Tick-Tack — ILLIT: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in syncSo hurry, 얼른 열어 너의 맘속의 cabinetSo hurry, eol·leun yeo·reo neo·ui mam·so·gui cabinetSo hurry up and open the cabinet of your heartListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
ILLIT's “Tick-Tack” is about a girl with a racing heart who can't decide which version of herself to show the person she likes. She changes her look and attitude like a fitting room, tucks her childish side deep into a wardrobe, and pretends not to notice her feelings. By the end, nerves give way to playful confidence, and she invites him to meet a fresh side of her.
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.
So hurry, 얼른 열어 너의 맘속의 cabinetListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): So hurry, eol·leun yeo·reo neo·ui mam·so·gui cabinet
Meaning: So hurry up and open the cabinet of your heart
Words in this line- 얼른eol·leunquickly
- 열어yeo·reoopen
- 너의neo·uiyour
- 맘속의mam·so·guiinside the heart
Word for word: So hurry, quickly open your inside-heart's cabinet
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 맘속 combines 맘 'heart' and 속 'inside', together meaning the depths of one's heart. The cabinet is a metaphor for the inner world the crush should open. The particle 의 simply links the words like 'of'.
어떡해, tick-tack, ti-tack, 시끄러운 옷장 속Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): eo·tteo·kae, tick-tack, ti-tack, si·kkeu·reo·un ot·jjang sok
Meaning: What do I do? Tick-tack, ti-tack — inside the noisy closet
Words in this line- 어떡해,eo·tteo·kae,what do I do
- 시끄러운si·kkeu·reo·unnoisy
- 옷장ot·jjangcloset
- 속sokinside
Word for word: How do I act, tick-tack, ti-tack, noisy closet inside
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 어떡해 is a contracted 'what should I do', which carries panic rather than a real question. 시끄러운 means 'noisy', but here it is the heart that is noisy, pounding inside the closet metaphor.
너는 어떤 날 좋아할까?Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neo·neun eo·tteon nal jo·a·hal·kka?
Meaning: What kind of me will you like?
Words in this line- 너는neo·neunyou
- 어떤eo·tteonwhat kind of
- 날nalme
- 좋아할까?jo·a·hal·kka?would like
Word for word: You what kind of me would like?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean puts the verb at the end and places 어떤 'what kind of' right before 'me'. The ending 까 turns it into a wondering question to oneself rather than a demand for an answer.
어떤데 나 너랑 어울리잖아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eo·tteon·de na neo·rang eo·ul·li·ja·na
Meaning: So what, I suit you just fine
Words in this line- 어떤데eo·tteon·deso what
- 나naI
- 너랑neo·rangwith you
- 어울리잖아eo·ul·li·ja·naI do suit
Word for word: What-is-it I with you suit-you-know
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 어떤데 alone is 'what is it like?', but here it works as a cocky 'so what?'. 어울리다 means 'to match' and -잖아 means 'as you know'. Together it is playful confidence, not a question.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Tick-Tack” — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 갈수록 | gal·ssu·rok | the further |
| 거야 | geo·ya | it is |
| 고민 | go·min | worry |
| 괜히 | gwaen·hi | for no reason |
| 구겨 | gu·gyeo | crumpling |
| 기대해도 | gi·dae·hae·do | even if you expect |
| 넣으면 | neo·eu·myeon | if I put in |
| 놀란 | nol·lan | surprised |
| 만나서 | man·na·seo | having met |
| 만나줘 | man·na·jwo | meet (for me) |
| 맘은 | ma·meun | heart |
| 멀리 | meol·li | far away |
| 무채색의 | mu·chae·sae·gui | colorless |
| 바꿔 | ba·kkwo | change |
| 보고 | bo·go | looking |
| 보여 | bo·yeo | are visible |
| 본척해 | bon·cheo·kae | pretend to see |
| 새로운 | sae·ro·un | new |
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Questions about “Tick-Tack”
What is “Tick-Tack” by ILLIT about?
ILLIT's “Tick-Tack” is about a girl with a racing heart who can't decide which version of herself to show the person she likes.
What does “So hurry, 얼른 열어 너의 맘속의 cabinet” mean in “Tick-Tack”?
So hurry up and open the cabinet of your heart. 맘속 combines 맘 'heart' and 속 'inside', together meaning the depths of one's heart.
What does “어떡해, tick-tack, ti-tack, 시끄러운 옷장 속” mean in “Tick-Tack”?
What do I do? Tick-tack, ti-tack — inside the noisy closet. 어떡해 is a contracted 'what should I do', which carries panic rather than a real question.
How do you pronounce “너는 어떤 날 좋아할까?”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “neo·neun eo·tteon nal jo·a·hal·kka?”: that's how it's actually sung by ILLIT, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Tick-Tack” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena goes through all 57 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
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Credits and sources
- Artist
- ILLIT
- Official video
- 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.