Dive into Stray Kids’ CEREMONY Korean lyrics! Discover the playful sounds and expressions that bring the song to life—시끌시끌, 북적해, 붕 붕 붕—and explore cultural moments like 반지 키스. Perfect for K-pop fans and learners seeking meaning, energy, and fun behind the words.
1. “We did it 소리 질러 wow”
Literal meaning: “We did it, shout wow!”
This line is a classic hype expression. In both Korean and English, it’s the kind of phrase you’d hear when a big goal has been achieved—whether it’s winning a game, finishing a performance, or receiving an award.
In Korean, “소리 질러” literally means “make some noise” or “shout out.” It’s a phrase often used by MCs or performers to excite the crowd. By combining it with “We did it,” Stray Kids are inviting both themselves and their fans (STAY) to celebrate together.
It’s not just about personal achievement; it’s about collective triumph. In this context, the group isn’t only flexing their success but also rallying their fans to join in the victory shout.
👉 In natural English, you might rephrase this line as:
“We made it—everybody scream!”
2. “Slide 반지 키스 muah”
Literal meaning: “Slide, ring, kiss, muah.”
At first glance, “반지 키스” (“ring kiss”) may sound like the English phrase “kiss the ring”, which in sports and hip-hop often symbolizes championship-level authority or recognition. However, in the Korean context, the phrase immediately recalls a legendary cultural moment: Ahn Jung-hwan’s 2002 World Cup goal celebration.
When Ahn scored the golden goal against Italy in the Round of 16, he kissed the ring on his left hand. At the time, many believed it was his wedding ring, symbolizing his love for his wife. Later, he revealed that it was actually a couple ring from their dating days. This detail highlights Korea’s unique “couple ring” culture, where dating partners often wear matching rings as a sign of commitment even before marriage. In fact, the term “couple ring” itself is Konglish; in English, the closest equivalent is usually called a “promise ring.”
Since then, “반지의 키스” has become iconic in Korean sports history. A quick search in Korean still shows Ahn’s photo as the top result. Thus, when Koreans hear “반지 키스,” they don’t just think of respect or power like in the Western “kiss the ring.” Instead, they recall victory, love, and a celebratory gesture forever linked to that World Cup moment.
This explains why Stray Kids’ lyric resonates differently for Korean listeners compared to international fans. For Koreans, it naturally carries the connotation of a victory celebration (세레모니)—a term widely used in Konglish. In Korean, “세레모니” doesn’t strictly mean “ceremony” as in English (a formal ritual), but rather leans toward “celebration”, especially in sports (e.g., “골 세레모니” = goal celebration). English speakers would usually say “goal celebration,” but in Korea, “세레모니” has become the standard expression.
3. “받아 내 상 마치 부케 / 봐라 내 두 손은 두둑해”
Literal meaning: “Take my award like it’s a bouquet / Look, both my hands are full.”
Here, Stray Kids are blending two celebratory images: an award (상) and a bouquet (부케). In Korea, after a big performance or a competition, it’s common to see winners receive not only trophies but also flower bouquets. The bouquet is a visual shorthand for recognition, celebration, and applause. By comparing an award to a bouquet, the lyric suggests that success comes with both prestige and festivity—it’s not just about achievement, but also about being celebrated.
The second line, “봐라 내 두 손은 두둑해”, literally means “Look, my two hands are full (stuffed).” The word “두둑하다” carries the nuance of being filled to the brim—whether it’s pockets full of money, bags full of goods, or in this case, hands full of awards and recognition. It conveys both material and symbolic abundance. In English, a natural rendering might be: “Look—my hands are overflowing.”
Together, these lines reinforce the theme of overflowing success. The award is not presented as a heavy burden but as something celebratory, like a bouquet. And having “hands full” in this context shows that Stray Kids are not only winning but winning so much that it’s hard to hold it all.
4. “바쁠 때 눈코 뜰 새가 없대 but that’s okay 소감을 또 준비해”
Literal meaning: “When busy, they say I don’t even have time to open their eyes or nose, but that’s okay—I prepare another speech.”
