Allergy — i-dle: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync그래 난 내가 봐도 별로인걸geu·rae nan nae·ga bwa·do byeol·lo·in·geolYeah, even I think I'm kind of meh.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
i-dle’s “Allergy” follows a girl who feels invisible online and ugly next to everyone else, so much so that she feels allergic to her own mirror. She scrolls past peers who seem prettier, richer and more grown-up, wishes she could be someone else, and quietly asks for a Like. Beneath it all sits a plain wish to be loved, with self-mockery keeping the sadness lightly bitter.
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.
그래 난 내가 봐도 별로인걸Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): geu·rae nan nae·ga bwa·do byeol·lo·in·geol
Meaning: Yeah, even I think I'm kind of meh.
Words in this line- 그래geu·raeyeah
- 난nanI
- 내가nae·gaI myself
- 봐도bwa·doeven looking
- 별로인걸byeol·lo·in·geolmeh, I guess
Word for word: Yes, I, even looking myself, not-much-you-see.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 봐도 literally means 'even looking', but the sense is 'by my own judgment'. 별로 alone means 'not much', and the ending -ㄴ걸 adds a sigh of resignation. Together it becomes a bitter 'yeah, I really am like that'.
세상은 나 빼고 잘 돌아가Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): se·sang·eun na ppae·go jal do·ra·ga
Meaning: The world runs just fine without me
Words in this line- 세상은se·sang·eunthe world
- 나name
- 빼고ppae·goexcluding
- 잘jalwell
- 돌아가do·ra·gagoes around
Word for word: World-topic me excluding well goes-around
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 빼고 alone means 'subtracting' and 돌아가 means 'turns around', but together they say everything works well while I'm left out.
빌어먹을 Huh 내 거울 알러지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): bi·reo·meo·geul Huh nae geo·ul al·leo·ji
Meaning: Damn, I'm allergic to my mirror
Words in this line- 빌어먹을bi·reo·meo·geuldamn
- 내naemy
- 거울geo·ulmirror
- 알러지al·leo·jiallergy
Word for word: Damn huh my mirror allergy
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Allergy here is a metaphor: she can't bear to look at herself. 빌어먹을 alone is 'begging and eating', but together it means 'damn'.
나도 사랑받고 싶거든Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): na·do sa·rang·bat·kko sip·kkeo·deun
Meaning: I want to be loved too, you know
Words in this line- 나도na·dome too
- 사랑받고sa·rang·bat·kkoto be loved
- 싶거든sip·kkeo·deunI want, you know
Word for word: Me too love-receiving want because
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 사랑받다 joins 사랑 'love' and 받다 'receive' into 'be loved'. 싶다 'want' plus the ending -거든, which alone is like 'because', gives a 'you know, it's just that' tone no single word carries.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Allergy” — i-dle. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask SoriSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 갤러리 | gael·leo·ri | gallery |
| 거야 | geo·ya | will |
| 걸린 | geol·lin | caught, set |
| 나는 | na·neun | I |
| 나만 | na·man | only me |
| 나보다 | na·bo·da | than me |
| 날리는 | nal·li·neun | flying about |
| 말투는 | mal·tu·neun | way of speaking |
| 맞아 | ma·ja | right |
| 매일 | mae·il | every day |
| 메이크업 | me·i·keu·eop | makeup |
| 못하고 | mo·ta·go | can't do and |
| 뭔데 | mwon·de | what's with |
| 볼품없는 | bol·pu·meom·neun | shabby |
| 비웃을 | bi·u·seul | mocking |
| 샤넬 | sya·nel | Chanel |
| 성격까지 | seong·gyeok·kka·ji | even personality |
| 성숙한 | seong·su·kan | mature |
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Questions about “Allergy”
What is “Allergy” by i-dle about?
i-dle’s “Allergy” follows a girl who feels invisible online and ugly next to everyone else, so much so that she feels allergic to her own mirror.
What does “그래 난 내가 봐도 별로인걸” mean in “Allergy”?
Yeah, even I think I'm kind of meh. 봐도 literally means 'even looking', but the sense is 'by my own judgment'.
What does “세상은 나 빼고 잘 돌아가” mean in “Allergy”?
The world runs just fine without me. 빼고 alone means 'subtracting' and 돌아가 means 'turns around', but together they say everything works well while I'm left out.
How do you pronounce “빌어먹을 Huh 내 거울 알러지”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “bi·reo·meo·geul Huh nae geo·ul al·leo·ji”: that's how it's actually sung by i-dle, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Allergy” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sori goes through all 54 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
- i-dle
- Official video
- i-dle (아이들) · 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.