible rules, societal pressures, and expectations that hold you back. They aren't physical, but they feel just as real and restrictive. The act of 'breaking' them (`깨고`) is a declaration of intent to defy these unseen forces and define oneself on one's own terms.
Grammar Point: ~를 깨고 (~reul kkaego) means "breaking (object) and...". The `~고` ending connects this action to the next one in the lyric, which is "making new rules."
Bonus: This idea of breaking free from an invisible system is similar to the themes in "Can't You See Me?", where the members are trapped in a relationship that seems fine on the outside but is restrictive on the inside.
4. Pronunciation Clinic: Sound Like a Native 🎤
- 족쇄를 깨고 (jokswaereul kkaego): For 족쇄 (jokswae), the '쇄' (swae) is a combination of 's' and the 'wae' vowel. It sounds like "sway" but with a shorter 'ae' sound. The tense consonant 'ㄲ' (kk) in `깨고` requires you to build pressure at the back of your throat and release it without a puff of air.
- 짜릿한 (jjarithan): The 'ㅉ' (jj) is a tense consonant. Press the tip of your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth, build pressure, and release a sharp, clipped sound. It's the sound you might make to say "tsk tsk" but with your voice.
5. Conclusion ✨
"New Rules" is more than just a fun, energetic track; it's a powerful statement about youth and individuality. Through clever metaphors like being trapped in `선들` (lines) and breaking `투명한 족쇄` (transparent shackles), the lyrics express a deep desire for freedom that anyone who has ever felt restricted can understand.
I hope this song inspires you to find your own fun, question the rules, and maybe even turn an escalator into a slide (metaphorically, of course!). It's a reminder that sometimes, the best rules are the ones you make for yourself. 🔥