The phrase “눈코 뜰 새 없다” is a common Korean idiom. Literally translated, it means “no time to open one’s eyes or nose.” It’s used to describe being extremely busy, to the point that you can’t even catch your breath. In English, the closest equivalent would be: “I’m swamped” or “I’m overwhelmed with work.”
This idiom is often used in the slightly longer form “눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다”, which literally means “to be busy without a moment to open one’s eyes or nose.” It emphasizes continuous, relentless busyness.
For example, in a conversation:
– Friend: “영수야, 요즘 어때?”
(“Youngsoo, how have you been these days?”)
– Youngsoo: “눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘지…”
(“I’ve been swamped with work…”)
This shows how the idiom naturally expresses one’s own busy schedule in response to a question.
Despite this busyness, the lyric continues with “but that’s okay 소감을 또 준비해.” Here, “소감” refers to a speech, typically given when receiving an award or recognition. In Korean pop culture, idols are often expected to prepare acceptance speeches for music shows, year-end ceremonies, or fan events. Stray Kids are playfully noting that no matter how hectic their schedule, they are ready to stand on stage and thank their fans again and again.
5. “I feel like 우주 붕 붕 붕 ho”
Literal meaning: “I feel like I’m racing (or flying) through the universe, zooming, zooming, zooming ho.”
The phrase “붕 붕 붕” is a common Korean onomatopoeia, often used to imitate the sound of an engine. It’s typically heard when a car or motorcycle is speeding along. In English, it’s similar to “vroom vroom vroom.”
Sometimes, Koreans also write it as “부릉 부릉”, which conveys the same engine-revving sound. The choice between “붕 붕 붕” and “부릉 부릉” is largely stylistic and can add a playful, energetic tone to the expression.
In this lyric, Stray Kids are using “붕 붕 붕” to evoke a feeling of speed, excitement, and boundless motion. Combined with “I feel like 우주” (“I feel like I’m in the universe”), it gives the impression of racing or flying through space, capturing the song’s dynamic energy and sense of limitless freedom.
To better understand the feeling behind “붕 붕 붕” in Korean, you might find the following animation helpful:
꼬마자동차 붕붕 (Little Car Bongbong)
Originally a Japanese animation titled へーい！ブンブー (Hey! Bunbu), it was broadcast in Korea in 1985 as 꼬마자동차 붕붕 (Little Car Boongboong).
Animation Information:
– Original Title: へーい！ブンブー (Hey! Bunbu)
– Country of Production: Japan
– Korean Broadcast Title: 꼬마자동차 붕붕
– Aired in Korea: 1985
– Total Episodes: 130
– Episode Duration: Approximately 10 minutes each
– Directed by: 오카베 에이지 (Okabe Eiji) and 요시다 켄지로 (Yoshida Kenjiro)
Reference: Namuwiki – https://namu.wiki/w/꼬마자동차%20붕붕
The series features a small, talking car named 붕붕 (Boongboong), who embarks on various adventures. The onomatopoeic sound “붕 붕 붕” is frequently used to represent the car’s movement, capturing the essence of speed and motion.
To experience the theme song of 꼬마자동차 붕붕, you can watch the following YouTube video:
[https://youtu.be/RGtWxlljJHo?si=iR18qIvKWlEMZhlG]
6. “이 상태는 엄청나”
Literal meaning: “This state/mood is amazing” or “This situation is incredible.”
The adjective “엄청나” comes from the basic form “엄청나다”. It can be used in several ways in Korean:
- As a predicate: 그의 실력은 엄청나다 (“His skill is incredible”).
- To modify a noun: 그는 엄청난 실력을 가지고 있다 (“He has tremendous skill”).
- As an exclamation: 정말 엄청나! (“Really amazing!”)
The phrase “굉장해. 엄청나!” combines two exclamatory adjectives:
- 굉장해 roughly means “fantastic,” “amazing,” or “impressive.” It emphasizes impressiveness or excellence rather than size.
- 엄청나 emphasizes magnitude, intensity, or overwhelming quality.
Together, “굉장해. 엄청나!” conveys both awe-inspiring quality and sheer intensity.
