ROSÉ and Bruno Mars: What does APT. mean? Drinking game rules and more

Unless you've been living under a rock, or somewhere with seriously dodgy Wi-Fi, you can't have failed to have heard ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's catchy-as-anything new single APT.

The UK's Official biggest Trending song, APT. also saw BLACKPINK idol ROSÉ secure her highest-ever Official Singles Chart placing last week; debuting at Number 4 on Friday (October 25). In doing so, ROSÉ became the highest-charting female K-pop solo artist in UK chart history.

One thing many are wondering, though, is what the heck its 'meet me at the APT' lyric actually means.

Well folks, we're here to educate; and it all originates from a popular Korean drinking game known as 'the apartment game.' Allow us to explain.

MORE: Where every BLACKPINK song and album has charted in the UK

How do you pronounce ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's APT.?

'APT.' is pronounced as it's sung in the chorus; ap-a-teu. Apateu (아파트) is actually the Korean pronunciation of 'apartment.'

What does ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's APT. song mean?

APT. draws inspiration from Korean drinking culture and, specifically, a popular drinking game known as 'the apartment game.'

Explaining the backstory to the song through her agency The Black Label, ROSÉ says:

"APT. is actually my favorite Korean drinking game that I play with my friends back home. It’s so simple, puts a smile on your face and breaks the ice at any party.

"One night in the studio, I taught my crew how to play the game. Everyone was fascinated, especially when I started the chant, so we played around with it and I said we should make a song out of it and, after Bruno joined the track, the rest became history!"

What are the APT. ('Apartment Game') Korean drinking game rules?

'The apartment game' sees players layers stack their hands together, with the leader calling out a number. Players remove their hands one-by-one, starting from the bottom. Whoever pulls their hand out on the number the leader called, or if they repeat a number that's already been called, that player must drink as a forfeit.

MORE: ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's APT. is Number 1 Trending song in UK

What song does ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's APT. sample?

Recognise that beat? APT. interpolates Toni Basil's 1982 hit Mickey, with its writers Michael Chapman and Nicholas Chinn credited as songwriters on the track.

Does ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's APT. sample The Ting Tings' That's Not My Name?

Nope, APT. does not sample The Ting Tings' 2008 chart-topper That's Not My Name.

Who is BLACKPINK's ROSÉ?

ROS, born Roseanne Park on February 11 1997, is a New Zealand-born, Australia-raised singer-songwriter based in South Korea. Rising to fame as a member of K-pop group BLACKPINK, ROSÉ has scored eight UK Top 40 singles and three Top 40 albums with the group, including chart-topping 2022 LP BORN PINK.

ROSÉ's debut solo release On The Ground peaked at Number 43 in the UK in 2021.

When was ROSÉ's debut solo album rosie released?

ROSÉ's debut solo album, rosie, was released December 6 2024.

ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's APT. lyrics (transcribed in English)

Chaeyoung's favorite random game
Random game
Game start

Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Kissy face, kissy face
Sent to your phone, but
I’m tryna kiss your lips for real (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
Red hearts, red hearts
That's what I'm on, yeah
Come give me somethin’ I can feel, oh-oh, oh

Don't you want me like I want you, baby?
Don't you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the

Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh

It's whatever (Whatever), it's whatever (Whatever)
It's whatever (Whatever) you like (Woo)
Turn this apartment into a club (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
I'm talkin' drink, dance, smoke, freak, party all night (Come on)
Cheers, cheers, girl, what’s up? Oh-oh, oh

Don’t you want me like I want you, baby?
Don't you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the

Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Hey, so now you know the game
Are you ready?
’Cause I'm comin' to get ya, get ya, get ya
Hold on, hold on
I'm on my way
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah
I’m on my way
Hold on, hold on
I'm on my way
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah
I'm on my way

Don't you want me like I want you, baby?
Don't you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the

Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Just meet me at the (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Just meet me at the (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Just meet me at the (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Apartment, apartment
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh

What is ROSÉ's highest-charting solo single in the UK?

APT. is ROSÉ's highest-charting solo track to date, peaking at Number 2. Could it end up going all the way soon?

Will ROSÉ perform APT. solo on BLACKPINK's 2025 world tour?

We don't know the answer to that just yet but, since the girls typically perform solo tracks in their set, we'd say there's a strong chance APT. will get an outing.

Find out where APT. lands on the UK's Official Singles Chart from 5.45pm here.

ROSÉ and Bruno Mars's APT. is out now via Atlantic Records.

Images: Atlantic Records.