NOT CUTE ANYMORE — ILLIT: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync한정판 콩국수 matcha보다 고소해han·jeong·pan kong·guk·ssu matcha-bo·da go·so·haeNuttier and richer than matcha and limited-edition cold soy noodlesListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
ILLIT's “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” is about a girl shrugging off the sweet, polished image expected of her and happily embracing her own offbeat tastes. Her bag is bare of charms, her records lean toward rock, and she turns to a horror film when stressed, while preferring a sleepy jellyfish to a puppy. She sounds shy but relaxed, a little cheeky as she tells a doubter there's plenty left to learn.
Key lines
3 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
한정판 콩국수 matcha보다 고소해Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): han·jeong·pan kong·guk·ssu matcha-bo·da go·so·hae
Meaning: Nuttier and richer than matcha and limited-edition cold soy noodles
Words in this line- 한정판han·jeong·panlimited edition
- 콩국수kong·guk·ssucold soy noodles
- matcha보다matcha-bo·dathan matcha
- 고소해go·so·haenutty, rich
Word for word: Limited edition soybean noodles than matcha nutty
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 한정판 means 'limited edition', a shopping word jokingly applied to noodles. 고소해 alone means 'nutty in taste', but with the comparison ending -보다 ('than') it means 'more pleasant and rich'. The singer is praising her current self through food.
난 외계인이 아냐 그냥 털털한 편인 거야Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nan oe·gye·i·ni a·nya geu·nyang teol·teo·ran pyeo·nin geo·ya
Meaning: I'm not an alien, I'm just kind of easygoing.
Words in this line- 난nanI (topic)
- 외계인이oe·gye·i·nialien
- 아냐a·nyaam not
- 그냥geu·nyangjust
- 털털한teol·teo·raneasygoing
- 편인pyeo·nintype, kind
- 거야geo·yait is
Word for word: I alien am-not, just easygoing type it-is.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 외계인 alone is "alien", 털털한 is "easygoing, unfussy", and 편 is "side, type". Together 털털한 편인 거야 means "I'm kind of an easygoing person", with a gentle explaining tone. The literal chain sounds clumsy because Korean carries that softness and explanation in the grammar tail.
안 돼 no moreListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): an dwae no more
Meaning: No way, no more.
Words in this line- 안annot
- 돼dwaewon't do
Word for word: Not becomes, no more.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 안 돼 word for word is "doesn't become", but it works as a refusal: "no, can't, won't do". 돼 comes from 되다 ("to become, to be OK"), and with 안 it turns into a ban. The English no more then reinforces it.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” — ILLIT. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가방 | ga·bang | bag |
| 강아지보단 | gang·a·ji·bo·dan | than a puppy |
| 공포영화 | gong·po·yeong·hwa | horror movie |
| 근데 | geun·de | but |
| 느슨한 | neu·seun·han | loose, relaxed |
| 데이트 | de·i·teu | date |
| 동화책 | dong·hwa·chaek | storybook |
| 린다 | rin·da | Linda |
| 멀었어 | meo·reo·sseo | still far off |
| 볼까 | bol·kka | shall I watch |
| 오분 | o·bun | five minutes |
| 완벽한 | wan·byeo·kan | perfect |
| 용감한 | yong·gam·han | brave |
| 자장가 | ja·jang·ga | lullaby |
| 젤리슈즈 | jel·li·syu·jeu | jelly shoes |
| 좋아 | jo·a | like |
| 해파리가 | hae·pa·ri·ga | jellyfish |
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Questions about “NOT CUTE ANYMORE”
What is “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” by ILLIT about?
ILLIT's “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” is about a girl shrugging off the sweet, polished image expected of her and happily embracing her own offbeat tastes.
What does “한정판 콩국수 matcha보다 고소해” mean in “NOT CUTE ANYMORE”?
Nuttier and richer than matcha and limited-edition cold soy noodles. 한정판 means 'limited edition', a shopping word jokingly applied to noodles.
What does “난 외계인이 아냐 그냥 털털한 편인 거야” mean in “NOT CUTE ANYMORE”?
I'm not an alien, I'm just kind of easygoing. 외계인 alone is "alien", 털털한 is "easygoing, unfussy", and 편 is "side, type".
How do you pronounce “안 돼 no more”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “an dwae no more”: that's how it's actually sung by ILLIT, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” explained?
This page explains 3 key lines. In the theIDOL app Chaea goes through all 22 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
- ILLIT
- Official video
- HYBE LABELS · 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.