A well-known pop culture reference for this phrase comes from the animation 짱구는 못말려 극장판: 핸더랜드의 대모험 (1996). In the movie, Shin-chan shouts this phrase while using the trump card “굉장해 엄청나” to summon characters like Kantam Robo, Action Mask, and Buriburizaemon. The original Japanese title is 映画 クレヨンしんちゃん: ヘンダーランドの大冒険.
Reference: Namuwiki –https://namu.wiki/w/극장판%20짱구는%20못말려:%20핸더랜드의%20대모험
Because this animation was a nostalgic hit, the phrase “굉장해. 엄청나!” eventually became popular as an internet meme on Korean online communities such as DC Inside and Ruliweb. For younger or internet-savvy audiences, hearing “이 상태는 엄청나” in the Stray Kids song may evoke not just the literal meaning of “This situation is amazing,” but also the playful, exaggerated, meme-like energy associated with the phrase.
Thus, while older generations might interpret “이 상태는 엄청나” simply as a statement about the intensity of the moment, younger generations familiar with online culture may connect it to the nostalgic meme, giving the lyric a layered cultural resonance.
7. “삐끗삐끗 터지는 emergency”
Literal meaning: “An emergency that pops up irregularly” or “An emergency occurring unpredictably.”
The word “삐끗삐끗” is a versatile ideophone (의성어/의태어) in Korean. It can describe something unstable, off-balance, or fluctuating, whether physically or metaphorically. In this context, combined with “터지는 emergency”, it conveys the sense of a sudden, unpredictable, and chaotic situation.
Uses of “삐끗삐끗”:
- Physical movement: Can describe slipping, losing balance, or a limb moving awkwardly.
- Instability in relationships or situations: Used metaphorically when things are not going smoothly, or relationships are tense or wobbly.
- Song titles: Appears in titles by artists such as ZE:A, A.C.E, and Kyung Dasom.
In the Stray Kids song, “삐끗삐끗 터지는 emergency” is used creatively for ‘rhythm, flow, and onomatopoeic effect’, borrowing the irregular and jagged nuance of the word to illustrate an emergency that occurs unpredictably.
8. “We don’t care, show you 나 버젓이”
Literal meaning: “We don’t care, and here I am, openly/showing up.”
The Korean word “버젓이” generally means “openly,” “in broad daylight,” or “without shame.” It is often used to indicate that someone is doing something in a bold, visible, or even audacious way.
It’s important to note that 버젓이 is frequently used in negative contexts as well, not just positive ones. For instance:
- “버젓이 거짓말을 하다” → “to lie brazenly”
- “버젓이 규칙을 어기다” → “to break the rules openly”
Thus, hearing “버젓이” does not automatically imply something positive—it can highlight **boldness or audacity**, often in situations where the speaker disapproves.
In the Stray Kids lyric “We don’t care, show you 나 버젓이”, the word emphasizes the group’s **confident, unapologetic attitude**, showing up or performing boldly, regardless of expectations or criticism.
9. “여기저기 look at our paradise”
Literal meaning: “Here and there, look at our paradise.”
The Korean word 여기저기 literally means “here and there” or “all around.” It is commonly used to indicate multiple locations or directions. Grammatically, it functions as an adverb, modifying verbs or adjectives to describe actions or states happening in various places.
Usage examples:
- “여기저기 꽃이 피어 있다” – “Flowers are blooming all around.”
- “사람들이 여기저기 모여 있다” – “People are gathered here and there.”
- “여기저기 돌아다니다” – “To go around from place to place.”
- “여기저기서 연락이 온다” – “I’m getting calls from everywhere.”
- “여기저기 상처투성이야” – “I’m covered in wounds here and there.”
Related expressions:
- 곳곳에 – “in many places” (more formal/written)
- 사방에 – “in all directions, everywhere around”
“여기저기” tends to be more colloquial and frequently used in spoken language.
10. “어디까지 갈지 예상 밖이야”
The phrase “예상 밖” is made up of two parts:
- 예상 (yesang) – expectation, prediction
- 밖 (bak) – outside
In Korean, 안/밖 literally mean “inside/outside.”
