How You Like That — BLACKPINK: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync저 높이 두 손을 뻗어 봐도jeo no·pi du so·neul ppeo·deo bwa·doStretched both hands up to that heightListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
“How You Like That” by BLACKPINK is about hitting rock bottom and coming back stronger. After a painful fall, a stretch in the dark, and people who laughed at the collapse, she rises with confidence and claims her full share. The mood turns from hurt to defiant swagger, and the challenge to those who doubted is playful, sharp and unapologetic.
Key lines
4 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
저 높이 두 손을 뻗어 봐도Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): jeo no·pi du so·neul ppeo·deo bwa·do
Meaning: Stretched both hands up to that height
Words in this line- 저jeothat
- 높이no·piheight
- 두dutwo
- 손을so·neulhands (object)
- 뻗어ppeo·deostretched
- 봐도bwa·doeven if I looked
Word for word: To that height two hands stretching, looking even
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 봐도 (bwado) literally means 'even if I looked', but in context it means 'even if I tried' or 'despite my attempts'. It expresses the hopelessness of the situation.
실컷 비웃어라 꼴 좋으니까Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): sil·keot bi·u·seo·ra kkol jo·eu·ni·kka
Meaning: Laugh all you want, it looks good
Words in this line- 실컷sil·keotall you want, as much as
- 비웃어라bi·u·seo·ralaugh, mock
- 꼴kkolsight, look
- 좋으니까jo·eu·ni·kkagood, nice
Word for word: Laugh fully, sight good because
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 꼴 좋으니까 (kkol joeunikka) literally means 'because the sight is good', but it's an ironic expression. The narrator is saying enemies can laugh because it looks amusing to them, but it's actually a mask of confidence.
이제 너희 하나 둘 셋Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): i·je neo·hui ha·na dul set
Meaning: Now you, one, two, three
Words in this line- 이제i·jenow
- 너희neo·huiyou (plural)
- 하나ha·naone
- 둘dultwo
- 셋setthree
Word for word: now you (plural) one two three
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version already reads naturally in English. The one nuance worth knowing: 너희 specifically means "you all," addressing a group rather than one person as the countdown starts.
그때쯤에 넌 날 끝내야 했어Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geu·ttae·jjeu·me neon nal kkeun·nae·ya hae·sseo
Meaning: Then you should have ended me
Words in this line- 그때쯤에geu·ttae·jjeu·methen, around that time
- 넌neonyou
- 날nalme
- 끝내야kkeun·nae·yashould have ended
- 했어hae·sseowas
Word for word: then, around that time you me should have ended was
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version is awkward because the object 날 (me) sits right before the verb, and 끝내야 했어 fuses "should" with "have ended" and past tense into one verb chain, unlike English's separate helper words. It means you should have finished the singer off back then. 그때쯤에 means "around that time."
Lyrics © their rights holders. “How You Like That” — BLACKPINK. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask YoonaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 갇혀 | ga·chyeo | trapped |
| 끝자락 | kkeut·jja·rak | edge, hem |
| 나날 | na·nal | days |
| 날개 | nal·gae | wings |
| 눈을 | nu·neul | eyes (object) |
| 딱하지만 | tta·ka·ji·man | pity, but |
| 뚫고 | ttul·ko | piercing, broke through |
| 띠며 | tti·myeo | with, bearing |
| 몫을 | mok·sseul | share, portion |
| 무너졌어 | mu·neo·jyeo·sseo | collapsed, fell |
| 미소를 | mi·so·reul | smile |
| 바닥을 | ba·da·geul | bottom (object) |
| 방아쇠를 | bang·a·soe·reul | trigger (object) |
| 보란 | bo·ran | to show |
| 보며 | bo·myeo | looking, watching |
| 속에 | so·ge | inside |
| 이곳에 | i·go·se | in this place |
| 캄캄한 | kam·kam·han | dark, gloomy |
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Questions about “How You Like That”
What is “How You Like That” by BLACKPINK about?
“How You Like That” by BLACKPINK is about hitting rock bottom and coming back stronger.
What does “저 높이 두 손을 뻗어 봐도” mean in “How You Like That”?
Stretched both hands up to that height. 봐도 (bwado) literally means 'even if I looked', but in context it means 'even if I tried' or 'despite my attempts'.
What does “실컷 비웃어라 꼴 좋으니까” mean in “How You Like That”?
Laugh all you want, it looks good. 꼴 좋으니까 (kkol joeunikka) literally means 'because the sight is good', but it's an ironic expression.
How do you pronounce “이제 너희 하나 둘 셋”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “i·je neo·hui ha·na dul set”: that's how it's actually sung by BLACKPINK, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “How You Like That” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 49 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- BLACKPINK
- Official video
- BLACKPINK · YouTube
Lyrics and music belong to their rights holders. This page quotes no more than four lines for commentary; the translations, pronunciation and explanations are written by theIDOL.