NOT ME — ILLIT: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync눈뜨면 쏟아지는 Shorts 무한 감사nun·tteu·myeon sso·da·ji·neun Shorts mu·han gam·saThe moment I open my eyes, Shorts pour in. Endless thanksListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “NOT ME,” ILLIT push back on the labels and nicknames people pin on them, insisting they are more than any single name. Online, everyone seems to know them better than they know themselves, and the tags pile up until they want to peel them off. They see themselves as a chameleon and a huge puzzle, admit some labels are fair, and ask only not to be boxed in, with a cheeky, confident air.
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.
눈뜨면 쏟아지는 Shorts 무한 감사Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): nun·tteu·myeon sso·da·ji·neun Shorts mu·han gam·sa
Meaning: The moment I open my eyes, Shorts pour in. Endless thanks
Words in this line- 눈뜨면nun·tteu·myeonwhen eyes open
- 쏟아지는sso·da·ji·neunpouring down
- 무한mu·haninfinite
- 감사gam·sathanks
Word for word: Eyes-open-if pouring Shorts, infinite thanks
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 눈뜨면 is 'eye' plus 'open' with an 'if/when' ending, together 'as soon as I wake up'. 무한 means 'infinite' and 감사 means 'thanks', but together they are sarcastic gratitude for the avalanche of videos. The literal version reads like a report while the song drips sarcasm.
계속 로딩 중이야 예측 불가 Uh-huh uh-huhListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gye·sok ro·ding jung·i·ya ye·cheuk bul·ga Uh-huh uh-huh
Meaning: I'm constantly loading, unpredictable
Words in this line- 계속gye·sokcontinuously
- 로딩ro·dingloading
- 중이야jung·i·yain the middle of
- 예측ye·cheukprediction
- 불가bul·gaimpossible
Word for word: Continuously loading in-the-middle-of, prediction impossible
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 중이야 is 'in the middle of' plus a casual ending, together 'I'm currently in the process of'. 예측 불가 is 'prediction' plus 'impossible', together 'unpredictable'. Literally it sounds like a system message, but it is a self-description.
온몸에 labelling labelling 안 보일 지경이야Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): on·mo·me labelling labelling an bo·il ji·gyeong·i·ya
Meaning: I'm covered in labels, so much I can barely be seen
Words in this line- 온몸에on·mo·meall over the body
- 안annot
- 보일bo·ilbe visible
- 지경이야ji·gyeong·i·yato the point
Word for word: On-the-whole-body labelling, labelling, won't-be-seen extent-is
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 온몸에 is 'whole body' plus 'on', together 'from head to toe'. 지경 alone is 'extent', but with 이야 it becomes 'it has reached the point that'. Literally it is cryptic, but the meaning is that there are so many labels the person disappears.
될 수 있어 뭐든지 마음대로Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): doel ssu i·sseo mwo·deun·ji ma·eum·dae·ro
Meaning: Anything can happen, just as I please
Words in this line- 될doelbecome
- 수ssuway/ability
- 있어i·sseothere is
- 뭐든지mwo·deun·jianything
- 마음대로ma·eum·dae·roas one pleases
Word for word: Become way there-is anything heart-according-to
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 될 수 있어 literally says 'there is a way to become', which simply means 'it's possible'. 마음대로 is 'according to the heart', i.e. 'as I wish'. Together they give a bold 'anything goes, my way'.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “NOT ME” — ILLIT. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask RenaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가두어두지는 | ga·du·eo·du·ji·neun | keep confined |
| 같음 | ga·teum | seems |
| 과감히 | gwa·gam·hi | boldly |
| 깨버려 | kkae·beo·ryeo | smash |
| 나보다 | na·bo·da | more than me |
| 나인 | na·in | is me |
| 나일뿐 | na·il·ppun | only me |
| 난이도 | na·ni·do | difficulty |
| 논문 | non·mun | thesis |
| 답정너가 | dap·jjeong·neo·ga | answer-decided type |
| 때론 | ttae·ron | sometimes |
| 떼어내고 | tte·eo·nae·go | peel off and |
| 레벨 | re·bel | level |
| 마치 | ma·chi | as if |
| 맛이 | ma·si | taste |
| 맞기도 | mat·kki·do | is also right |
| 미안 | mi·an | sorry |
| 붙여진 | bu·chyeo·jin | attached |
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Questions about “NOT ME”
What is “NOT ME” by ILLIT about?
In “NOT ME,” ILLIT push back on the labels and nicknames people pin on them, insisting they are more than any single name.
What does “눈뜨면 쏟아지는 Shorts 무한 감사” mean in “NOT ME”?
The moment I open my eyes, Shorts pour in. Endless thanks. 눈뜨면 is 'eye' plus 'open' with an 'if/when' ending, together 'as soon as I wake up'.
What does “계속 로딩 중이야 예측 불가 Uh-huh uh-huh” mean in “NOT ME”?
I'm constantly loading, unpredictable. 중이야 is 'in the middle of' plus a casual ending, together 'I'm currently in the process of'.
How do you pronounce “온몸에 labelling labelling 안 보일 지경이야”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “on·mo·me labelling labelling an bo·il ji·gyeong·i·ya”: that's how it's actually sung by ILLIT, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “NOT ME” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena goes through all 53 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.