So, when something is described as 예상 밖, it literally means “outside of expectations,” or “beyond what was expected.”
An important nuance is that 예상 밖 itself is neutral.
It can describe something surprisingly good (better than expected) or surprisingly bad (worse than expected), depending on context.
Examples with “예상 밖”
- “예상 밖의 결과가 나왔다.” – “The result was beyond expectations.” (could be good or bad depending on situation)
- “그의 행동은 예상 밖이었다.” – “His actions were unexpected.” (neutral, context-dependent)
Related Expression: “예상을 벗어나다”
Instead of using the noun form “예상 밖”, Koreans often use the verb phrase “예상을 벗어나다”, which also means “to go beyond expectations” or “to deviate from expectations.”
This too can carry either a positive or negative meaning.
- “그의 대답은 내 예상을 벗어났다.” – “His answer went beyond my expectations.”
- “경기 결과가 모두의 예상을 벗어났다.” – “The game’s outcome was beyond everyone’s expectations.”
11. “시끌시끌 북적해”
Literal meaning: “Noisy and bustling.”
The reduplication “시끌시끌” is an ideophone (의태어) that describes loud, chaotic, or lively sounds, such as chatter or commotion.
When combined with -하다 → “시끌시끌하다”, it functions as an adjective.
Examples with “시끌시끌하다” (adjective)
- “교실이 아이들 이야기 소리로 시끌시끌하다.” – “The classroom is noisy with children’s chatter.”
- “명절을 앞두고 시장이 시끌시끌하다.” – “The market is noisy before the holiday.”
On the other hand, “북적해” is from the verb “북적하다”, meaning “to be crowded” or “to bustle.”
Examples with “북적하다” (verb)
- “주말에는 시장이 북적했다.” – “The market bustled on the weekend.”
- “공원은 산책 나온 시민들로 북적였다.” – “The park bustled with citizens out for a walk.”
- “관광 호텔 로비는 여행객으로 늘 북적였다.” – “The hotel lobby was always crowded with travelers.”
There is also the form “북적부적”, another ideophone that emphasizes the sense of many people moving about.
From this, the verb “북적부적하다” is derived. Unlike “시끌시끌하다” (an adjective), “북적부적하다” is used as a verb, describing the act of bustling or milling about.
12. “우리 근처는 언제나 소음 발생이야”
Literal meaning: “Around us, there’s always noise.”
This line reinforces the previous imagery: their surroundings are constantly noisy or full of activity.
The word 소음 (騷音, noise) is a Sino-Korean word made up of two Chinese characters:
騷 (소), meaning “disturbance” or “commotion,” and 音 (음), meaning “sound.”
Together, the compound conveys the idea of disturbing or disorderly noise.
This fits naturally as a continuation of the previous line “시끌시끌 북적해”, emphasizing constant loudness and bustling surroundings.
13. Conclusion – Stray Kids’ “CEREMONY”: Energy, Language, and Cultural Nuance
Celebratory Energy:
Throughout the lyrics, Stray Kids emphasize victory, achievement, freedom, and joy, creating a festival-like atmosphere for fans. Lines like “We did it 소리 질러 wow” and “받아 내 상 마치 부케” clearly convey this energetic celebration.
Language Play & Cultural References:
The song blends Korean ideophones/imitative expressions (“붕 붕 붕”, “삐끗삐끗”, “시끌시끌”) with idiomatic phrases (“눈코 뜰 새 없다”, “예상 밖”), adding rhythm, humor, and vivid imagery. References such as “반지 키스” bring uniquely Korean cultural moments into the lyrics, resonating with domestic fans while offering international listeners interesting cultural insight.
Nuanced Expressions:
Words like “엄청나” and “버젓이” go beyond simple admiration or positivity—they convey emphasis, confidence, meme-like internet culture, or social attitude. The impact of these expressions varies depending on the listener’s generation and cultural familiarity.
Integration of Korean & English:
By mixing English and Korean (code-switching), Stray Kids engage their global fanbase (STAY) directly while using uniquely Korean expressions as musical devices, enhancing both local nuance and international accessibility.