Not Shy — ITZY: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync그냥 탁, 그냥 탁탁탁탁탁geu·nyang tak, geu·nyang tak·tak·tak·tak·takJust — snap, just snap-snap-snap-snap-snapListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
ITZY's “Not Shy” is about a girl who refuses to hold back her crush and says outright what she wants. She sees hesitation as wasted time, insists her heart and the other person's heart are each free, and tells him to just look at her while she clears away his doubts. The mood is breezy, confident and playful, with a no-regrets attitude.
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.
그냥 탁, 그냥 탁탁탁탁탁Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): geu·nyang tak, geu·nyang tak·tak·tak·tak·tak
Meaning: Just — snap, just snap-snap-snap-snap-snap
Words in this line- 그냥geu·nyangjust
- 탁,tak,snap
- 그냥geu·nyangjust
- 탁탁탁탁탁tak·tak·tak·tak·taksnap-snap-snap-snap-snap
Word for word: Just snap, just snap-snap-snap-snap-snap
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 탁 is onomatopoeia for a sharp snap, not a word with literal meaning — it conveys an instant, no-hesitation decision, so the literal rendering is unavoidably just a string of sound effects.
말해봐 다, 어서 다 'cause I'm not shyListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ma·rae·bwa da, eo·seo da 'cause I'm not shy
Meaning: Say it all, hurry, say it all, 'cause I'm not shy
Words in this line- 말해봐ma·rae·bwasay it
- 다,da,all
- 어서eo·seoquickly
- 다daall
Word for word: Say-try all, hurry all, 'cause I'm not shy
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 말해봐 = 말하다 (to speak) + 보다 (to try) — not literally 'try to say', but a gentle encouragement, 'go on, say it'.
Yeah yeah 내 맘은 내 거 그러니까Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): Yeah yeah nae ma·meun nae geo geu·reo·ni·kka
Meaning: Yeah, yeah, my heart is mine, so
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 맘은ma·meunheart
- 내naemy
- 거geothing
- 그러니까geu·reo·ni·kkaso
Word for word: Yeah, yeah, my heart-topic my thing so.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '내 거' literally means 'my thing,' but applied to the heart it means 'belongs to no one but me' — i.e. 'I get to feel however I want.'
(Hey!) 후회하긴 싫으니까Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): he·i hu·hoe·ha·gin si·reu·ni·kka
Meaning: 'Cause I don't want to have regrets
Words in this line- 후회하긴hu·hoe·ha·ginregretting
- 싫으니까si·reu·ni·kkabecause I don't want
Word for word: (Hey!) Regretting-doing dislike, because
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 후회하긴 turns 'to regret' (후회하다) into a gerund with the -기 suffix; 싫으니까 = 'don't want to' + 'because'. Stacked literally it sounds like paperwork, but the plain meaning is 'so I won't have regrets.'
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Not Shy” — ITZY. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 가니 | ga·ni | passes |
| 가지면 | ga·ji·myeon | if I have |
| 거니까 | geo·ni·kka | since it's mine |
| 괜히 | gwaen·hi | needlessly |
| 맘이 | ma·mi | heart |
| 맞아 | ma·ja | is right |
| 맞으니까 | ma·jeu·ni·kka | since it's right |
| 모르지만 | mo·reu·ji·man | I don't know, but |
| 뭔지 | mwon·ji | what it is |
| 빨리 | ppal·li | quickly |
| 생각이 | saeng·ga·gi | thought |
| 어때 | eo·ttae | so what |
| 어차피 | eo·cha·pi | anyway |
| 우리는 | u·ri·neun | we |
| 원해 | won·hae | want |
| 자유니까 | ja·yu·ni·kka | 'cause it's free |
| 좋아한다고 | jo·a·han·da·go | that I like it |
| 지워 | ji·wo | erase |
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Questions about “Not Shy”
What is “Not Shy” by ITZY about?
ITZY's “Not Shy” is about a girl who refuses to hold back her crush and says outright what she wants.
What does “그냥 탁, 그냥 탁탁탁탁탁” mean in “Not Shy”?
Just — snap, just snap-snap-snap-snap-snap. 탁 is onomatopoeia for a sharp snap, not a word with literal meaning — it conveys an instant, no-hesitation decision, so the literal rendering is unavoidably…
What does “말해봐 다, 어서 다 'cause I'm not shy” mean in “Not Shy”?
Say it all, hurry, say it all, 'cause I'm not shy. 말해봐 = 말하다 (to speak) + 보다 (to try) — not literally 'try to say', but a gentle encouragement, 'go on, say it'.
How do you pronounce “Yeah yeah 내 맘은 내 거 그러니까”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “Yeah yeah nae ma·meun nae geo geu·reo·ni·kka”: that's how it's actually sung by ITZY, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Not Shy” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sori goes through all 72 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
- ITZY
- Official video
- ITZY · 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.